Nervous about blood donating...
Annie Deighnaugh
4 years ago
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Comments (14)
jtc
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Hemoglobin too low to donate blood
Comments (6)"I've been a strict ovo-lacto vegetarian for about 16 years, so it's not surprising I'm a little on the low side. I know this isn't low enough to be considered anemia, and it certainly isn't causing any symptoms; but it's annoying to go to the trouble of going over there and then being turned away." Improve your diet ... you are barely making ends meet on your iron intake if you are menopausal and still too low to donate. "I've been a strict ovo-lacto vegetarian for about 16 years, so it's not surprising I'm a little on the low side." Making hemoglobin takes basically iron and protein. Both can be in short supply on this kind of diet. Increase your protein intake and take low-dose iron supplements or start cooking in cast-iron cookware. Hemoglobin and blood cells are continually being produced, but it takes a couple of weeks to boost your hemoglobin by a couple of tenths ... if someone is seriously anemic the usually rebound faster....See MoreTeenage 'nervous stomach' problems
Comments (30)First of all, thank you all for your thoughtful comments. Not much to report, really. First an almost-funny but not really aspect of the visit... earlier in the afternoon DS said to me, "They're not going to stick that q-tip thing down my throat are they?" I said of course not, that's for strep. Again, he is the best kid, never a drama queen (older DS has that job), but he has this vomiting phobia which includes a huge fear of that strep test because of the gagging issue. He has had strep once, and has had the test maybe twice, but it was so traumatic! And PS the last time he had it done was at least 5 years ago and it was a huge ordeal. So, we went to the doctor -- who was not our usual doc, but one we haven't seen before -- and explained the situation. By then DS was beside himself, could not get comfortable in the exam room, kept going back and forth to the bathroom, etc., while we waited in the exam room for the doc to show up. Doc examined him, noted that he has gained something like 15-20 lbs. since Oct. (he has also grown about 4-5 inches since then), and sees that he has a low temp of 99-point-something. So he says, "It could possibly be strep -- sometimes the only symptom is stomach upset. We need to do a test." And DS loses his mind. It was almost comical but not really. It took a good 20 minutes to get him to cooperate. It was ridiculous, really. And again, this is my kid who gives us NO trouble, ever, so it's just weird to see him act like this (tears, refusing to open his mouth, acting like he's going to leave the room). Anyway... after all that, the quick test was negative. (I was actually hoping it was strep so we could show him that the test was worth doing! Not to mention an easy fix w/ antibiotics. So, basically the doc said there is a stomach bug going around (as well as strep), and that is likely what he has. He said to call if it gets worse, of course, but he thinks it will resolve itself. He didn't seem overly concerned about the on-and-off minor stomach issues that I mentioned, but I also didn't press the issue because frankly, after the Huge Drama over the strep test, I just wanted to get out of there. My plan now is to see what happens over the next few weeks, especially as school gets closer. He's going to high school in Sept., so I'm thinking a new school may mean some anxiety and we'll see if stomach issues come up again. If so, we will make an appt. to see his regular doc and talk about what to do. What I think, knowing DS and observing him all this time, is that he gets nervous about things sometimes. Older DS has major anxiety issues and is very vocal. Younger DS probably has some minor anxiety issues but he is not vocal about them at all, so he stuffs it inside and it affects his stomach. Then he has this vomiting phobia which compounds the original problem, because then he's afraid of vomiting, which makes him more nervous and thereby makes his stomach feel worse. I could totally see it yesterday. When he was home, he seemed OK -- not eating much, still going into the bathroom occasionally when he thought he might vomit, but basically OK. When we got to the doc's office, I think he became even more worried about vomiting in public, so he was antsy and going back and forth to the bathroom every 5 minutes. While I was watching him, I realized he was acting the same exact way in the airport in June when he was feeling sick. We were in the security line and he was convinced he was going to vomit and his whole demeanor was exactly the same as in the doc's office... and he never did throw up. And he was totally fine by the next day. DS is sooo much like DH in almost every way -- they look alike, they act alike, and I suspect DS has inherited the adolescent stress issues that DH had at the same age. DH confirmed last night that he was the same exact age when he started getting really bad migraines. They stopped after a year or two. Maybe it's growth/puberty related? He has been growing like crazy -- as I said, about 4-5" since last fall. Anyway, I will definitely keep an eye on him and by the way, he slept through the night last night without getting up, and is still sound asleep, so I suspect he might be feeling better today. I still can't be sure if this particular stomach issue is really just a little stomach bug, or if it's anxiety about camp, but either way, hopefully the 'bug' will pass within the next 1-2 days, or the anxiety will pass once he gets to camp and gets into the routine there. (Camp is only an hour from home, so worst case scenario, we can run up and get him at any time.) Then I'd like to visit his own doc at a time when DS is actually feeling okay, so he's not emotional or just feeling ill, so we can talk about the whole situation. He actually has a physical coming up in Sept/Oct so that may be the perfect opportunity, unless things get worse before then....See MoreTalking about blood...What is your blood type?
Comments (41)A+ ... and I used to give blood frequently, but several years ago they said that one couldn't past age 70. That didn't come into effect for me, though, for prior to that they found something in my blood that, though not a problem for me, might be troublesome for others so they wouldn't take it any more. May I add my request to that already made that you look into the possibility of giving blood, and if you can, please do so, and make a habit of it. It really is a life-saver in many situations and they are often short of needed supplies ... especially in summer, when folks go on vacation. Where else can you find an opportunity to make a life-saving gift ... at, apart from a minor prick in the arm, zero cost to you? Another mark of a good citizen. Memo particularly to folks who claim to be Christian: When your life here is complete and, on arrival at the Great Gate, you are sitting for your final exam, when you come to the question, "Did you donate blood?" and, for those who check off "No", when the question for those who choose that option is, "Why not?" ... ... what will you say? ole joyful...See MoreI gave Convalescent Blood yesterday
Comments (21)Glad to know you are over it and it's wonderful you are able to donate convalescent plasma. I donate blood regularly and so far the antibody test has come back negative every time. I went yesterday to donate again and they asked if I could give plasma instead given i have a rarish blood type so I did. It took two plus hours and was a little weird but no problem really. The only surprising thing was once I got home I was utterly exhausted and despite drinking tons of water and eating a balanced meal I had to spend the rest of the day resting. My blood pressure was super low. every time I got up to try and do anything I got light headed and my heart rate went way up, like over 130 to 144 at one point. Normal is 60` s. I think I'll stick to just donating blood from now on, I was really surprised that it had this effect, wonder if it's age related or just me?...See Morearcy_gw
4 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
4 years agoElmer J Fudd
4 years agomaifleur03
4 years agomorz8 - Washington Coast
4 years agoBluebell66
4 years agoUser
4 years agosephia_wa
4 years agojewels_ks
4 years agoElmer J Fudd
4 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
4 years agograpefruit1_ar
4 years ago
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