I have had no problems donating blood. I donate as often as I can post_op. We had our intestines re-routed. We did not have chemotherapy, or have cancer...or any weird viruses put in us..or were blasted with radiation.

Our surgery, for what it does to our blood cells, is no different than eye or ear surgery. It makes no difference.

You really need to do more research.. You are very Ignorant in that matter.. .. 

You seem to assume there's only one conclusion to be drawn for everyone.  To you, it's not worth "the risk," and I can respect that.  However, some of us are not iron-deficient nor are we even at risk.  My ferritin sits between 400 - 500 and I don't even supplement.  All my other labs are rock solid.

Gastric bypass surgery does not inherently preclude us from donating blood.

you are a guy - a yong guy.. 

If your ferritin is 400-500 - they you have a completely different issues.. That levels are extremely high - above healthy levels and IMO - you should be working with a great doc to find out why they are so high..that levels are toxic iron overload.. . hear attack waiting to happen...

for someone who seems so full of yourself -  I am surprised you don't know that...

you better check that out...

High levels of ferritin can be indicative of an iron storage disorder such as hemochromatosis.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited (genetic) disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body (iron overload). In individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis, the daily absorption of iron from the intestines is greater than the amount needed to replace losses. Since the normal body cannot increase iron excretion, the absorbed iron accumulates in the body. 

People with hereditary hemochromatosis may have no symptoms or signs (and have normal longevity), or they can have severe symptoms and signs of iron overload that include:

• sexual dysfunction,
• heart failure,
• joint pains,
• liver cirrhosis,
• diabetes mellitus,
• weight loss,
• fatigue, and
• darkening of skin.

The symptoms arise because iron accumulates in the organs and leads to destruction and loss of normal function.

Why do you assume that I don't know that?  Or that I, in fact, haven't had a conversation with my physician?  While my ferritin is indeed quite a bit above the reference range, it far below the point of a diagnosis of hemochromatosis.

Rest assured that I am aware, my primary care physician is aware, my bariatric surgeon is aware, and my health is excellent.

You are a young guy. When we are young - we are invincible...  but you don't know what that high iron is doing to your body - organs... 

 And in your case - donating blood is really really really good idea...

But IMO, for an average person post op RNy - probably not a good idea.. unless like you they are young, their blood markers are at normal - to high normal values, and ferritin levels are higher than 150.. 

I think she is trying to help you. 

Your iron is too low.

Do not donate red blood cells.

You could donate platelets like Grim but as you can read it's a much more complex procedure. Regular platelet donors are like gold. So precious. I've watched lives being saved with matched platelets.

Thanks Grim.

Deb T.

Last time I went to donate blood, which was right before surgery. I couldn't because my iron was too low. She said I didn't have low iron by normal standards but they have a higher cut off as they will be removing blood from your body  and I guess inherently that brings your iron down.

I was told to not donate blood by my doc.  Some of my friends in the bariatric program that I am a member of have done it.  I just hadn't gotten around to give it a try yet.  Fast forward a few years.  I have a complication in one of my plastics procedures that causes a bleed - hard to tell how much blood I lost - didn't seem to be that much - but I passed out on my way to the doctor.  Wound up getting rapid response called and rushed to the ER for monitoring and 2 units of blood.  So I will not be trying that blood donation in the future.  My labs have all been good both before and after the incident but I don't want to take the chance.