Donating blood and WLS

Has anyone had a problem donating blood after their surgery? I am almost 2 years out and the last two times I donated blook they have had a real hard time hitting my veins. They said they roll. I never had this problem in the past. I wonder if it is because there is less fat holding them in place. This last time they pushed all the way through the vein and out the other side.

I'm just curious if this is unique to me.


Life is great, Rick

LOL!!! No.  As someone who sticks very large needles in people on a regular basis while hanging upside down in a car in a ditch that is full of water with no light while it's raining and frogs and snakes and lizards are crawling between my feet while the other three people in the car are screaming at the top of what lungs they have left......................."Rolling Veins" is just an excuse for bad technique.   Yes it is true that many people have rolling veins, that is - there is not a lot of supportive tissue around the vein (ie, fat) but it is a very easily overcome obstacle.   My advice is to tell the phlebotomist up front that you have "rolling veins" and that you are notoriously "a hard stick".  This is usually enough of a heads up that a GOOD phlebotomist will either pay attention the task at hand OR find someone who knows what the hell they are doing. Sorry you've had bad luck, but THANK YOU for donating blood.  You are a true life saver and I appreciate what you do to help others.

Hey Rick, No problems here--but then I'm not as thin as you are. But since I've lost a significant amount of weight, my blood draws have been easier than when I was at my heaviest. My veins are much more prominent.

Rick, I havent had a problem with hitting my veins, they are much better now than before surgery.  I have my labs done every 6 months. I was told that I couldnt give blood for the rest of my life.  Could be that I am slighly anemic, have been all my life.   John 

I haven't been able to give blood since I lived in England twenty years ago, something about mad cow disease or something.  but I have had no troubles with given samples.  I agree with the other post sounds like someone just didn't know what they were doing. JIm D

As a young adult I used to give blood regularly. Then I had surgery 14 years ago and they put some cadaver tissue in my head and nobody wants my blood anymore. Go figure. Joe

Does this make you a true dead head? (Sorry, couldn't pass it up)

----- 
Even the toughest criminals become remarkably docile 
 once separated from society by six feet of soil. 

No problem here.  I do the ALYXIS method where they just take the good stuff and give me the junk back.  I give four times a year.  It's nice to be able to answer no to all the questions now, and not have a list of medications to have to defend.   Have fun, Rob

My surgeon told me to wait 18 months before I started back giving blood, I have to wait till June. My father always did and that is why I started. From what I am told now when they take it for blood tests mine are easy to hit. With all the cardio I have been doing they are much more visible than they were three or four months ago. When I get finished working out I see them popped out every where. Sounds like an excuse to me. It is great that you give blood. When I do it I feel good about doing some thing positive and it makes me think of my dad. My daughter even gives blood on occasion. Most of the time and it is just a "stick and a sting" and it is over in a few minutes.  pan head

I was saving this for my surgeon, but how far in advance of surgery should you stop giving blood?