[monkeybrains21]

Has anyone giving blood and did fine through it but within 10min of being done become far away. It's hard for me to explain but I'll try.

I gave blood yesterday and was fine then it was over and I was just about to et up and I got really hot and felt very far away. They spoke to me and I just looked at them. I just wanted to go to sleep but was freaking out. Nothing like that ever happened before. Then after it all passed they pretty much called me anorexic!! This from someone who straight up til me all they had all morning was 2 coffees!! I at least had a bowl of Cheerios at 8am with my coffee which I didn't finish and as I was walking in I was finishing a fiber one bar.

I kno I most likely do have an eating disorder I'm not an idiot but it made me feel really bad about myself and makes me want to hurt myself (I'm not going to). Had anyone experienced this?

If you arent adequately hydrated or nourished, donating blood has a higher chance of leaving you dizzy once you get out of the chair. I have done fine with donations but i can tell when I am dehydrated because I get dizzy and feel like crap after donating.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I do not have an eating disorder nor am I underweight. I have given blood twice and eaten a good meal/was well hydrated both times. The first time, I passed out 3 times after getting out of the chair. It was horrible! lol I fell head first into the cooler they told me. The second time I almost passed out a couple times after Id left...I drank a coke and start feeling a little better!

So....everyone is different. I think I understand what you mean by "far away"....do you mean like everything was paused and you didn't really hear them and everything was getting black? I remember holding my apple juice out to the lady and saying I didn't feel good.....then I woke up. lol Then I woke up again to them yelling at me. THEN I woke up again in the bench...the man had picked me up.

I have since decided....donating blood is not for me. I have way too many issues doing it. But I have GREAT respect to those that do!!

Originally Posted by monkeybrains21

Has anyone giving blood and did fine through it but within 10min of being done become far away. It's hard for me to explain but I'll try.

I gave blood yesterday and was fine then it was over and I was just about to et up and I got really hot and felt very far away. They spoke to me and I just looked at them. I just wanted to go to sleep but was freaking out. Nothing like that ever happened before. Then after it all passed they pretty much called me anorexic!! This from someone who straight up til me all they had all morning was 2 coffees!! I at least had a bowl of Cheerios at 8am with my coffee which I didn't finish and as I was walking in I was finishing a fiber one bar.

I kno I most likely do have an eating disorder I'm not an idiot but it made me feel really bad about myself and makes me want to hurt myself (I'm not going to). Had anyone experienced this?

There is something called a vasovagal reaction that can cause the type of symptoms you're talking about. It has something to do with the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system reacting. (I don't really understand it at all!) The reaction very often causes fainting, but I never had that happen. (My sister used to - she said it was very inconvenient.)

I had a few episodes of feeling really strange after donating blood or even just having blood drawn when I was in my late teens. It seemed like my nervous system adapted after a couple of times.

That was rotten that they called you anorexic. I used to get grief from people when I was in my teens and early 20s for being so thin when I easily ate 2000 calories a day.

[monkeybrains21]

When I say far away thy were talkin to me and it sounded like they were far away. It was like I didn't really exist and it wasn't really happening like a dream.

I'm not rail thin. I've worked very hard losing 10in of body fat by cutting out any and all fast food, soda and other bad things. I have realized that I only consume on average around 1200-1600 calories a day but I'm not as active as I was. Losing the fat I worked out 5days a week with an amazing program that worked everything intensely for 20-40min. I drink more than 80oz of water everyday. When I workout I drink even more. I don't eat much in morning cuz I'm not really hungry but do try to eat something. I'm really bad about lunch but that's cuz I'm driving for work and I don't eat fast food. I do keep granola bars in my car though and I do eat them.

The only meal I really consume is dinner and I try to make it fish, chicken, or turkey. I always have a salad with it with little or no dressing, and usually a starch as a side. I grew up eating like crap so I'm very conscious of it.

[(JD)]

Sounds like dehydration for sure, to me... but maybe you felt it was traumatic and dissociated a bit? You have GAD and perhaps you were holding your breath to get through the first time (I recall my first time, but had my employer (who had suckered me into donating lol) right there also donating.)

I have given countless times (over 4 gallons total now) and I must sit and drink a few of their drinks and have a cookie or cracker or a few before being well enough to drive etc. Just the way it is?

Good for you to donate!

[Perna]

Did they say anorexic or anemic? How did they know about what you do/do not eat all the time, your patterns of eating? Sounds like an odd thing for someone taking blood to say, I would have asked them why they said what they said. What other people say is about them, not you. Don't let other people tell you what you are/are not (you can't very well stop them from telling you but you don't have to believe it/act on it right away :-)

[monkeybrains21]

They said anorexic. I kno I cross those lines sometimes. 8yrs ago I went weeks with eating less than probably 100calories a day. At the time all my money went to bills and I had nothing left to use for food. When I did hve money for food I would buy enough for a month or so I thought. My ex her sister and all their friends ate everything in one day while I was either at school or work.

[Yogurtz]

I am a regular blood donor, and from what you have described, it sounds like dehydration or a lack of nourishment.

When I first donated I passed out afterwards and had to remain in a hospital bed for like 2 hours with a cloth on my head; I wasn't aware that I needed to eat and stay hydrated before I donate. Now I don't have an issue at all

[Astreia]

I donated blood ONCE. I got really dizzy and had to lie down for a long time before going anywhere. The tech told me never to donate blood again!

[hypermic]

Not to scare anyone but my friend gave blood, and i personally witnessed him faint and seriously injure his head during the fall.

For this reason I have never given blood even though I am sure it is a very uncommon occurrence.

I am sure if you are careful and follow the best advice it is generally safe, but I would read up about it and be cautious for several hours afterwards.

[tommyp]

I donate platelets every two weeks (3 bags each time), but have only felt dizzy a few times in three years. I don't usually eat breakfast when I donate, but try to be well hydrated.

[Raindropvampire]

My husband said that when he donated blood sometimes afterwards it felt like he was underwater. Everything was far away and he was just observing but couldn't interact. He never lost consciousness but came very close. They told him it was a vasovagal attack and gave us a pamphlet about it.

The only thing that has me confused is that he donates at the Red Cross. He's in a chair that can recline so he can lie down afterwards if needs be. They also make him eat a cookie or some crackers and drink a juice box afterwards. Then he's held for AT LEAST 20 minutes while they monitor blood pressure and stuff. They told us that was standard protocol to make sure the donor was safe and had no complications. If they say it's standard protocol why isn't it done like that everywhere??

OP it's terrible that they would call you anorexic