posted
Hmm, wonder what the holiday was this time, if that's the case. No indication of it being a holiday thing, just a little rectangle about 3/4 inch by 1 inch, white enamel with the red Lifesource logo.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
BTW, I went to my appointment and due to some health problems lately I gave plasma instead of platelets, but it went well. Hopefully I'll be able to donate platelets next month.
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: Well, I tried. But my iron was too low (just one point).
I rescheduled for Tuesday (great job posting this thread right around the time I had a couple days off, ElJay!), and I've been munching on almonds. I also plan to go get a multivitamin (I've been thinking for a while I should be on one, but never quite got around to it. )
Multivitamins are not recommendable, anyway. And it wouldn't help to get more hemoglobin. There are even studies that they are rather harmful than helpful. (f.e. extra Vitamin A can reduce the density of the bones)
However, the easiest way to increase your hemoglobin is probably to take extra iron, either from food or pills (tablets?, troches? capsuls?... sorry, I don't know the difference.)
By the way, I usually get the iron pills from the donation center for free.
The best sources for iron: - B]whole- grain[/B] bread - soy - parsley - lentils, white beans - common mussels, oysters - innards - cashews, hazelnuts - most sorts of GREEN vegetables
Vitamin C improves the body's ability to absorb the iron. When you take iron pills, you should take them, f.e., together with a glass of orange juice. (there's more Vitamin C in oranges than in lemons!)
Avoid onions, garlic, coffee, black tea and yoghurt for at least 2 or 3 hours before and after you eat or take the pills. They inhibit the absorption of iron.
Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Also, the thing about multivitamins...does that mean I shouldn't be taking my Justice League chewables?
As long as you don't overdose it... I wouldn't spent money on it. And it could harm your body in the long run. You should think of vitamin pills as remedies, like Tylenol or antibiotics. There was a big hype (in the 60s? 70?) about the theory that vitamins can prevent cancer and stuff, but this couldn't be verified. It's a Legend that won't die quick because people WANT to believe it.
As far as I know, your body can't absorb the whole dose, anyway, so the biggest part of it is wasted. And you must make a distinction between vitamins, that are soluble in water (f.e. C and the B-Complex) and vitamins, that are soluble in fat (f.e. A and E).
It's no problem to take additional C and B (brewer's yeast!), because the body can easily get rid of it when there's too much. For the same reason, one should take smaller doses 3-5 times a day instead of one big dose. When you have a flu, for example. B is good for your skin and nerves. Brewer's yeast is the best source and for your body, it's like food. But you can buy it as troches, too, because of the taste. Most people doesn't like it in their cereals.
However, we usually get all the vitamins we need from our food, and if you don't eat anything but French fries and Marshmallows, additional vitamins won't do it, anyway. Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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I've just been taking one children's vitamin a day.
I worry more about B vitamins than anything else. But I also worry about iron and calcium a lot, too.
I thought maybe they could help me with my blood sugar issues. I don't really know how balanced my diet is; I try to have a lot of lean meat and dairy, but I AM a college student.
posted
I know what you mean. (I'm a student myself.)
There's no sugar in meat and dairy, so THAT won't help you. What about whole- grain bread and cereals? Do you like that? It's a source for B, too.
I'm pretty sure the low blood sugar is not a problem regarding the quality of your blood. Drink a big glass of orange juice to increase your blood sugar before the actual donation, so you won't faint. You know, like a diabetic.
Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Some easy rules for your diet: - as fresh as possible - eat different (natural) colours over the day (red tomatoes, green spinach, oranges etc.) - eat what you want to eat- your appetite is there to tell you what you need
You don't need every nutrient every day. You just shouldn't spend a whole week without having eaten at least an apple! Do you know, that tomatosauce is better than fresh tomatoes? Fact! (I eat a lot of apples and spaghetti... )
Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Can you link to these studies? Because the ones I am familiar with indicate that at the doses found in most multivitamins, there is little risk of the side effects you mention. Those come from overdosing, which is obviously a bad idea.
Vitamin pills are, taken as per the directions, a good form of health insurance. As a smoker, you might consider that.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Pinky, my problem isn't needing MORE sugar. It's that I need to eliminate as much sugar and simple carbs from my diet as possible. My hypoglycemia came back, so if I have sugar/simple carbs, my body will burn through them really quickly, and my blood sugar will drop super fast, and I'll start feeling sick.
It's not a fun diet. I really want me some ice cream and gummi worms.
