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.

I have hemochromatosis which is a genetic disease where your body stores iron. The only treatment is to have pints of blood regularly drawn. When I started my ferritin was over 1000 and my blood was taken weekly. A pint a week. I was rarely well! But it was necessary for my overall health.

anyway, eventually I stabilised and was told to go to the donation centre every few months. I have my ferritin levels monitored closely and to keep them where they should be I only donate every six months, and realise I’ve not actually been all year.

My point is I am really closely monitored and told exactly when I should donate. And that’s not often. It doesn’t surprise me that people feel wretched. If I donated more than very occasionally I would end up with ferritin that is too low. I assume it’s the same for many but they aren’t being monitored like me. It’s just not in your interests to do it very often!

I've a very rare blood group and would like to donate but as I had a transfusion 22 years ago I was told I could never donate again.

I feel very rough in the evening when I give blood. My heart pounds and I have a cold sweat when I climb the stairs. But it’s probably my own fault as I don’t follow the advice about eating and drinking plenty beforehand.

If I still felt rough on following days, I’d probably take it as a sign to stop
donating.

I stopped for a year after becoming iron deficient (Ferritin of 8). I have restarted again now while taking iron supplements and feel a lot better, although I have decided to do just twice a year as opposed to the permitted 3.

I have been thinking about this too but don’t have side effects as bad as yours. However, I’m 50 and have donated 40 pints over the years so I’ve done plenty but the past couple of years I feel quite tired the week after. I had a gap in the past due to anaemia but I’m not anemic now. I think my body just suffers more because I’m older. However, I’m a sucker for a free biscuit so keep going 🤭
I think at some point I will have to call it a day when it’s impacting me too much.

Yes I had a similar ferritin level and now it’s back up only give once or twice a year.

I don’t know if my plummeting levels was caused by donating blood. I had had a long gap (6 years) due to life circumstances and then came back and donated 3 times a year by which time I was obviously older and a stone lighter than when I had previously donated. I hope I will remain at normal levels now. It’s important for me to keep giving blood and I love getting the messages telling me where my pint ended up.

Yes I love those messages too! Really gives a sense of achievement. My Dr said my low levels probably were due to donating but who really knows. My Dad gave for years but then couldn’t due to ill health. He had to receive a lot of blood when he was ill so it’s really important to me to do it because I feel
I'm doing it in gratitude for the blood he received. I might feel better about stopping when I get to 50 but I’ve still got 10 to go for that.

There needs to be a huge media drive. I don’t think a lot of young men don’t think about it. Some hard hitting media might drive home the importance of this lifesaving ability we have.
I know when there was a drive for a local donor for bone marrow that many put themselves forward without a second thought.
It needs to be in their face.

Hi there, I'm also RO subtype and white British, I also try and donate as much as possible (though not as many times as you!). I was very dizzy a couple of times, fainted once and the staff didn't want me to donate again - but of course I still get the emails / phone calls etc. Then I had dental implants and had to stop for a bit, but I tried again the other day. I ate properly and didn't exercise on the day, rested for longer afterwards and it was really good. But honestly I needed the break and I think you should take one.

Men make more useful blood donors than women. Their larger bodies and lack of periods mean they can give blood more frequently and they don't carry problematic antibodies that women sometimes get following pregnancies. Any woman who find giving blood difficult medically might do better to persuade a male friend, partner or relative to register to donate than try and force her own body into it.

I had to have 19 units of blood and FFP after having my son. I’m eternally grateful to those that donate, they saved my life.

I would not want anyone to feel unwell though, look after yourself.

You are not selfish, you have done fantastic! Don't jeopardise your own health now though.

I am so grateful to anyone who has donated blood. I had so many blood and platelet transfusions during my treatment and certainly wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you wonderful people.

I'm borderline too. Always been low and am fine in myself but I'm on my 2nd of 3 strikes and I'm out - banned from donating unless their rules have changed.

So I'm now on iron tablets and seeing how I go.

I get you. I always imagine someone I love needing it, perhaps urgently, and that keeps me going.

I had similar issues. I contacted them to be put on 'permanently on a break' so I don't get any reminders, but can still book (and keep my record of 15ish donations) if I ever change my mind. They were nice and understanding about it.

Do start taking calcium, iron, multivitamins.

I don’t have a rare blood group and was eventually sacked as my body just refuses to give out blood fast enough! - but before that my iron levels were borderline with the prick test and I was advised to increase the time between donations, so maybe rather than stopping completely, that’s a consideration ( along with the other advice given to boost yourself up beforehand) ?

i’ve donated 58 times am O- so I get chased. I find I feel best if eat well in the few days before. Perhaps try taking more iron, I’d recommend spatone in the 2-3 weeks leading up to a donation. Even if your iron is “normal” if it’s a little on the low side of normal you might feel more wiped out.

I just looked my record on the app. I have 57 credits and I’m booked in on Saturday. I am B negative and also CMV negative, so I think that’s slightly rare. I think it’s worth donating even if it makes me feel a bit weak on the day.

I was a donor for decades and never once failed to donate or felt unwell afterwards but eventually had to give it up as they made the booking system too difficult to permit me to donate!

The permanent donor centre was always available but it was 20+miles away and inconvenient. I never went there.
I always used the mobile centers (town hall, library, municipal building, church etc) on a walk-in or pre-book basis. Recently however there was no walk-in option and pre-booking had to be done 3-months in advance which made it practically impossible. Even if I received a letter or email requesting my attendance due to low stocks, I STILL had to pre-book months in advance and every time I tried to book, they were either already full or the dates didn't match my diary!
What was really annoying was that they KNEW there would be no-shows and if I was willing to wait (I was), I would eventually be seen but no..... pre-book only.
It is as if they don't want people to attend.☹️

Stop if it’s affecting you badly. Feel proud of all you’ve donated already. I’m a grateful recipient of donated blood, without it I wouldn’t be here. Anyone who has ever donated blood - thank you so very much.

DH donates blood and platelets so he's doing a double shift. I can sponge brownie points off him if I need to stop!

I also love the food afterwards. Last time, they let me have a mint Club bar and a little pack of mini cheddars. I was chuffed.

I had to stop when it took 40 minutes to try to get any out! It's always been difficult (I don't like sharing) but eventually even the staff said thanks but no thanks 😂

You don't have to exhaust all possibilities though and donate to the point you can't physically manage,you're allowed to be cautious with your own health and capacity and heed some pretty significant warning signs. The analogy to put your own oxygen mask on first is a good one. You need to be healthy well and in a good mental state to give to others, otherwise you might be giving blood but perhaps causing yourself to need medical care that could be avoidable if you prioritize your own health. There will be no net benefit to the health system if donating causes you problems. Right now you've done a remarkable amount that most people don't, take the break you need and get yourself checked. In the meantime, why don't you look at doing a little donation promotion,put a poster up in your work, share on social media etc

If your GP has said that your iron is “a little low” then I’d guess it’s actually very very low. IME doctors minimise low iron and the effects that it has. How you’re describing feeling after donating is what happened to me last year and my iron reserves and ferritin were very low. Please get your iron stores tested and you probably need a strong iron supplement.