Take it easy for a few days and call a doctor if you're not feeling better soon. To impress a girl I once donated blood and then immediately went on a several mile hike. For that purpose, you should take precautions and shouldn’t do a few things after blood donation. One of the most serious reactions is called ABO incompatibility. Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for the next five hours. Immediately after donating, have a few glasses of water or juice at the recovery station, along with a sugary snack to boost your energy. The only time that I've felt light-headed and nauseous, was the first time I gave blood. Donating blood can take literally and figuratively take a lot out of you. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered. If you feel faint after you donate, notify the nurse immediately. I usually try to just walk out but the sweet little old ladies always make me eat cookies and drink water. Eating iron-rich foods after donating blood will help your body make new blood cells. of water (or other nonalcoholic drink) before your appointment. It’s helpful to drink extra fluids for 48 hours following your donation. My reactions have run the gamut -- from completely unnoticeable (most common), to starving all afternoon, to craving a nap, to a regular workout seriously wiping me out, to nearly passing out immediately after. Don’t smoke for 30 minutes or drink alcohol or caffeine for at least four hours after donating plasma 1 4. Because there is less blood to dilute Alcohol and you may face a problem if you consume alcohol immediately after blood donation. Blood donation is an ongoing process and most of the people involved in it. I still almost always have to take a drooler of a nap the next day, but if I was well-hydrated when I donated I'm usually back to normal after that nap and one more night's sleep. Wow, I had no idea it was so common to experience aftereffects from giving blood. Blood donation is an ongoing process and most of the people involved in it. Yet, when they take a unit of blood, they are taking the same amount from you as from him. I am relatively healthy, female, average height/weight. DON’T SMOKE. This will make you feel better in the short term. This will make you feel better in the short term. The only time I've felt effects more than half a day after donating blood was when my sleep was particularly bad the night before, and I tried to do more than usual the day after. About 36,000 pints of blood are needed every day in the United States, and 6.8 million people donate a year. I'm speaking from experience, not as a medic. Drink more non-alcoholic beverages for 24-48 hours after you donate blood. take it easy and you should be ok by tomorrow. But I found it very tiring to stand at the stove to cook that evening. Donating blood is a generous and much-needed act that requires certain dietary preparations.After you've donated, though, you'll need to replenish your body's fluids and nutrients. In my experience, I feel kinda run down after I donate, but not lightheaded, just tired. Most people that pass out are having anxiety issues. Everyone reacts differently. After Donating Plasma. The other typical reactions that are caused by blood donations to the donors are feelings of tremors and loss of consciousness. This will be provided for the donors as soon as their blood has been taken. It can be psychosomatic - the protocols for `blood SAMPLE` that I`ve seen limit the amount of blood let per session to be 1% max. If you are a diminutive person, you simply don't have as much blood in you as, say, a three hundred pound football player. After a blood donation is complete, an attendant will place a bandage over the area where the needle was... Bruising and soreness. I'm 5'9", 205 pounds and I usually require the cookie, the soda pop and lying down for a bit afterwards to make the lightheadedness go away. I do not think that it's normal to have weakness last for more than a few hours. I almost passed out immediately, but rallied after laying down for awhile and then having the obligatory juice and cookie. I gave blood for the first time in December after finding out I am O- (only recently was allowed to donate after my time frame from receiving transfusions expired) and it took me a few days to feel "normal" again. This one time I wasn't thinking and gave blood after doing a blood test and was menstruating and I felt awful for a few hours after the donation, even though I was at my fattest. A bit of iron wouldn't go a miss though. The American Red Cross recommend avoiding heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for … But I felt sick again that night. People who smoke after donating blood can feel dizziness. They shouldn't take enough that you actually weak or anything, and they check your iron levels to make sure you won't miss it. So, here are some things to consider. You can make it even safer and easier by making sure you’re healthy and have plenty to eat and drink before and after.You may not be able to donate, if on the day you have: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood - Call 13 14 95 today to donate blood and save three lives Congrats on being a blood donor!! New, sterile equipment is used for each donor. I'm pretty sure they just give people juice and cookies to make people feel good and it gives