When did you last give blood?

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Little Nemo 27 Nov 9:38pm, 27 Nov 2024 15,916 posts	0 Little Nemo Thanks Vrap! I'll just carry on as normal and see what happens next time.
HappyG(rrr) 28 Nov 9:01am, 28 Nov 2024 51,444 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Velociraptor wrote:Wine and/or coffee in the days before donating shouldn't cause a low Hb. Don't know where I read it then V'rap. I'm as vulnerable to a random medically-unsound rumour on t'internet as anyone. Apols for misinformation! Best o luck LN! G
Groundhog 28 Nov 12:59pm, 28 Nov 2024 6,670 posts	0 Groundhog I had a borderline HG test at my last but one donation. The leaflet I was given suggested not drinking tea around meal times as something in the tea inhibited iron uptake.
Little Nemo 28 Nov 1:01pm, 28 Nov 2024 15,921 posts	0 Little Nemo I must have the same leaflet. I don't drink tea so that's not an issue for me.
Velociraptor 28 Nov 1:04pm, 28 Nov 2024 72,265 posts	0 Velociraptor Long term, coffee and tea have a weak effect in inhibiting iron absorption, but just having coffee or tea in the few days before donating wouldn't make a critical difference.
Groundhog 28 Nov 1:08pm, 28 Nov 2024 6,672 posts	0 Groundhog My issue might have been trying to loose weight and dieting and possibly just not having enough veg in the week or so before. Possibly a half marathon as well which were more likely factors.
Velociraptor 28 Nov 2:04pm, 28 Nov 2024 72,268 posts	0 Velociraptor Very few things you do only in the week or so before a donation short of applying leeches will reduce your haemoglobin. Having a restricted diet for a couple of months might, if it meant eating less iron or vitamin C containing foods
Velociraptor 28 Nov 2:06pm, 28 Nov 2024 72,269 posts	0 Velociraptor It's the overall picture in the 3-4 months before the donation that matters. And sometimes falling on the wrong side of the test is just bad luck or slow recovery from a previous donation.
3M 28 Nov 8:38pm, 28 Nov 2024 25,263 posts	0 3M My one time failing was a week after running my one and only ultra.... Apparently that's a thing.
Velociraptor 28 Nov 9:44pm, 28 Nov 2024 72,280 posts	0 Velociraptor It's an anecdotal thing. My n=1 study says that failing the test is no more likely in the week after a long race than at any other time. (Watch me get a three month ban later this month now I've said that )