Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rejected from donating blood....

80 replies

FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 11/08/2018 00:29

....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.

OP posts:
twoheaped · 11/08/2018 08:22

When they cuff you to insert the needle, do they do a discrete blood pressure check then?
Can't say I've ever had a BP check a la GP's.

Original poster
FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 11/08/2018 08:25

scaevola I’m in Australia, and you have to complete a questionnaire each time, plus they ask weight and measure your BP and iron levels.

It’s always been the same here since I started doing it back in 1997! The service showed me my old BPs back from 1997 yesterday - oh to be that weight and BP [and age!) again!

And yes girlwiththeatabstrab I have a GPs appointment booked for next week and of course will follow their advice, but in the meantime exercise and trying to lose weight is not a bad thing for me and so I will start that too.

I’ve realised I’ve been complaining of a red face and needing more makeup to cover it in the last few years....I’m now wondering if that’s related too.

OP posts:
Original poster
FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 11/08/2018 08:29

Oh, and I asked yesterday why they take BP. Thyme said it was due to my health and recovery. There is a potential risk to my health, so they decline it.

They still let me have a free milkshake though....but I didn’t feel I had earnt it Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 11/08/2018 08:31

twoheaped no, in Australia they take you into a separate small desk room, before the donation and go through the questionnaire, take weight, check iron and BP. It takes about 3-4 mins, then they lead you to another room with everyone else for the donation.then to the little cafe for free food!

OP posts:
lljkk · 11/08/2018 08:57

What was Ur actual BP, NorthStar?
As part of a physiology expt. I had my BP taken recently, much higher than expected although at least still in healthy range. I'm 50 & I probably eat too many salty foods, but still Shock. I don't tick other risk factors. Hymph.

Slartybartfast · 11/08/2018 08:59

I had high BP as per a well being check at occ health.
i understand it is a wake up call op. Thanks
worrying.

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 11/08/2018 09:01

I used to donate blood and sometimes my iron would be too low and I felt really awful and then I'd have a second test for something, when they would say ok. No idea what though.

Then I had two blood transfusions.

Why can't you donate though? Because I definitely felt a bit odd after getting the blood. I think you know you have have someone else running through your body. So I did a bit of googling and it says blood becomes your own again after a certain period of time. So why can't you donate. Presumably the blood you were driven was good enough in the first place ( early 90's not withstanding).

Smoothsailing9 · 11/08/2018 09:02

Just another thanks to all those who donate blood. I had a blood transfusion after DS1’s birth, meaning I am unable to give blood in the UK, but I am endlessly grateful to those whose blood I received. Hope you get your blood pressure sorted OP.

Bluesheep8 · 11/08/2018 09:10

As a pp said, apparently I can't give blood as I have MS. I can't work out why this is the case. Does anyone know?

ShastaBeast · 11/08/2018 09:17

At least you can see there may be reasons why and you have the chance to reduce it. It’s good to take it seriously. You’ll probably have a 24hr monitor first but I find it handy to check myself and home monitors are very cheap now.

Foodylicious · 11/08/2018 09:50

bluesheep
Does this help?
www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/giving-blood-and-bone-marrow

Allthewaves · 11/08/2018 10:20

Iv been permanently removed as my iron levels are too low constantly since my last child years ago. They raised the level of iron so I will probably never be able to donate now.

AmberNectarine · 11/08/2018 12:30

I would love to be able to donate, but having been the recipient of a whopping seven transfusions and also anaemic, my blood is no use to anyone but myself (and even then not always 😄).

As such I am so, so grateful to everyone who donates. You are all legends who keep people like me alive, so cheers for that!

lljkk · 11/08/2018 12:37

Ooh! Just found out they can donate from 17. Any tips how I can encourage DD to donate (will be 17 in October). She is not known for philanthropic perspective. I am hoping I can persuade DH to take her, anyway (he's O-, and DD is either A or B).

pigsDOfly · 11/08/2018 12:52

@RB68. You make it sound so simple: lose a bit of weight and work on your fitness.

