Knackered after giving blood

[bubblicious3]

Is this normal? I love to give blood but am finding it harder to get back to normal afterwards. I run fairly regularly, but struggle to do so after donation for 4-6 weeks. I also just feel tired. Anyone else find this?

The older I get the harder it is. I am 41 and it takes me a couple of weeks to get back to normal now. I’m going to stop when I get to 50 donations - currently only a couple off.

I used to barely bat an eyelid at giving a pint in my 20s!

Yep me, but it also depends when in my cycle I donate. For my most recent donation sessions I've started taking iron liquid a good few weeks in advance, to give myself a boost. Tbh without it, donating hadn't been making me feel ace but I do it in memory of my friend's son so am happy to continue.

I'm exactly the same. I never used to notice any difference but in the last couple of years I've found I feel really tired and I run quite a bit slower for a week or so. My iron always fails the first test they do (which never was a problem before) so I assume that is the reason I take a while to bounce back.

hmm - no, not at all, and I'm 51.

I can't donate the few days after a period though, as my iron is never high enough so I get turned away. Maybe you are in the situation where you have just enough iron to pass but donation is enough to push it right down?

How are your iron levels? Mine were low, but not too low to give blood. I now make sure I eat loads of green veg before and after donating and I'm less tired than I was after giving.
I'm 61 and giving my 57th donation in August.

I had a long break from donating after children and when I returned I was absolutely whacked for a good few days afterwards. Turned out I had macrocytic anaemia (not connected to iron so not picked up on the tests) and had b12 deficiency due to pernicious anaemia. I can't give blood at all now.

Thanks all. I'm assuming I'm not anaemic as I always pass the drop test, but could be right on the edge. I'm 46 and also coeliac which could have an impact. I'm just sad that it makes me feel crap as I'd love to carry on

Take an iron supplement or adjust your diet. You can carry on!

I have found this too but it’s a bit better if I take regular iron beforehand. Like PP my blood droplet often fails at first but I usually pass on the borderline from second fingerpick.

I used to have this. I was low in iron and vitamin d but was still passing the iron test when I donated. I stopped for a bit and went on iron tablets and now I donate fine.

Yes me too. I gave blood last week, and exercising since has been hard work. I need to take on some more iron, I've found that has really helped previously.

On the plus side, my PT today told me that giving blood burns an extra 700 calories. If only I could do it every day 😂.

I get tired the same day but after a night's sleep am back to normal. A few days or weeks recovery doesn't sound right at all. I'm 46.

I make sure I don't donate when having my period, that makes the tiredness worse.

Hmm my cycle isn't really an issue as I'm on the pill. Maybe I should get a blood test

700 calories! Wow 🤩

I've never noticed that and have donated alot over the years