Iron level slightly too low to donate blood

[MargaritaPracticallyCan]

I've donated blood on and off for 30 years, am 50 and in good general health, but for the last couple of years, my haemoglobin level is just under the 125 level needed to donate - not medically low, but around the 122, 123 mark. My diet's generally good - lots of veg, fish, grains, pulses, mostly home-cooked food.
What else should I be doing in the run up to donating blood to increase my chances of a successful donation? I will eat red meat but tend to avoid a lot of it for health reasons (family history of bowel cancer). I really want to continue donating, it means a lot to me for personal reasons, and I don't want to be struck off which will happen if I 'fail' three times in a row.

Vitamin C helps with absorption of plant-based iron sources.

Cooking in a cast iron pan increases fhe iron content of food.

Increase your red meat consumption in the few days before you donate.

Don’t go to donate straight after exercise.

I've just failed for the second time in a row, and am awaiting blood tests with the GP. The blood service have barred me for 6 months. Mine was around 113, though, so quite a bit lower than yours.

Leafy green veg, red meats, vit C. Avoid tea, coffee, dairy, fizzy drinks at the same time.

When I've been anaemic in the past, I've been put in 200mg ferrous sulphate daily, though last time after a mega long, heavy period, gynae had me on 400mg. I do take it when I'm on my period, whenever one turns up, but otherwise just a normal iron tablet and multivitamin. They're going to check for coeliac this time too, as it runs in the family and can affect iron absorption.

I don't want to be permanently barred, either. I've done over 50 donations, so I've done my share if they fo say no more. But it's one of the few things I do in life which actually helps other people, so I want to go. Plus they do mint Club biscuits.

But I am knackered, (even in the days when i go to bed at sensible times,) so it needs sorting.

Thanks @fairlygoodmother, have re-booked and will definitely up the Vit C and iron rich food before my next session. Though I do work out most days, only walked yesterday in anticipation of donating.

are you actually iron deficient? The Hb on it's own doesn't tell you anything about your iron status.

@EBearhug it's a bit frustrating as mine isn't low enough to need intervention, but will definitely make a concerted effort to take in more iron rich food before my next donation.
I'm perimenopausal and my periods are all over the place and very heavy, in fact, I've just started another one 10 days after my last ended so am guessing that might have an impact on iron levels. I took iron supplements when pregnant but they made me very constipated. Totally agree with you on mint clubs 😀.

@Greybeardy no idea, but I don't have any symptoms of being iron deficient. The donor nursing staff always explain that my iron might be low therefore impacting haemoglobin production. Maybe I'll ask GP for a blood test to check iron levels.

I've had this a few times in the past. I find that taking spatone in a glass of orange juice the week before a donation works. Spatone being liquid seems to be gentler on the digestion than tablets.

Second Spatone, you can buy it from Amazon. It’s the only way I can keep donating plasma as my Hb sits around 122-125. Strangely it drops quite a lot after donation which it’s not meant to do with plasma as the RBC’s are returned.

Ah yeah @RenaissanceBaby and @Toothlessisgreat, great call re Spatone, I can remember the taste of that from way back during both of my pregnancies - going to order some.

Yes I agree with using Spatone. No side effects that I've ever noticed. I use it when I have low energy levels and the difference it makes is marked. I started using it when I felt very tired for a protracted period of time due to low iron and then when I gave blood the next time the nurse said my blood "sank like a stone" in the test. Which is good apparently!

@Jackrussellsaremad haha, yep sinking blood is great! Mine faffs around half way down the tube then it's on to the testing machine thing....

i tried twice and had no luck and they barred me, so just to be aware you might not get three goes before barring.

I’d say take the spatone for a good 8-12 weeks before donating again. It’s not a quick fix.

@AelinAG they did say three strikes,.so am hoping that's the case; the info on the blood donor website also says even if they ask you to stop, you can reapply after 18 months, so I'd probably do that.

@RenaissanceBaby I'll start taking it now, can't do any harm, especially as I'm perimenopausal with erratic, heavy periods. Trying all sorts to even things out and feel as good as I can.

GP to the GP and get bloods done, you know what you're dealing with then. It's not just HG, but red cell count, ferritin etc

My GP was bloody useless but I have the numbers now so I will go back and get retested and see how much of an improvement I can make.

@CanOfMangoTango This isn't for low iron levels that would concern a GP. To give blood your levels have to be at the higher end of average. The OP was just looking for a little 'boost' leading up to donation.

@Toothlessisgreat you have to be practically dead before a GP will worry about iron levels!

I’ve been turned away several times and last time my level was around 107. That was four months after a previous donation where my level was 130.

i was barred for a year.

I got my level up to 123 by January iron and vitamin c but my doctor daughter is pushing for a colonoscopy as I seem to have fallen off the surveillance programme I was on because of family history. FIT test was normal and no gastro symptoms.

I think I just didn’t replenish my iron between donations and four months wasn’t long enough. I don’t eat much red meat and obviously need to supplement more.