I had massively high blood pressure. I'm slim, my diet consists of everything I should be eating to ensure normal blood pressure and a healthy heart. I don't smoke or drink alcohol and when it was first diagnosed I would say I was pretty active; still reasonably active but not quite as much.

I have a history of hypertension and heart problems in my family and nothing I have done has caused it and nor have I been able to change it without medication.

I have had to take medicine for it and as time has gone on I have had to start taking medication for further heart problems.

Don't believe all the hype around controlling everything to do with health by diet and exercise. For a great many people being unwell is not a lifestyle choice.

SpoonBlender · 11/08/2018 13:01

Everyone else has already given good advice, but I don't think anyone has mentioned that since you didn't give blood this session you don't have to wait three months until next time - you can book up as soon as you've got your BP under control.

Good luck with your doctor's appointment about it, hopefully it'll be something simple and treatable rather than systemic like Pigs is unlucky enough to have inherited.

(Conversely for Pigs, for most people BP is entirely manageable by health, that's not "hype" just because it doesn't work for you as a genetic sufferer)

pigsDOfly · 11/08/2018 13:10

Okay, maybe hype isn't the right word, but why assume that the OP must be overweight and doesn't do any exercise and has therefore brought her high blood pressure on herself.

It annoys me when people make a judgement about someone they have never met and throw out 'advice' in a condescending way, when actually they have no idea what's causing the problem in the first place.

insideoutsider · 11/08/2018 13:34

I was rejected because my veins were too small. I was completely heart-broken especially because there is very little chance of my veins increasing in size.
I'm an ethnic minority and there's a huge scarcity of blood for ethnic minorities.

They did so many tests, I had an additional questionnaire to ask about tropical diseases, I had eaten and drank so much that morning and had vitamins a whole month before. They only discovered the size issue when I was on the bench with the needle about to go in. I had never felt so unwanted.

I hope smaller needles can be invented. It feels such a waste that some of us are walking around willing to give and some people are dying.

Hope you can get back in shape and return to giving blood soon.

Clarich007 · 11/08/2018 14:17

Hi Follow
I really feel for you but well done for donating for so many years.
I'm 67 and have given 66 pints so far, been donating since I was 18.
My last session was cut short as the needle wasn't inserted properly or far enough.I knew immediately and said so but he kept repositioning the tape and fiddling around moving the needle which resulted in a massive bruise. After a few minutes he asked a colleague to help him but neither would tell me what was going on. Finally he said we have to stop this session.I must admit I was upset, I know mistakes happen but he wouldn't say why.I asked what will happen to my blood he just shrugged and said "It going in the bin" Charming bedside manner.
Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread. I don't know the answer but hope you are ok and will be able to carry on donating in the future. I've always enjoyed the thought that I might be doing something good

runningkeenster · 11/08/2018 15:50

I've donated in the UK (England) since 1990 and in Germany and I've only ever had my iron levels checked, not blood pressure or anything else.

runningkeenster · 11/08/2018 15:50

.I asked what will happen to my blood he just shrugged and said "It going in the bin" Charming bedside manner

If they don't get a full bag they powder it and use it for burns. It doesn't get wasted. Sounds like he was a bit of a charmer, not.

HemanOrSheRa · 11/08/2018 15:54

insideoutsider I'm the same Sad.

LeftRightCentre · 11/08/2018 16:00

What pigs said. My BIL is the same. OP, first thing is to see your GP.

Original poster
FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 11/08/2018 16:17

Iljkk I’m embarrassed to say it was 147/109. Apparently it was the 109 part that caused the problem. They don’t take people over 100.

Spoonblender thanks, yes they did say I could come back whenever, and I originally booked for next week (as I thought BP was like heart rate, and they had caught me on a busy/stressful day) but since booking the GP appointment and googling, I see it’s a bigger issue. I have cancelled the next appointment and will speak to my doctor before rebooking.

Thanks everyone for their support. I still feel odd about it, but more positive hearing others stories, and better now I have a plan in place to address it.

OP posts:
Mamamiaherewegoagainmymy · 11/08/2018 16:22

I've only given blood once. It took me so long to recover that the nurse told me not to go again as I need it more! Grin2