Donating Blood

I am going to a blood drive today. I have not tried to donate since before surgery. Has anybody had a problem donating since having their guts rearanged?

This is one of my normal "good deeds" and I really don't want to give it up. Hey, blood is free....and blood donation groups LOVE me, as I'm O- .


ps.... I am not the best at remembering my iron, but I am eating spinach/greens and white meats.

I go in regularly. In fact I donated last night. I had to wait 4 months since the end of June, because of my new tattoo. I have been deferred twice in my 3 years since surgery for low iron. They said both times, I was not anemic, just not high enough to donate. Make sure you take your vitamins daily though, the complete ones contain iron. You should be fine then.

I always attempt to give blood pre and post surgery. Half the time I can and Hlaf the time I can't because of low iron...but I am always on the brink of the number I need to be at.

I don't donate, but it has nothing to do with my surgery.

I'm a very difficult "stick".  The last time I donated blood, (or tried to) they gave up after an hour, and politely told me I shouldn't bother anymore.  LOL

My veins are quite small, and tend to "roll" when they see the needle coming!  During donation when they use that pump thingie, it makes my vein collapse completely, which is quite painful.  They had to just use the force of gravity by letting my arm hang down to get the donation, and after an hour, I had barely coated the bottom of the bag, and the vein collapsed.

Needless to say, I am NOT looking forward to having my 1 year labs drawn.....   a month ago when I had to have blood drawn for my PCP, the lab tech could only fill part of the small tube, and about a third of the big tube. 

I definitely would not be a good meal for a vampire!  LOL

I've not been able to donate before or after because of severe anemia but  I have always wanted to, especially since I've gotten my share of blood transfusions (with no apprent bleed anywhere but when since I had 10 iron infusions from dec into feb my numbers have done ok and just not dropping again but they've been stable for the most part since although I've had a couple dips into the 8s).

Thanks for the replies. I did make it to the blood drive yesterday, and my iron was high enough. YAY!
Just waiting on my bruise on my finger to fade now. That's always the worst part for me. The iron test always bruises my finger.

Be careful, I have had problems.  My iron level dropped real low, because your body does not build the levels back up as quickly.  I have to take to iron pills a day plus Vitiamin C because I was doing a good deed.  I have been told by Dr Huse and my PCP that I will probably have to take additional iron pills for the rest of my life, but I still donate once in a while. 

Hugs

Peggy