I never knew that beets were so good for iron. I learn something new every day!

Debby, I'm so sorry that you were disappointed today. Don't dwell on the feeling that you "let three people down" today. Dwell instead on the huge number of folks you have already helped. Plus, you now know that you need to make yourself healthier, so you *did* help one person today - yourself! Eat well for a couple of weeks and then you can go to CBS to donate again, and get back on a regular donation schedule.

My next appointment is April 30th. My sister and I always go together, so by then it should be good. I never knew about beets either. But they do say fruits and veggies have their colour and shape for a reason. A beet is deep red: like blood. A tomato cut in four has four chambers, like your heart. It's also red. I know there's more.... LOL She also told me to eat Cheerios. I don't like regular Cheerios, I may as well eat styrofoam but will see if the Multi Grain Cheerios have just as much iron in them. I have lots of that at home already.

With all the blood you have given in the past, don't beat yourself up..This is just a one time thing.......You'll be back to helping in no time.

Well, at least your intentions were good and you found out that your blood was low. My sister in laws and my daughters suffer from low blood, but I never have. Yes, they have to eat alot of greens, especially spinach and we all love beets. One of my daughters drs. has her on prescription iron, but she takes it ONLY when she gets to feeling like she can't go, as she says it makes her quite constipated and hates taking the iron.

You are an angel to donate so regularly. You've saved lives, so don't feel bad about one donation not made. People will get the blood they need, and you can donate another time when your iron is up.

If my iron is too low, they reschedule me for 3 weeks. I eat Cream of Wheat and add raisins while it is cooking.

I'm not a fan of cream of wheat, but don't mind Oatmeal. I put the raisins in it too, along with cinnamon and brown sugar. I checked the iron content on the multi grain Cheerios, and it's 30% of your daily recommended allowance. I like to snack on it dry, so I'll be doing that again starting today. I could have rebooked by appointment, but like going with my sister. Parking is tight there, and she's better at getting into the narrow spots than I am. Otherwise I bring my husband. LOL And he gets bored.

That is a disappointment. But don't feel like you let three people down. There is next time. (((Debby))) I too, love liver and beets. Now you have a great excuse to eat two things you love.

I used to donate regularly. There were a few times my iron was too low. I started eating Smart Start cereal for breakfast. It's very tasty and a serving gives you 100% of the daily recommended amount of iron.

So I'm curious, how many gallons have you given? That is very nice that you give so often. We can only give something like 4 times a year here because the Red Cross only comes that often and there's no where else to give. We are quite rural here.

Thanks again. I have needed blood before and I'm really glad it was available.

I've never seen that cereal here, but will look for it. Do you have a box of it at home right now? Can you tell me if it has actual blueberries in it, or blueberry chips? A lot of food out there that claims to have blueberries in it, actually make them from sugar and syrup then use food colouring to make them look like blueberries.

Try making your own trail mix type snack. I make mine with Rice Chex (I am mildly allergic to oats), add raisins, dried cranberries, and some other dried fruit that is called Berry Medley. I also add peanuts (I am allergic to almonds but you could use those) and for the sweet taste, a handful of the dark chocolate ships that you use for baking. Its really good and has lots of iron in the raisins, other fruits. Plus dsark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate.

Had you donated blood when your hemoglobin was too low, it would be less effective in the patients receiving it.....well, at least the oxygen carrying cells.
So you did the people a favor.
And yourself....now you will be eating better, will have more energy and will be better able to help next time.
Keep up the good work!

I love dried prunes and apricots of course you have to be careful on the prunes LOL but they are good sources of iron. Pumpkin seeds are too and they are really good to snack on.
I also like the canned smoked oysters and clams they are really good to add to a big salad full of those leafy green veggies include some kale and you have a really iron rich meal.
this site has a good explanation about the Heme and non-heme iron.
Dietary Sources of Iron

It is awesome that you and your sister do this regularly you have likely saved a few lives by now. I have a friend that does it very often and she got her token/award for going over the amount required to get the award, I can not remember how much she told me it was but very impressive.

I can no longer donate. We all should thank those that do it is such a great gift you are giving.
Thanks

I donated one time. They tested my blood, and I was able to donate. But a little while later I received a letter saying it was refused and to go to my doctor for blood work done.

Everything was fine, but I've never donated since. Maybe I have something they can't use or something.

With Mom being as sick as she is, she's had several transfusions, (4 more units again this past Tuesday). Apparently there are only 8 litres of blood in our whole body.
She's had the equivalent of a couple of people.

I want to donate and help out other people and I will try again.

I used to donate a lot but I was stationed over in Europe, came home and tried to donate they wouldn't take my blood anymore because of possible mad cow disease. ) :

Thank you for all your past blood donations. Now go eat that liver and beets and spinach and get yourself healthy! Don't worry about donating blood. If you can't, then don't beat yourself up. Just worry about your owqn health!

I just ate a big bowl of dry multi grain Cheerios. I will get that iron up again. It could also explain why I just don't feel like I can get enough sleep lately.

My husband does a lot of the grocery shopping, so I told him to start buying more fresh fruits and veggies and to start leaving the canned and frozen stuff at the store. I prefer fresh veggies anyways.

I have 8 weeks to get it up again. And I will do it! LOL