Donating blood

[Librariesrule]

Looked online and think it's OK, but just want to ask if anyone had been turned away from donating blood because they're using mounjaro? Haven't been able to donate for a while and have an appointment this afternoon.

Mounjaro itself is fine but it’s caused my iron levels to go down so I was refused for that reason. Was advised to give it some time for my body to adjust and go back to retaining nutrients properly before trying again. In itself it’s fine though, it just needed a more senior member of staff to sign it off.

I have donated blood with no problem. Apparently you lose 0.6lb per donation!

Hope you don't mind me butting in, even tho I'm not on the meds. Just wanted to say that I was turned down last time I tried to donate bcs of low haemoglobin, which I think was largely the result of not getting enough iron in my diet.

It made sense, as I';ve been feeling really crap and tired for a while, and it has made me a bit fearful of future donation.

I'd really recommend taking positive action to keep iron levels up while your food intake is restricted. Two big tactics to use are: (1) cutting down on caffeine (which interferes with iron absorption) and not having it close to a meal; (2) Being wary of the fact that you can't absorb iron so well if you are eating a lot of calcium close to the time that you eat the iron rich food.

Also consider iron supplements.

@NebulouslyContemporaneouswhy are you fearful, if I might ask? I've done well over 25 donations, have been turned away 1 or 2 times due to low iron and been borderline several more. It's why they test.

Hi @Justlovedogs ,

I agree that these things can be managed. I guess I'm just feeling wary about the possibility that I might struggle again to recoup lost haemoglobin and continue to feel crap. I've been turned away once or twice in the past, but on this occasion my levels were low enough for them to recommend I saw a doctor. They also barred me from giving blood for a year or 18 months.

I'll try and rectify it, and I will donate again, but I will be much more conscious of the need to monitor this aspect of my diet.

I hate not having my usual energy levels, and it made me think that if a blood donor is eating very sparsely as a result of WLI they must be extra-kind to themselves in respect of iron levels.

Yep I've donated blood, you have to have an extra chat with a nurse, they just ask you about it and if your feeling well etc.. but it was fine..

I went to donate last night. MJ not a problem, iron levels were fine but because I have been referred to have a camera investigation of my throat I’m not allowed to donate or for 4 months after. If you are waiting on any medial investigations you can’t donate. Just saying as I was waiting around for 40mins to find this out so was a bit irritating. Hopefully it might save anyone here waiting around unnecessarily

I’ve donated twice so far whilst on MJ. No issues.

I guess this must be centre/trust specific, as I was told no due to my Mounjaro use!

Happy to report donation was a success. Was asked a couple of questions about who supplier is and if I had side effects. I got extra kudos (and an extra mint club) 😍 because I have 'baby' blood.

@Librariesrule glad you manage to donate. Sounds like you must be CMV negative like me, mine often goes to neonatal, something about the CMV antibodies is bad for tiny babies. I find it all very fascinating. I’m contacted a lot as CMV neg and O neg so my blood can go pretty much anywhere. I love the little messages you get but seems like I won’t be able to donate for several months now.

Oh bother. I've got blood envy now. I like feeling special about my O neg blood, but now I see that there is a way more special kind of blood, CMV neg, that I have never heard of, and that my blood hurts babies