Donating blood after weight loss?

Hi all,

I have recently lost almost 40 pounds (I've been maintaining for about 7 weeks), and I am now on the low end of my healthy BMI range.  Our once-a-semester blood drive is coming up, and I want to give blood.  I am over the weight cut-off by a good 10-15 pounds, but I do have kind of a low BMI.  And not only that, but I have only given blood twice before and both times I got light-headed and had to have my feet elevated - and that was when I had a bmi that was above the healthy range!  I am scared that if I try to give blood, I will pass out.  That would be both scary and embarassing. 

Before my last 2 successful donations, I had been repeatedly turned away for having too-low iron.  Do you think my relatively low iron levels could lead to my light-headedness?  Do you think that if I beef up my iron intake in the days prior to giving blood that I will have a better chance of being eligible to donate (and not passing out)?

Thanks for any advice, input, or stories you can share!

If you have low iron, even just moderately, do not consider the blood draw. I think you should increase your iron intake but not just for the blood donation - rather, for yourself. There are two types of iron: heme, and non-heme. Heme iron is the iron found in animal products. I do not know if you are a vegetarian, but if you are not including red meat in your diet is a good idea. 

Non-heme is found in plant. According to the Vegetarian Society website article on Iron, ...non-hame iron is less easily absorbed by the body than is haem iron. The amount of iron absorbed from various foods ranges from around 1 to 10% from plant foods and 10 to 20% from animal foods.

The absorption of iron is influenced by other constituents of a meal. Phytates, oxalates and phosphates present in plant foods can inhibit absorption, as can tannin in tea. Fibre may also inhibit absorption. Vitamin C greatly increases the absorption of non-haem iron. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, green peppers, and fresh leafy green vegetables. Citric acid, sugars, amino acids and alcohol can also promote iron absorption. Iron absorption can also be influenced by the amount of iron in the diet. Lowered levels of iron in the diet result in improved absorption.

Good sources of iron for vegetarians include wholegrain cereals and flours, leafy green vegetables, blackstrap molasses, pulses such as lentils and kidney beans, and some dried fruits.

A good list of sources can be found Here. I suggest that, with non-heme iron sources you do have a vitamin C source in the meal too, like making a stew of lentils that also involves a tomato base or drinking orange juice/eating berries high in Vit C alongside a bowl of porridge. Avoid drinking tea with your iron-based meals as said in the quote. I have also been told that dairy eaten with heme iron sources inhibits the absorption.

I suggest you speak with a doctor about your iron levels and request a blood test.

If you do go ahead and are given the all-clear, take a banana with you to the draw. Eat it afterwards, even if you do not feel dizzy. The electrolytes and the sugars will help you with any wooziness, or ought to. If you still feel woozy tell one of the nurses.

Hope this helps.

Hello. I would say it would be best not to try unless you really really want to. They told me no because I didn't have a high enough BMI. They said they would prefer people whos weight has been stable for about 6 months to a year.

So, do what you want. :) If you beef up the iron be careful not to overdo it. But I would just wait a year.

For the safety of yourself and any patients that receive your blood, please be careful about this.  Yeah, you can eat a few extra apples the day of and get your iron levels up there, but why bother trying?  If they're naturally low, seek medical attention and don't donate potentially harmful blood.

Being able to continue donating blood was one of my motivating factors for losing weight ( my pulse rate was often too high...over 100...because of my excess weight, and I would be "deferred" by the blood bank ).

Anyway, the first time i donated was back in the late 70's when I was in college.  I hadn't had much to eat, and after donating I became light-headed, dizzy, and sweaty.  I almost passed out, and was made to lie down with my feet elevated til I felt better.  They told me I should always eat a large meal before donating, and that's what I've done ever since...30 years of donating with no ill effects. 

Now it's a "treat myself day"... yesterday I had a 3-egg wetern omelette, 5 strips of bacon, and a glass of chocolate milk before donating...It was great!

So, I was wondering if it's possible that you aren't eating enough before donating?

P.S. Thanks to CC, I've lost 77 pounds, and my pulse rate is always in the 70's...I never get deferred by the blood bank anymore.

I give blood regularly and have for years--before, during, and after a 45 lb. weight loss.   Once in a while my iron is too low to give.   They assure me this is not a medical problem, and I am not "too low" for good health, so not to worry.   They just want it to be higher so as not to cause problems after siphoning off a pint.   The light-headedness is a result of low blood sugar or blood pressure.   Eat before going, ask for a glass of juice (V-8 is low calorie) during your draw, and don't rush to sit up.   The nurses are ready to help with this common situation.   Give!!!

I'm the chair of the Blood Drive committee in Student Council [haha] so I have to be knowledgeable about it. Basically even anemics can give blood. What they recommend to donors is eating at least one bowl of cream-of-wheat every day before giving blood to at least temporarily raise your iron levels to the point they need to be. Works like magic--at least that's what the lady from the Red Cross said! :p Try it! Hopefully it'll work for you (:

So many people can't give blood nowadays because of travel to restricted areas, etc. The blood banks really need donors. I've given many gallons of blood over the years. But sometimes I am deferred because of low iron. Don't get discouraged. They won't let you give if it's not safe for you. I agree that it's a good idea to try to increase your iron intake before attempting to give and have a nice hearty meal before. I also enjoy donation day as a time to have a treat! You deserve it. Blood donations save lives.