To stop giving blood?

[MadMAGA]

I've donated 20 times, with breaks for pregnancy, breastfeeding and surgeries. I started donating again a couple of years ago but every time wipes me out. I feel nauseous for the rest of the day, have a day or two when I keep falling asleep no matter what I do, then another few days of feeling rough. I try to plan donations around when I'll have time to rest afterwards but it means writing off weekends and arranging WFH on days I'd normally be in the office. I've had blood tests and there's nothing wrong with me.

OTOH, it seems like a small sacrifice to help people in need of a transfusion. I have a rare blood type that's particularly helpful to people with sickle cell anaemia and I feel awful that I'm considering stopping doing something that could save their lives.

To add: I only started getting unwell after donating after I returned from a break. It used to have no ill effects at all and I'd just carry on with life as normal.

I think only you can decide if you should stop or not, although I would suggest you seriously consider it because that doesn't seem like a normal or reasonable reaction to a blood donation. However, I really just wanted to say a big well done on donating so many times! That's amazing!

I started feeling like that after donating, then I went to donate and my iron was too low, then it got worse and I'm not allowed to donate at the moment.
Might be worth getting a blood test to check your iron/ferritin and b12 mine were all through the floor

I have R0 subtype, which I assume is what you have, and I did feel guilty for postponing my appointment because I was training for a race and then it was just too hot over the summer. I am getting older and it does wipe me out more. You can only do what you can do!

I’d take a break from it. You need to look after yourself before you’re able to look after others.
You've done so well!

It's your body and your choice and you have every right to choose whether or not to donate.

I am incredibly grateful to all blood donors. My mum haemorrhaged really badly giving birth to my younger sibling and we would have grown up motherless if it hadn't been for the multiple donors whose blood she received, who saved her life.

I donated as much as I could when I was allowed to but I am not allowed to any more as I have had cancer.

Only you can decide whether the amount of poorly you feel after donating is a consequence that you are wiling to bear or if it's actually too much. No one will blame you if you don't feel able to continue, you do not owe your blood to anyone. If you choose to give it, then the recipient will be very grateful, you'll just never hear that exact person's exact story as to why.

YANBU at all. I don't donate at all, despite having a fairly rare blood type, because I am afraid of needles. Your own health needs to come first.

Yes, I'm R0. I'm not sure how as I'm as boringly white British as they come, but I'm glad it's helpful!

I went to email the customer service desk earlier but felt too guilty to send it.

You're experiencing negative effects from your donations now for days after, it's affecting your daily life, and it's time to stop sacrificing your wellbeing. You might want to call your doc and see if you need to have some blood work drawn.

Have you been seriously hydrating and drinking some electrolyte replacement fluids before and after you donate?

I’m also an Ro donor. I nearly had to stop donating due to borderline anaemia, but I now take an iron tablet daily, and feel much better after donating.

It would be worth investigating why, for your own information.
You've done a good thing trying to carry on.

I feel the same way op. I have blood type O neg universal donor and they are constantly ringing me and sending letters asking me to donate so I do try to do so regularly. However the last time I felt really unwell after donating and the time before that I very nearly fainted in a cafe after donating. I've worked in Nursing for 30 years though mainly in haematology and Oncology and see how important it is. I am due to donate next week and am going to see how this one goes and then decide whether to stop.

You’ve already helped more than most people, and you should feel proud of yourself for that. Don’t feel guilty for putting yourself first. My iron is often low so I only donate a couple of times a year when I feel great. If you book an appointment for quite far in the future, they won’t keep ringing to harass you if you did want to try giving less often to see if it makes a difference. Also, your blood tests could be in range, but not optimal. It might be worth checking the results and seeing if anything is low.

You have played your part. Well done. A lot of people never think about giving blood.

My blood is important to donate as I am O negative. I am underweight now so I can’t give blood at the moment. My two sisters give blood. My father gave blood regularly as he knew O negative was important. I only did it once and like you I was wiped out, my blood pressure didn’t stabilise for a week. I have low blood pressure anyway.
It is on my to do list when I get my weight up.

I felt the same after donating - but now I take iron tablets for a couple of days before and after and experience no more symptoms. Might be worth trying once to see if it helps?

I’ve only managed to donate once so you should be very very proud of your 20 donations. After mine I felt very unwell for over a week almost passing out in supermarkets and being unable to drive as a result. I felt very weepy and had an awful sense of doom. I’ve never felt that way before.

I think a pint is a lot to take from a woman compared with a man due to our smaller size and volume but I understand the reasons why it needs to be a pint. I don’t think I could go through that again

I hadn't thought of electrolytes. Giving those and iron supplements a go for one last shot sounds like a good plan. If it doesn't help then I'll have done everything I can.

YANBU

You need to put yourself first.

I stopped donating about 5 years ago. Like you, I'd made a lot of donations, more than a lot of others have x

I was refused (medical reasons) but I know what you mean about feeling guilt. Could you maybe try to get it done at a time when you can arrange wfh more easily?
Or is there any way they can do a smaller draw? Like I say, I've not been allowed to do it for years, and I don't know whether this would be possible. As I was about the minimum weight limit in the days I used to do it, I wished they'd take a smaller load from me, but it was all or nothing then. Maybe ask if this has changed?

Some time ago I gave blood 3 times but had worrying after effects. As a previous poster has said, I asked if it was possible to donate half the standard amount but the answer was a definite no, so I had to stop.

I’m R0 as well and not allowed to donate any more as it was becoming too difficult for them to extract the blood. Gutted, I’d only managed about 10.

I was stopped from donating again after I fainted the evening after giving blood. I bet if you told them your symptoms after giving blood they'd rather you didn't. It's not worth your own health. I'm O- too.

Thank you for donating so many times. I had a blood transfusion when I was 13 and would have died without it. I'm very grateful to anyone who gives their time and their blood. If this is making you unwell now, it's time to stop. You will have saved lives. Always remember that and feel proud of yourself. This stranger on the Internet is proud of you.

Normal is a massive range for bloods. You have to be pretty seriously deficient in something before they consider you deficient. But in reality, just being a little low can make you feel shit after donating.

Take a multi vitamin with Iron in it for a month before, drink electrolytes right beforehand, or if you don't like those drinks, make sure you eat something salty right before and something sweet right after. Plus plenty of water that day.

I’ve only given twice and for various reasons had to postpone my next one, but MY GOD the amount they hassle me. Phone calls, emails, texts. I’m about to tell them to F off. I digress, but OP you def should have a break if you feel terrible.