them a chance to observe people for a little while. We encourage donors to drink an extra 16 ounces of water prior to donating. If you donated blood, it’s advisable not to smoke until you come to the comfort zone and recover properly. Blood donation is beneficial to save someone’s life but along with this, there are chances of discomfort or side effects for the donor. Reactions can occur right away or much later, and can be mild or severe. Plasma is a component of your blood. Theres no doubt that donating blood can do a lot of good: Donating just one pint of blood can save more than one persons life, according to the American Red Cross. Water and sports drinks are available in the canteen area after donation to help you stay healthy and hydrated. This will help to prevent fatigue and dizziness. Donation will not affect all people the same way, and it won't even affect the same PERSON the same way every time. Background Whole blood donors may experience post‐donation symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, or headache after blood donation, which could influence donor retention. My guess is you're fine. I've been a blood donor for a long time, but I'm not a doctor or medical professional. Fatigue and lightheadedness. At the most, it takes a full eight weeks to get back to normal. Peanut butter and nuts are also rich in iron. Your immune system can react to anything in the donor blood. If you're not feeling close-to-normal by the second or third day, I'd head to the clinic. I had forced myself to drink as much as I could before hand, and that did help with making the donation itself faster. About one-third of that volume is red blood … Reactions can occur right away or much later, and can be mild or severe. There’s no risk of contracting disease. Hospitals need storage of donor blood every day because it has been used while treating injuries and performing surgeries. The basics to consider immediately after a donation is a light snack and something to drink. Also, you should avoid standing or walking for longer periods. If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness, stop what you’re doing and sit down or lie down until you feel better; avoid performing any activity where fainting may lead to injury for at least 24 hours. You have not mentioned whether you are male or female, big or little, etc. This is pretty basic info, so excuse me if you knew this, but in addition to being well-hydrated, you should have eaten at least one meal before you donate blood. You should discuss your medical history with the professional at the donation center before giving blood to make sure you can. But another equally important type of donation is platelet donation. Clearly, everyone reacts differently. But blood donation isnt without its disadvantages. Blood donation is safe for healthy adults. If this happens, it should only last a few minutes. If possible, I tried to up my iron intake in the weeks leading up to the donation, since I usually get just barely enough (I'm vegetarian and not very good at planning my diet). What causes a blood transfusion reaction? As a percent of your total body volume, you are giving more. To Margie, First, kudos to you for stepping into the gap to save potentially three lives with your donation (whole blood is typically divided after a donation into three parts: red blood, plasma, and platelets). Blood donation is beneficial to save someone’s life but along with this, there are chances of discomfort or side effects for the donor. Hydrating ahead of time seems to make all the difference for my recovery period; I try to be very diligent in the 3-4 days leading up to donation. For that purpose, you should take precautions and shouldn’t do a few things after blood donation. If you feel faint or tired, lie down immediately, rest until you feel better and drink plenty of fluid. If you’ve decided to donate blood, you may be curious … The biggest issue when you donate blood is more the missing volume than the missing red blood cells. I don't think it's too unusual that you might feel basically okay but dizzy when working out, but I do suggest dropping a voicemail or email to your doctor to touch base. My boyfriend gives blood on a regular basis through his work and he says he never feels any negative symptoms afterward. When you donate blood, you give up a pint of fluid that represents about 10 percent of your total blood volume. A typical person has 1L of blood per around 10kg (around 22 pounds) of body mass. Blood donation is an ongoing process and most of the people involved in it. However, bring some nuts, cheese or another protein-filled snack which will keep your blood … You should drink plenty of water and consume meals rich in protein and iron to restore the plasma blood levels. I donated blood last night and feel the same I am taking more fruit as your blood level drops after giving blood and I tend to be on the lower blood level so along with iron foods you could add some glucose foods. A blood transfusion reaction is a harmful immune system response to donor blood. Power Red (double red cell donation) takes approximately 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation and you can donate approximately every four months. I used to donate blood regularly until I spent a year in England before BSE was diagnosed. One of the most