Active discussions

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

Talk
Chat

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

Original poster

Blood donation - Ferritin 11.2

18 replies

MerryLiftMass · 08/12/2024 16:53

I am due to give blood tomorrow, my ferritin level a month ago was 11.2. I have been taking an iron supplement for the last 3 weeks but it can be a bit hit and miss miss if I remember.

Will I be wasting their time (and mine) to turn up with such low level?

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryLiftMass · 08/12/2024 16:54

My picture didn’t post.

Blood donation - Ferritin 11.2
Blood donation - Ferritin 11.2
OP posts:
IntheSnowySnowyMountains · 08/12/2024 21:57

Can you ring them to check in the morning?

My understanding is that ferritin can take a while to come back to normal with supplements. Mine was not as low as yours and I had an iron infusion because I was feeling rubbish (not NHS).

MyCatIsAStalker · 08/12/2024 22:03

Giving blood is a lovely thing to do but you might have to accept that you can't do it if it's detrimental to your health

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Theuniversalshere1 · 08/12/2024 22:11

MyCatIsAStalker · 08/12/2024 22:03

Giving blood is a lovely thing to do but you might have to accept that you can't do it if it's detrimental to your health

This.that is waaaaay too low to be donating. You'll make yourself very sick and feel very poorly.

EBearhug · 08/12/2024 22:14

They can't really know how low your iron is without a blood test. I'm a regular donor (over 60 donations), but I still get rejected in about 1 in 4 visits.

If you have 3 rejections in a row for low Hb, you'll be asked not to donate again.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/12/2024 22:31

The OP's haemoglobin levels will be tested before she is allowed to donate. It has to be well above the minimum a GP would say was normal. If it isn't, she will be thanked and sent on her way. This happened to me twice in the last year but (hurrah, hurrah) it was OK the last time so I was able to donate. I don't know how much it helped but I started eating liver every so often. I eat plenty of green vegetables anyway, and some red meat. The occasional iron tablet.

(I'm not sure whether low ferritin levels would be picked up by the haemoglobin test. I hope so. I know they're not quite the same.)

WalterdelaMare · 08/12/2024 22:34

My iron is in the low side, but I take supplements before I go and if I pass the copper sulphate test, I assume I’m ok. I feel bad for a few hours afterwards, but I soon recover.

EBearhug · 08/12/2024 22:35

If your Hb levels are low enough, they refer you to the GP, and you should have more bloods. If they're not that low, but to low to donate, you get a leaflet about iron rich foods.

Peakwarrior · 08/12/2024 23:29

I presume everyone has already heard this but having tea or coffee with or close to meals stops you absorbing iron. I wasn't allowed to donate last time and have tried to have juice or water around meal times and tea and coffee in-between meals. Going back next week and I will be interested to see if it's helped.

Original poster
MerryLiftMass · 09/12/2024 07:58

Thanks everyone, I wasn’t sure how they are related, I know they do the finger prick test so they will know either way if I am suitable?

I don’t feel Ill or tired or anything with those levels, I workout most days, work full time, study for professional exams and have children and a dog, I feel fighting fit.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 09/12/2024 08:38

They do the finger prick test and drop some blood into a tube of copper sulphate. They time how long it takes to fall to the bottom. If it's too slow, it means your iron is too low to donate.

You won't be wasting anyone's time by going. If you have been taking iron supplements for 3 months your ferritin levels should be rising, although if it was only 11 a month ago, may not be high enough yet.

I had to have 18 months off blood donation a few years ago for due to anaemia.

Luminear · 09/12/2024 08:47

Go, they will tell you if you can or can’t donate due to your blood levels. It’s not a waste of time.

Its more about you and how low levels impact your health.

They will suggest to you to visit your GP or practice nurse for advice but they won’t refer you as a pp suggested. It will be up to you to look into it.

Lovelysummerdays · 09/12/2024 08:48

I’ve been declined from giving blood when my iron was a little low. It sort of hovered then sunk from the finger prick test. I think it was just under maybe 12 point something. They sent me away with a leaflet saying I should eat leafy greens and red meat. I can’t give at all now ( blood transfusion due to low ferritin / iron funnily enough )

SharpOpalNewt · 09/12/2024 08:55

I tried to donate in August, mine was 117/hb. The last few times before that it was borderline but ok. After that I have been trying to have freshly squeezed orange juice a few times a week to help iron absorbtion. My diet is full of iron rich food and I take Floradix also, and I feel fine, plenty of energy. I tried again last week and it had gone up to 121, but needs to be 125 to donate. I'll try again in March but if you get a low reading 3x in a row they take you off the register anyway. You can also ring them to ask to be take off. I've done about 25 donations but I suspect coming into menopause I just need to hang on to all the iron I can.

erihskreb · 09/12/2024 09:00

You can have low ish ferritin and normal haemoglobin - it’s haemoglobin they test you for so low ferritin won’t necessarily rule you out. I donate regularly and my ferritin is usually around the bottom of normal like yours but I have never had a donation rejected.

Lovelysummerdays · 09/12/2024 09:08

MerryLiftMass · 09/12/2024 07:58

Thanks everyone, I wasn’t sure how they are related, I know they do the finger prick test so they will know either way if I am suitable?

I don’t feel Ill or tired or anything with those levels, I workout most days, work full time, study for professional exams and have children and a dog, I feel fighting fit.

I think you can keep going with low iron for ages as your body adjusts. Ferritin is like the bodies iron bank so you draw it down to keep your hb at a functional level. Hopefully it gets topped up enough by food / supplements to maintain a decent equilibrium.

I would say a bit like you I had have dog, kids, work, gym super busy and fine etc I had a virus that floored me and as I had hardly any ferritin reserves (it was at 2) when my spleen misbehaved my hb went down and ended up in hospital being transfused. I suspect if my ferritin had been at a decent level I’d of been more resilient.

Original poster
MerryLiftMass · 09/12/2024 19:26

My blood failed the sink test so they put some into a machine which said 125, apparently they require 125 or over so I gave my pint ☺️

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryLiftMass · 09/12/2024 19:27

Lovelysummerdays · 09/12/2024 09:08

I think you can keep going with low iron for ages as your body adjusts. Ferritin is like the bodies iron bank so you draw it down to keep your hb at a functional level. Hopefully it gets topped up enough by food / supplements to maintain a decent equilibrium.

I would say a bit like you I had have dog, kids, work, gym super busy and fine etc I had a virus that floored me and as I had hardly any ferritin reserves (it was at 2) when my spleen misbehaved my hb went down and ended up in hospital being transfused. I suspect if my ferritin had been at a decent level I’d of been more resilient.

Show quote history

I hope you are feeling better now! I will keep onto of my supplements better.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page