Comments | tea_c: I. Ron Butterfly

tea_c

I. Ron Butterfly

Apr 26, 2009 20:16

I donated blood last Thursday, and on Friday I was EXHAUSTED. Like, having-to-lie-down-after-only-being-awake-for-three-hours exhausted. I suspect I will receive a letter next week telling me my iron count was low and that I have to go back for a checkup. I'm usually tired the day I've given blood, but not that tired the day after. My iron levels ( Read more... )

Comments 2

howpedestrian April 26 2009, 22:47:18 UTC

Whoa, they don't test you first? Here, they prick your finger and put the little tube of blood through a centrifuge. It's funny - the red blood cells separate, and they measure the length of the tube filled with the red blood cells, like an instant graph of your bloodworthiness.

I wish you much iron and, hopefully, an ok result from your donation.

tea_c April 27 2009, 07:53:50 UTC

It depends - they test you if you were very near the limit the last time (and of course the very first time you donate too). Last time they did because the time before that I was at 128 or something (the limit is 125 for women), but then the levels were higher so this time they didn't check. Usually I try to eat some iron-rich foods the days before donating, but I forgot this time. :-/

Thanks! :-)