A mobile blood donation unit will be coming to my workplace next week and I hope to be able to give blood for once. I was "indefinitely deferred" for some time because I lived in France (so, you know, I must have had mad cow), and then when they finally lifted that rule I was told my blood was "one point too low" to be allowed to give because giving would have made me temporarily anemic and they're not allowed to do that.
They didn't really tell me what to do to change that, though.

What can I do to ensure that I'll be able to give blood? Should I just eat meat every night for the next week? Or is it too late to change anything?

Eat meat - no you might pickup mad cow -

B-12 and iron, or iron and B-12. Both of these will temporarily raise your blood count in the red cell sectors.

Of course the best way to get those two is through veg and other food - however you can take iron pills and b-12 pills.

Watch your bowel movements though - dark brown to black means you have too much iron in your system. Even a small amount of excess iron can damage heart and brain and other storage sites in the body and lead to heart attack or stroke.

While you might have low hemoglobin count, it doesn't mean you do not have enough iron in your system, it may only mean that the iron is being stored elsewhere and not being used for blood cells.

B-12 does not have the toxic side effects even if its over the high of 911 (low is 211). Most often supplementing with just b-12 results in higher hemoglobin counts.

Taking vitamins with iron supplements is a good idea anyway. I hadn't realized that diet could be so poorly handle the job until Thursday night when I fainted at work quite a few times while having gastric attacks (diarrhea ).


My staff (since I was the Nursing Supervisor) called 911 and called the next shift supervisor to come in since I was going to the ER via ambulance. sighhhhhhhhh

Turns out I had critically low iron levels (anemia) of 7 when normal is between 50 and 101. My Red cell levels (Hemoglobin) were also very low at 8.2 (preferred ranges are around 12 or so). My blood pressures were around 63/30 (normal is about 120/70), so that indicated dehydration, so I got 2000 mls iv fluids.

The ER staff figured that I had an Intestinal virus, but because I had the low iron levels, etc, dehydration and my heart would slow down while going to the bathroom causing syncope.

So, in retrospect, taking your vitamins is REALLY important. As WELL as eating right.

I am not sure how long it would take to 'build' yourself back up to give blood, but my personal opinion it would take more than a week.

I am back home now and feeling better but I now have to start taking vit b-12 injections and taking daily iron.

I've been feeling weak and poorly for a long time, but I thought it was exhaustion from work and kids.

I do take a multivitamin, but not a separate iron supplement. I guess I'll try to have a steak for dinner tonight and just see what happens tomorrow. At least they're coming to me and I don't have to go to them for them to deny me...

In case anyone is curious, I was successful! They told me I had to be at 12.5 in order to donate and they stuck me and got 12.3. They said they could try again, so did, and got 13.6. So I was good to go. Hooray! Now I can finally find ouot my blood type!

I am glad you were able to give blood. I was 8.2 the other day. So I guess I was out of the running for blood donation! LOL

Elexina: That's nice to hear.

Sherasi: I'm sorry to hear about your issues there. I hope things are going better for you.