serious reactions is called ABO incompatibility. Adverse effects Dizziness or lightheadedness. This is because of the temporary lowering of blood pressure. That said, you should be feeling OK shortly after giving blood. At least a gap of two days should be there after blood donation. The basics to consider immediately after a donation is a light snack and something to drink. They are most needed after a significant blood loss through trauma, surgery or anemia. I have very low blood pressure, and donate blood frequently. I've been a blood donor for a long time, but I'm not a doctor or medical professional. Your iron levels To avoid a drop in blood pressure and replenish lost fluids, drink plenty of liquids such as water and sports drinks. So if you`re about 170 pounds, 60mL is on the waaaay safe side. It's also advisable to avoid hard or prolonged exercise after your plasma donation. I exercise fairly regularly and could definitely notice the change in strength and some light-headedness for up to two weeks after giving blood. Bleeding or easy bruising (unrelated to your blood donation) Fever of 100 F or greater; Trouble breathing; Cough; If you feel there is a reason your blood should not be used for transfusion, or if you realized after donating you did not meet the screening criteria, please call us as soon as possible so that your blood may be discarded if necessary. Eat a snack after the donation to raise your blood sugar, renew your energy levels and counteract any lightheadedness. What to Do If You Feel Faint After Donating Blood. Usually, I'm about 36 hours before I feel truly back in the normal range; wooziness the day after is not necessarily unusual (IANAD), especially if you were working out. The only time I fainted from donating blood used to be going to a workout middle the next day and then going into the steam room, and after I obtained out into the dressing room, I handed out. In a double red cell donation, two units of red blood cells are collected and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. However, blood donors will need to take certain precautions after donating to help their body recover. Falling can lead to severe injuries, so it is best to avoid smoking for many hours to keep yourself away from all such health issues. and good on you! That's the length of time before you're allowed to donate blood again. This deficiency can make you feel tired. I felt nauseated, weak and gross the entire rest of the day and night. For the 24 hours following a blood donation, it’s recommended that you eat something that is high in iron, get some rest, and to hydrate yourself. Some of the most common iron-rich foods are red meat, spinach, poultry, fish, raisins, and beans. In a few days you will have to be excellent. Here we look at them. I've never tried strenuous exercise the day after, though. Bleeding. I will tell you it was not my best idea ever. Donating plasma is mostly a safe process, but there can be side effects. Study shows iron supplementation after blood donation shortens hemoglobin recovery time. That's why the little old ladies push the fluids - to help get your volume back up. It takes your body about two months to make up the blood cells. Then again, I doubt that I ever exercised after giving blood. We make sure that your haemoglobin level is above 125g/l for women and 135g/l for men. Bone marrow has received the message that overall oxygen levels are lower (due to the loss of red cells) and has increased the output of stem cells, which eventually become either red cells, white cells, or platelets. I am not sure how useful these these anecdotal data points are, but I've only ever had my arm feel a little funny after donating. Donating blood, plasma or platelets in Australia is very safe. A person should avoid vigorous exercise directly after giving blood. If I'm in good shape for the donation, I'm fine even without consciously taking in extra fluids afterwards. I generally avoid exercise for the first day or so after I donate… First, let’s look at the necessity of blood donation. I think that being very well-hydrated beforehand and immediately afterward are probably going to help a lot for me next time. however, when I donate, they do advise me not to exercise for 24 hours. that probably didn't help you. Join 6,470 readers in helping fund MetaFilter. Side Effects After Donating Blood. What To Eat After a Blood Donation. Each donor is given a mini physical examination, but there are still some minor si… Most blood-donation centers will offer you cookies, pretzels or bread sticks along with juice after donation. ZoeyRobinson Member Posts: 301 Member Posts: 301. We encourage donors to drink an extra 16 ounces of water prior to donating. This will help to prevent fatigue and dizziness. If you are not fainting, you are probably not in any danger. Having said that, I usually feel better in a few hours. If you plan on donating blood, it is best to eat foods with plenty of iron, like spinach and red meat, which your body will use to produce new blood after the donation. People may feel fatigued or experience some dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea after donating blood. What to Expect When You Give Blood. Drink extra fluids for the next day or two. I was really bad the first day, nearly fainting and still in pain at the needle site.