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I called today. I have an appointment for tomorrow. I'm terrified of needles and because of that I've never given blood before. I also figured I'd grow out of it. I don't seem to be growing out of it on my own so perhaps I need to do this to get over it. Posts: 1947 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Amancer, I think the scariest part is when they first put the needle in. That's the part where you absolutely can't look! For me, anyway. After they already have everything set up though, I think it's kind of cool to watch, and it helps me freak out less.
posted
My doctor recommends I take a multivitamin. The amounts in commercially available multivitamins are no where near the amounts of various vitamins that have been shown to be harmful. And a lot of the stuff in there (calcium, iron, folate) are things that you need to get on a regular basis, not things that are helpful to up your dose of when you're feeling sick. So pH, if you have a question about if your Justice League chewables are right for you, you should probably talk to your doctor or nutritionist, who can evaluate your diet and see if they're necessary/beneficial or not. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:I think the scariest part is when they first put the needle in. That's the part where you absolutely can't look! For me, anyway. After they already have everything set up though, I think it's kind of cool to watch, and it helps me freak out less.
It's exactly the same for me.
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: Can you link to these studies? Because the ones I am familiar with indicate that at the doses found in most multivitamins, there is little risk of the side effects you mention. Those come from overdosing, which is obviously a bad idea.
Vitamin pills are, taken as per the directions, a good form of health insurance. As a smoker, you might consider that.
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend anybody.
I have no links, I didn't get this info from the Internet. (The newer Info is from BBC.) I've been just interested in nutrition for approximately 15 years. Taking extra vitamins became almost a kind of religion over the years, as if you had to face scurvy if you don't take pills! The benefit of vitamin pills is highly overestimated. Why swallow pills when you are healthy? Is that a special kind of hypochondria?
If your doctor recommends extra- vitamins, then take them, but usually you don't have a lack of ALL the vitamins and minerals and trace minerals that you get from a multivitamin.
Whatever, whether you take extra-vitamins or not, one shouldn't refrain from eating healthy food, just because you feel 'safe' by taking those pills. But this way, one doesn't get the secondary active agents (?) such as flavonoide. And it's quite easy. One apple a day... Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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I did it! I followed pH's advice and looked away as the needle went it, and then later as they readjusted the needle. After that, it really wasn't so bad. Yay! Posts: 1947 | Registered: Aug 2002
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The no-looking-at-the-needle is a great trick. I also have them cover the sight so I don't see the metal stuck in my arm.
I'm eligible again on Monday and will be donating at the mobile at the grocery store at 1pm.
I have a question though. I heard you're not supposed to donate if you have cold or flu symptoms. I had a cold about a month ago and while I don't feel sick now, my cough and congestion hasn't gone away yet (I should see a doctor but I don't have the time or money.) I don't have a fever and there's a good chance that my problems now are allergen-related rather than a cold. How does being sick affect a blood donation and how sick do you have to be to be turned away?
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I don't mind seeing it once it's already in my arm. In fact, I'm fascinated by it. You should've seen how amused I was when I had to get an IV in the back of my hand. I mean, it sucked. And I had a nasty bruise afterwards, but it was COOL to look at! And when they started the IV, this really weird cold feeling spread through my hand and arm. That amused me, as well.
But I can't watch needles going in. I can't even watch them on tv. I start cringing and squirming and have to cover my eyes.
quote: Cold, Flu, Sore Throat Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough. Wait if you feel unwell on the day of donation. Wait 2 days after you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection.
quote:How sick do you have to be to be turned away?
You need to use your own judgement here. If it were me, I would wait until I was at 100%.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Gave blood today. My favorite part was the cookies, and my least favorite was the insertion of the needle and the golf they were showing on TV.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Val, if I waited until I was 100% non-symptomatic, I would almost never be able to give. My cold has been over for a week, but the allergic rhinitis will linger for a month or more. But I can feel the difference in symptoms, and while I wouldn't give while I had a cold, I will give when it's just my allergies acting up.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Rivka, so you felt fine giving blood? That's good to know. I really do think it might be allergies. My car is covered in strands of pollen every morning and I've had a couple of blood noses so it probably is just junk in the air screwing with sinuses. Plus the weather that is summer one day and winter the next.
Guess my job is to get tested for allergies now.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Shanna: Rivka, so you felt fine giving blood?
I have, yes. Not when my allergies were in FULL flare-up, but when they're minor (as they are all too much of the time), yes.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I haven't been keeping track. I've just kinda figured I'd bunp this every two months or so when I'm eligible to donate again, and eventually get everyone on schedule with me. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I'm not saying that everyone needs to wait until they are 100%, just that I would wait. Shanna, I would see your doctor before donating, just to make sure to it really is just allergies. Just remember, some very sick people may get your blood, and I think that there is no reason to take any risk. Your blood isn't needed that badly.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by pH: Pinky, my problem isn't needing MORE sugar. It's that I need to eliminate as much sugar and simple carbs from my diet as possible. My hypoglycemia came back, so if I have sugar/simple carbs, my body will burn through them really quickly, and my blood sugar will drop super fast, and I'll start feeling sick.
