Fainting after donating blood?!
Question: Fainting after donating blood!?
Hi,
I donated blood today, and I made sure I ate beforehand, so I had some cereal and OJ!. After, I had crackers and a coke at the clinic and left!. When I came home (about 2 hours later), I was cooking and I fainted in the middle of it! It's the first time that's happned!. It boggles me because my iron levels were fantastic (15 for a woman) and I'm not underweight at all!. I have donated before and I felt like a million bucks!. Now I still feel foggy and mentally numb!. What can I do to stop this!?!?!?
Just a side note, I'm planning on getting a tatoo in August!. Will my reaction at the clinic have any effect on how I may react to getting my first tattoo!?!?
Thanks in advance!Www@Answer-Health@Com
I donated blood today, and I made sure I ate beforehand, so I had some cereal and OJ!. After, I had crackers and a coke at the clinic and left!. When I came home (about 2 hours later), I was cooking and I fainted in the middle of it! It's the first time that's happned!. It boggles me because my iron levels were fantastic (15 for a woman) and I'm not underweight at all!. I have donated before and I felt like a million bucks!. Now I still feel foggy and mentally numb!. What can I do to stop this!?!?!?
Just a side note, I'm planning on getting a tatoo in August!. Will my reaction at the clinic have any effect on how I may react to getting my first tattoo!?!?
Thanks in advance!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The first easy answer is to stay hydrated!. Drink lots of fluids, Gatoraid etc, before and after giving blood to make sure you have plenty of fluid in your body to keep your blood pressure from going low (and thus you passing out)!. An early sign that this may have been the case was if you were feeling light headed after getting up from a lying or sitting position prior to passig out today!.
Unfortunately, the answer may not be quite so simple as that(probably is, but you have to be careful)!. One of the most common causes of syncopy (passing out) is "vasovagal" (ie from seeing blood) Clearly as it occured while you were making dinner, this was not the case!. Another cause (that in my mind needs to be ruled out) is a cardiac cause!. For the most part this can be excluded with two questions: are you over the age of 55/ had a history of heart problems!? or do you have any family members who suddenly died of unexplained causes!? If neither applies to you!.!.!.I'll say it's probably just "volume depletion/ dehydration" and say to prevent a recurrence, stay hydrated!. But if either of the two questions about your heart apply to you, go to see a doc and have it looked into!.!.!.
Greg
And PS, thanks!.!.!.!.my patients and I wish to thank you in advance as well, as it's kind people like you that keep patients from effectively bleeding to death in the hospital!.!.!.yes it wouldn't be a pretty sight!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Unfortunately, the answer may not be quite so simple as that(probably is, but you have to be careful)!. One of the most common causes of syncopy (passing out) is "vasovagal" (ie from seeing blood) Clearly as it occured while you were making dinner, this was not the case!. Another cause (that in my mind needs to be ruled out) is a cardiac cause!. For the most part this can be excluded with two questions: are you over the age of 55/ had a history of heart problems!? or do you have any family members who suddenly died of unexplained causes!? If neither applies to you!.!.!.I'll say it's probably just "volume depletion/ dehydration" and say to prevent a recurrence, stay hydrated!. But if either of the two questions about your heart apply to you, go to see a doc and have it looked into!.!.!.
Greg
And PS, thanks!.!.!.!.my patients and I wish to thank you in advance as well, as it's kind people like you that keep patients from effectively bleeding to death in the hospital!.!.!.yes it wouldn't be a pretty sight!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm assuming you are a teen!. I just heard on tv that teens pass out more from donating blood than adults and that they want to increase the age!.
If you are young, that has something to do with it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you are young, that has something to do with it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It just has to do with your blood pressure!.Www@Answer-Health@Com