Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Not allowed to donate blood today as haemoglobin too low

38 replies

kittycrackles · 21/05/2021 18:32

This would have been my 9th donation. I was very tired and breathless after my last donation in Jan so have been taking iron pills since then.
For the first time today they said I was measuring 124 and the cut off was 125.
Clearly the supplements aren’t doing their job. Although not clinically low( I am told) I would like to find a way of raising my levels for next time.
Any tips?
I am on my period but they said it shouldn’t make that much difference?
Thanks

OP posts:
thefourgp · 21/05/2021 18:34

I’ve had this happen and being on your period does make it lower.

User0ne · 21/05/2021 18:35

Occasionally that happens after a few donations. Green veg, red meat, nuts and most dried fruit are high in iron, conveniently eaten in combination they also provide the vitamin C you need to absorb it.

Hippee · 21/05/2021 18:39

Are you taking over-the-counter iron? I was prescribed tablets by the doctor that had far more iron in, and they have done the job.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Neighneigh · 21/05/2021 18:40

I had this, the exact same. I was on my period and I do think it made a difference. I felt really sad about it, I was so close but they have to have a cut off.

WellTidy · 21/05/2021 18:41

Maybe the absorption of the supplement iron isn’t what it should be?

00100001 · 21/05/2021 18:42

Mine was always borderline, even with iron tablets (OTC, granted)

Turns out I have rheumatoid arthritis...so maybe if you have this in your family, ask for blood test for it.

BadgeronaMoped · 21/05/2021 18:45

I have to be really careful about this, I drink a LOT of tea and the tannins apparently interfere with iron absorption, so I drink rooibos after a meal/after I've taken my multivitamin. Something to consider if you're also a heavy tea drinker.

Airplanes · 21/05/2021 18:46

Vitamin C aids iron absorption

kittycrackles · 21/05/2021 18:47

Thanks
I have been taking my iron with my morning cuppa which the nurse said was not a good idea 🥴
I think the period has done it but it must have been low last time for me to have felt so breathless and tired for weeks afterwards.
Is spatone any good?

OP posts:
kittycrackles · 21/05/2021 18:48

@BadgeronaMoped I am a heavy tea drinker😲

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/05/2021 18:52

If it's any consolation, this is one of the good things about being menopausal. I have had no issues since my periods stopped. Not much help if you're decades off that point, admittedly!

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 21/05/2021 18:52

I give blood and this has happened to me once or twice in the earlier years of donating.

The nurse suggested leafy greens and spinach and a nice steak. Fresh orange juice. (For absorption)

She also suggested dark chocolate. Not a hardship for me.

Another 60 odd donations later - it is standing me in good stead.

I eat ‘well’ anyway but take special care in the week or two before donation to have plenty of greens.

Good luck. ☘️ 🩸

Severntrent · 21/05/2021 18:55

You need to take it with a bit of fruit or orange juice. Not sure over the counter will do it if you're v low.

kittycrackles · 21/05/2021 18:56

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I am 53 on HRT but my periods still do whatever they bloody well want- normally every three weeks
@SheldonesqueTheBstard I will make sure I follow that advice- it sounds very sensible. I assumed my love of leafy greens was enough. I guess it has been depleting over time though.
God knows how how I can ween myself off tea- it’s a life blood😲

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 21/05/2021 18:57

Never been able to donate due to chronic low grade anaemia. No one is ever bothered. It is 35 years now. 10 years ago the anaemia got worse I got a diagnosis of pernicious anaemia and got returned to my norm, not quite in the normal range.
I have low blood pressure too and together they mean I need to manage even small things like shaving my legs.

lovablequalities · 21/05/2021 19:01

Take iron on an empty stomach an hour before you eat and take it with a high dose vit c tablet. Caffeine inhibits absorption and so does dairy.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 21/05/2021 19:02

I’m not a medical professional OP but the nurse’s advice has helped me. I was usually borderline (I think you got off with it being a wee bit lower before - can’t remember the figure) but after two or three sessions where I couldn’t give, I asked what was wrong and what I could do to increase my chances of donating.

As said, it has worked well for me. It has to be proper dark chocolate mind! Wink.

ZoeMaye · 21/05/2021 19:07

Iron tablets never worked well for me (I think they basically just went straight through me) whereas spatone worked a dream (I drank it in 50:50 orange juice to water but they do an apple flavour one too i believe)
Spatone the iron level is lower but it is a lot more accessible from the body.

IggyAce · 21/05/2021 19:09

It happened to me at my last donation, I was gutted. My level was 114 so I’m on a 12 month ban. I’ve had blood tests done with GP I’m not anaemic but my iron stores are on the low side of normal so gp advised otc iron tablet and or diet changes.

BadgeronaMoped · 21/05/2021 19:15

You can still drink tea, just not around your meal times Grin I found Spatone in orange juice good too (like pps have mentioned).

Firefliess · 21/05/2021 19:33

I've been donating a few years now but about 18 months ago failed the iron test sufficiently that I got banned for a year and sent to the GP about it. GP retested and said I was just above the cut off for having any concerns so just carry on as normal. I recently went back to give blood again and all was fine this time. So no action at all, I've been eating normally (fairly low meat diet) and time was sufficient to get the iron up again. I'm thinking I might wait a bit more than 4 months between donations though in future to ensure I keep my levels high enough.

Elouera · 21/05/2021 19:47

I echo what others have said. When you take your iron and with which foods and drinks, can drastically affect the absorption of the actual iron. Are they a prescribed dose? Over the counter iron is only 14mg and more a maintenance level, not to correct an actual deficiency- although I realise your level is hardly low. It also takes 3mths for red blood cells to replicate, so someone really deficient, will take months to recover fully.

Tannins will reduce the intake of iron. Its found in tea, coffee, wine (higher in red wine), chocolate, berries and apples among others. Avoid having a meal containing any of these when you have your iron supplements.

Foods high in Vit C help to absorb iron, so have foods rich in these when you take your meds. Citrus fruit and their juices, peppers, rose hip, guava, broccoli, kale and kiwis among others. Its a water soluble and temperature sensitive vitamin, so cooking and boiling will deplete the available Vit C. Some iron tablets are prescribed with a Vit C supplement.

Haem forms of iron (meat in particular liver, steak, lamb) are easier for the body to absord the iron from over vegetable iron sources such as broccoli, leafy greens, potatoes, brussel sprouts etc.

If you drink a lot of tannin high foods, do try to cut down over the whole day- not just when you have your meds. Best of luck.

Blackopal · 21/05/2021 19:58

I don't like blanket rules like 'periods should not make that much difference'. I was told things like that until they discovered my level was 43..

Steak, iron tablets and vitamin C can all help. Of you were breathless after donating that does sound like an anemia symptom, maybe you do need the break?

Also I would like to say thank you for every one for these donations.

I had to have several transfusions. Every transfusion I have, I look at the bag and think about the person who gave it. The nurse told me that when a bag is used a text is sent to the donator, I hope that is true, I was very grateful to the people who gave mine.

nocoolnamesleft · 21/05/2021 20:00

The tannin in tea does impede iron absorption...

BlackCatsRule88 · 21/05/2021 20:03

I’ve been in the exact same situation. Iron tablets didn’t bring it up enough but by cutting out caffeine so the tablets are absorbed properly I have managed to bring it up to acceptable levels and can now donate. I just switched to caffeine free tea and I don’t notice the difference.

I understand why they can’t take my blood when it’s low but it’s so frustrating as you just want to help!