It's not a fun diet. I really want me some ice cream and gummi worms.
-pH
Oh, sorry. That's hard! I thought "low blood sugar" means you need to get more sugar from your food. I'll do some research on your problem. (Out of curiosity... I don't think I can find out anything that you don't know yet...)
Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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When I donated blood on Monday (20th), it only took me 4 1/2 minutes! I was pretty surprised about that, because I didn't make any effort to drink more than a cup of coffee that morning. I even expected my blood to run slower than usual, because I didn't drink enough. (My average time is 6 minutes; I time it to entertain myself during the donation. )
In the last three months I donated platelets every second week, and I always have to drink lots of water in the 24hours before the donation. Otherwise, my blood wouldn't run fast enough to 'satisfy' the machine. Despite, it takes me 100minutes to give three packages of platelets, instead of the usual 85-90 minutes.
I know that the body has it's own kind of memory, so I wonder if I was able to donate blood so unusually fast this time, because my body already 'expected' to donate or something. That there wasn't time enough to 'forget' the last donation, because it was only two weeks ago. I don't think it's very likely, but this last blood donation remains a mystery to me, nonetheless.
P.S.: I had an average blood pressure etc., my measured values didn't really change in years.
Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Pinky : Last time I donated platelets the nurse told me to avoid greasy food the day before because it makes the blood less fluid. Could it be linked to this?
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Now, THAT's a possibilty! Thank you! I probably drank too much before I donated platelets. My blood's fluidity improved by that, but I also watered it down, and the machine had to filter more of it to get enough platelets. I can't remember what I ate on Sunday (19th), but maybe I DID eat less greasy food than usual.
My inner scientist (new project! )suggests to write down everything I eat and drink on the day before a donation. I think, I'll follow his advice. Could be interesting. Posts: 262 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Time to donate again! The Red Cross called me last week to set up an appointment, I'm going in about 10 minutes. If it's been more than 60 days since you last gave whole blood, please consider making an appointment and donating.
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They called me last week, too. I'm trying to go on Friday. And I found out last time that I gave that I'm type O-, so I feel an extra need to go more regularly.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I have an appointment for July 1st for platelets. Also one for mid-July. Another for the end of July. Another for the middle of August. They try to book me four donations in advance now . They take platelets every time, and sometimes they take plasma as well.
I don't manage to get a donation in once every two weeks, because I can only donate on weekends and after work, which are times that everyone wants to donate. I've been able to get about one in every three weeks though for the last few months (I was on medical deferal before April).
Its pretty cool now, the Red Cross has started sending you notices when your donation has been used. I got one just a couple weeks ago, myself. I think that will get more people to be return donators.
Niki's best friend's mom had her life-long friend pass away recently of a disease which destroys your platelets (Hepatitis C?) and they said that they ran out of platelets in Omaha trying to keep him alive (he didn't make it). Considering I had donated my platelets just a couple of days before, I wondered if mine managed to get used either for him or before him.
(I'm not sure how type matching is done for platelets, but since I am A, I don't think they would have used mine if he was B or AB)
The last time I donated, it only took 56 minutes (normally it takes 76+). They have some new software and new kits that make the process go about 15-20% faster on some of their machines. The nurse mentioned that it hadn't yet been approved by the FDA yet, so they couldn't put it on all of them. It'll be nice when I know it will only take an hour.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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I'm scheduled for this coming Friday for my quarterly whole blood donation. They keep trying to convince me to come in every 60 days because I'm O+, but then that messes with my other appointment that tag-teams with this.
Oh, and I received a nice ballpoint pen in the mail this week. Some time ago (no idea when) I'd registered for Lifesource's Gold Donor Club. Four donations a year gets you "appreciation gifts". Hey, I'm gonna donate anyway, I may as well get something tangible for it, right? LOL
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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I have an appointment to donate on Thursday. And apparently Cedars had something to honor everyone who has given a gallon (or two, or three, etc.) last week. I couldn't go, but it was cool to hear that I've successfully donated 10 pints.
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I just got a notice in the mail today that my platelet donation on 4/30/06 was used by a 66 year old male recieving a heart bypass surgery . Its so cool that they tell you this now.
I know that platelets have a pretty short shelf-life, so they must just take a while to send these notices out. I wonder when I will get my next one.
I donated last about two weeks ago, and my next appointment was scheduled for Saturday the first. I'll be in Minnesota then though, so unless those I will be hanging out with want to organize a group donation, I'll next donate on the 15th of July.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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That's really cool. I've never gotten something like that, but then again I don't give platelets, only whole blood.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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it was here.
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I wouldn't spent money on it. And it could harm your body in the long run. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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