My Blood’s No Good
Each year, sometimes twice, I try to donate blood. I figure, I’m helping someone out who needs it and every time, they tell me the same thing, “you just made it.” Meaning, my blood iron levels just barely eked by.
You see, I’m anemic. I’m supposed to take very large quantities of iron. Quantities that would probably kill (or maim) small animals and young children. Today, I didn’t take my supplements and it’s come back to bite me in the ass.
The blood donation people were so happy to see me come in (I’m thinking it was a slow day). They prepped me, abused my finger, and then apologized. Their voodoo magic didn’t work this time and my iron wasn’t even high enough to pretend I could donate.
And I was so looking forward to the juice and cookies they give you afterwards. Ah well, can’t say I didn’t try.
Off to take my iron now…maybe they’ll be there tomorrow.
August 13th, 2006 at 9:37 am
I seem to be having that problem. Except it’s just under. And I feel fine. Agh! Evol.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:02 am
That’s the thing, Pandora, I felt fine too.
I guess having low iron doesn’t really have symptoms, or maybe we’re so used to it, we don’t realize it. That’s something to ponder.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:20 am
Hrmmm.
Like having so much caffiene/sugar in your system, the diheretic that Coca-Cola is doing do its job? (;
Oh yeah. That was a new experience. (; (and TMI, I think. OOPS!)
August 31st, 2006 at 5:45 am
I know this is rather late, Teli. But my nurse-wife told me if you’re to donate blood, make sure to do so at least at the middle of the new quarter of the year.
Our blood “recycles” every quarter (every 3 months). So it’s somewhat safe to donate blood on May (since it’s between the 2nd quarter of April-May-June), but not on September (3rd quarter of July-August-September).
I forgot why, but it’s something to do with your blood supply being “old” near the end of the quarter. And your blood count during the start of the new quarter might be “insufficient” to support your body’s needs if you’re planning to donate.
I’ll ask my wife again for specs.