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When did you last give blood?

93 watchers

alpenrose Jul 2020 8:43pm, 1 Jul 2020 45,122 posts	Quote Pin alpenrose he first time I went I just walked in and asked about donating. I'd always thought about doing it but it took until my early 50s (I think) before I finally did it. Since I started running I found that it messes me up for a good couple of weeks after so I try to book around races these days. Text came in this evening saying mine's been issued to St Bartholemew's Hospital.
Sampson Jul 2020 4:10pm, 2 Jul 2020 88 posts	Quote Pin Sampson Went to give blood this afternoon but my iron was too low. 124. Boooo. Could my increased mileage be to blame? fetcheveryone.com/blog/65832/2020/7#blog408228
LindsD Jul 2020 4:13pm, 2 Jul 2020 38,526 posts	Quote Pin LindsD Hate that! But yes, definitely. (haven't read blog)
Velociraptor Jul 2020 4:19pm, 2 Jul 2020 47,431 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor Possibly, Sampson. Plasma volume increases more than red cell volume in response to regular running so you can get a slight reduction of your haemoglobin by dilution. If you're otherwise well and not losing blood from anywhere, this could be an explanation. Other possibilities are not getting enough absorbable iron from food and the test being wrong (been there with that one - 12.0 on the fingerstab test at the point of donation, 13.7 when checked by my GP on a proper sample drawn from a vein a few days later).
HappyG(rrr) Jul 2020 4:19pm, 2 Jul 2020 35,443 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Sampson, I got a 6 month ban for low Hb levels (125 IIRC, and it's 135 min for a man isn't it?) after an ultra marathon (a few days later). I've had a few around the 135 and always asked for a retest, from vein if necessary and that's allowed me to proceed. I pop iron pills and try and each extra spinach (serioius!) for 3 days before my appointment now. Commiserations! G
Little Nemo Jul 2020 4:31pm, 2 Jul 2020 10,751 posts	Quote Pin Little Nemo Slightly regretting choosing an 8.15 appointment tomorrow, going to have to get up so early!
GordonG Jul 2020 7:55pm, 2 Jul 2020 8,235 posts	Quote Pin GordonG puts on best Popeye voice for Happy ugugugugugugugugug
Oranj Jul 2020 8:09pm, 2 Jul 2020 2,092 posts	Quote Pin Oranj I'm on a 50/50 streak for failing the test rather than passing, and, given my training volumes I would suggest that's a plausible explanation. Plasma volume can increase to the point where you'd measure as borderline anaemic after a couple of big days of training, mainly because the body's response to that overload seems to be to hoard fluid. Unfortunately if you knew you were about to give blood and wanted to bank a few days heavy training before taking it easy, this is exactly what'll happen. I have never been asked to take a 6-month break though, just to turn up after 3 months again. That must be a local variation of the low-Hb rules.
Rog T Jul 2020 8:58pm, 2 Jul 2020 415 posts	Quote Pin Rog T I was too low to donate a couple of weeks ago - not donated for a while and it's the second time I've been low. Not so low that I had to report to GP, just the 'give it 12 weeks' too low. I think I was guilty of trying to bank the heavy training as Oranj mentions. Will allow myself time either side in future.
Sampson Jul 2020 9:44pm, 2 Jul 2020 89 posts	Quote Pin Sampson Thanks for the feedback, folks. I intend to come up with a plan to prevent it in future, so I appreciate the input. It happened to me before when I was donating every 8 weeks on the INTERVAL study. I had 2 low readings on the trot at that time and got the 6-month callback as a result. I'm also vegan, so I guess I should try harder. I'm hoping that a couple of iron-rich smoothies every week might do the trick.