Rejected from donating blood....

[FollowYourOwnNorthStar]

....due to high blood pressure.

More of a WWYD really, I suppose.

I’m so upset. I’ve been donating for 20 years with no problems. I’m 39 and thanks to the donation service recording all my BPs, I now see my BP has been creeping up over the last few years. I’ve booked an appointment with my GP, but does anyone have any suggestions?

I’m so upset! I know it’s such a silly thing to be upset about and I will shake it off, but I feel upset. Trying to put my finger on why.

I can’t give blood either, due to MS dx, but can donate organs, it seems strange to me too.

I am sure once you get your blood pressure under control you will be fine OP. I truly believe BP is genetic, it sounds like you take good care of yourself, sometimes things happen and you will never know why, but thankfully BP is something easily solved with medication.

Good luck ☘️

Oh I've just read I can't donate blood as I've had a transfusion in the past, is this correct?

Yeah sadly Emma you would think after so many years and having all clear blood tests many times after you would be allowed to donate again but that’s not what they tell you .

From a lifestyle point of view, you need to look at and reduce your salt intake, exercise at a healthy level and try some relaxation techniques. These will go towards lowering your BP. Your GP will likely get you to have a 24hr BP before starting you on meds. But don't delay in going to your GP. If you need to take meds, and you improve your lifestyle to an extent that your BP improves to such an extent then you may be able to reduce the meds.

What’s Due to vcjd concerns.

Good on you for donating! I’m glad I’ve a common blood type as my veins are a bit too rubbish for donating and I don’t have a lot of blood , but I do feel a bit guilty about it.

I donated all the time (o neg) until I used donor eggs so they stopped me as couldn't guarantee the donor had been screened correctly, I just persuaded a couple of people who didn't donate to start doing so in place of me so maybe you could do that?

Well done for donating for so long! And I'm sure once the BP thing gets sorted out you can go back to donating.

I can sympathise with the blood pressure thing too. It makes you feel vulnerable to have something so symptomless and potentially dangerous. I developed pre eclampsia in both my pregnancies and this time round my blood pressure hasn't really stabilised so I'm still on medication.
I do have a healthy diet and exercise lots. I don't smoke and don't really drink. Apart from this immediate post partum period my bmi has been ok. I agree that making all the relevant lifestyle changes will help but I think the advice to lose weight rather than go on medication is an extremely dangerous one. Walking around with untreated high bp can be pretty dangerous and you should take the advice of the gp rather than insisting on self treating.

I know how you feel!! I have been donating blood for a long time too and have had to stop at the moment as I've been diagnosed with underactive thyroid and they won't take my blood until I have my levels stabilised. That's taking a while.

I'm another one who's never had their BP checked when donating. At what point do they do it? I'm actually really surprised to find out that there's not a common procedure.

Are you in England? It doesn't seem right that donors in some places, I've given blood in several, aren't being given all the proper checks, could people be at risk and not know?

I can’t give blood either, due to MS dx, but can donate organs, it seems strange to me too

I don't know the UK rationale, but guess it's like the Australian one on mad cow possible infections: there are so few livers/lungs/kidneys going round, it's worth the risk. Skin and cornea donations are not allowed. Also, because you can give blood every year, the possible infection routes are multiplied.

I had to stop donating blood due to being anaemic because of very heavy periods which was a shame but hey ho.

For what it's worth I've read that if you follow a Mediterranean diet with a tablespoon of Grana Padano cheese every day it can help to bring BP under control. It's worth a try.

Another one here just to say Thanks to all the donors

I did manage to donate a few times until the rule about previously received a transfusion were brought in due to the potential risk of vcjd

I had numerous transfusions when ill as a teen and would certainly not her here (am now 38 eith a 4yr old and another on the way), so thank you again.

Also, re why the vcjd rule us still in place - from what I understand of the testing that have been done, it seems that vcjd possibly hides dormant somewhere in the blood and as there is no definitive way of proving it's complete absence, they have to remain cautious.

Thank you to everyone who donates.

I want to but every time I've had to give a sample they struggle to find veins and my blood is reluctant to come out so they've always said I couldn't give blood. My mum has the same issue.

However my dad and sister donate every time they can.

They don't want mine at the moment (AB+) but have donated quite a bit in the past. Never had a BP check at a session, now have slightly raised BP, was actually picked up at gym induction.

Trying to lose a few pounds and get a bit more active and looking at diet. Not high enough for meds yet but Father and now deceased Mother both on BP medication for many years so suspect genetics will win in the end, but worth trying to hold off a bit!

I know exactly how you feel, occasionally over the years I've been rejected because my iron level wasn't high enough and I came away all teary!

I don't ever remember having my BP tested, it must be location specific.

@Echt thanks, I didn’t know that!

GinaCarbonara - you're right, BP is not checked by the English blood service (nor is 1 the minimum age to donate), so I assume OP is elsewhere.

Another one who can't donate due to transfusions during an operation when I was 14. It has always bothered me not being able to give back when I have received, so thank you to all of you who do.

"What’s Due to vcjd concerns."

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variant_Creutzfeldt–Jakob_disease

I’m Australian but lived in the UK from 92-94. As a result I am permanently excluded from donating blood here in Australia, due to the risk of vCJD.

And Germany and Denmark (and probably a load of other European countries too, just haven't checked).

I can't donate now either but a big thank you to all who do, I wouldn't be here without you.

I lived in Malaysia and couldn’t donate there due to vCJD concerns. When I came back I couldn’t donate here because of the risk of infectious diseases from Malaysia! I’m now allowed to donate again here after a Malaria test but my blood pressure is so low they sometimes don’t get a full pint donation which is a shame as there is less they can do with it.

I've been rejected a couple of times due to anaemia but recently my iron levels have been better so I've been able to successfully donate

I've never had my BP checked when I've attended to give blood. Did they check it as routine or because of the medication you are taking?Or were they concerned that you looked unwell?

I’ve never had my BP taken when I’ve donated. I do get it read regularly as my DP has a machine.

Op don’t feel stupid. We can’t all know everything can we? And I think you’re taking just the right approach to see it as a wake up call with regards to diet and exercise. I’d see your GP too though, just to be sure.

Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be donating again in no time