Gave blood Saturday, about an hour before we left I realized I had not eaten lunch, so I chomped on some cheese crackers

Blood pressure, iron, and the other vitals were OK so they hooked me up to get platelets, RBC and plasma. Everything was fine until the last 5 minutes, when I suddenly got nauseous and my blood pressure dropped. I was able to finish the donation, but the nurse kept an ice pack on my neck and I had to rest longer before they would let me get up.

It turned out to not be a big deal, except that it was embarrassing.

I looked it up later and learned that while they always tell you to eat a 'hearty meal' after donating blood, it's also important to eat a full meal before you donate, about an hour and a half to two hours before donating.

Lesson learned.

Oldbear83 said:

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Gave blood Saturday, about an hour before we left I realized I had not eaten lunch, so I chomped on some cheese crackers

Blood pressure, iron, and the other vitals were OK so they hooked me up to get platelets, RBC and plasma. Everything was fine until the last 5 minutes, when I suddenly got nauseous and my blood pressure dropped. I was able to finish the donation, but the nurse kept an ice pack on my neck and I had to rest longer before they would let me get up.

It turned out to not be a big deal, except that it was embarrassing.

I looked it up later and learned that while they always tell you to eat a 'hearty meal' after donating blood, it's also important to eat a full meal before you donate, about an hour and a half to two hours before donating.

Lesson learned.

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Thank you for giving your sweet clean American blood. (Not joking. This is a good thing).

tommie said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Gave blood Saturday, about an hour before we left I realized I had not eaten lunch, so I chomped on some cheese crackers

Blood pressure, iron, and the other vitals were OK so they hooked me up to get platelets, RBC and plasma. Everything was fine until the last 5 minutes, when I suddenly got nauseous and my blood pressure dropped. I was able to finish the donation, but the nurse kept an ice pack on my neck and I had to rest longer before they would let me get up.

It turned out to not be a big deal, except that it was embarrassing.

I looked it up later and learned that while they always tell you to eat a 'hearty meal' after donating blood, it's also important to eat a full meal before you donate, about an hour and a half to two hours before donating.

Lesson learned.

---

Thank you for giving your sweet clean American blood. (Not joking. This is a good thing).

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I'd feel too guilty if I didn't.

I'm not just O negative; my blood does not store viruses, it does not retain any disease in my past. While on the one hand, it means my immunity system is iffy, it also means my blood can literally be given to anyone. Anyone at all, including infants.

So yeah, the blood center calls me up all the time to remind me when it's time to give blood.

I was really unhappy when I got my cancer diagnosis in 2006, couldn't donate for years, especially while I was on the medication regimen. But I've been able to give blood again since 2013, and it's nice to know that even if nothing else, I can help in this thing.

My younger sister had to get blood drawn once, and ended up collapsing in the elevator because she skipped breakfast that morning. Always eat breakfast, and always eat before giving blood!