Question 1

why do i feel so weak and light-headed after donating blood? i donated blood 3 hours ago and only feel normal if i'm seated or lying down. when i get up and walk, my head hurts, i feel weak and i can feel my heart beating?

Accepted Answer

: When blood is donated, you lose 470 ml of your blood volume. Thats 8% of your blood volume. It may result in low blood pressure, increased heart rate (blood pounding in your ears) and feeling weak and light-headed. Make sure that you are drinking non caffeinated fluids above your normal intake (2-2.5 liters for women). Take a few days to rest and eat a diet rich in iron containing foods.

Question 2

could a headache result from donating blood?

Accepted Answer

Not impossible: While not common, it occasionally does occur. It is usually a "tylenol headache, " or can be relieved with hydration (drinking water, juice or soda in the "canteen" area after donation), or a cool compress on your forehead or back of neck. It will pass. Focus on the three people's lives you saved! get stuck!

Question 3

i donated blood yesterday. i woke up this morning with a lingering headache. are they related.

Accepted Answer

Fever?: Possible but doubt it. 26 young. We  check blood before donation. Only one unit is  taken. You were most likely not anemic. Co-incidental? See next time, then decide
 and let us know.Thanks.

Question 4

hello! i have had headaches for years that only seem to stop if i donate blood. do you have any idea why this could be?

Accepted Answer

Interesting and odd: There's a condition known as hemochromatosis which likely should've been detected long ago if you've ever had routine bloodwork..nevertheless, headaches SOMETIMES can be part of the symptom complex (fatigue, joint pain, discoloration of skin, hair loss/thinning).  Treatment for the condition is removal of blood. Other than that I have no good organic cause for your issue. See a headache specialist

Question 5

hello i tested for cbc test and my hemoglobin18.5 and hematocrit 52 and i amhaving to much fatigue and mild headaches should i donate blood?

Accepted Answer

Find a Blood special: A Blood specialist (hematologist) can help you best. Your medical doctor needs to first make a diagnosis ( find the cause of high hemoglobin). You might have a condition called Polycythemia which can be diagnosed with proper blood tests and then a treatment can be recommended. Removal of blood has to be arranged by a doctor but first we must establish the correct diagnosis.Tell us your age also.

Question 6

my daughter keeps having severe headache on her right side and right shoulder pain. she has no head injuries. she donated blood last friday.

Accepted Answer

See doc: if she has never had a headache this bad before, take her to the ER now and found out what is going on. A new severe headache can be serious, and may have nothing to do with donating blood.  If it goes away with tylenol (acetaminophen) and is gone now, call her doctor for advice.  You can give more details there than you can on this forum.

Question 7

donated blood yesterday arm still sore headache all day pins and needles in arm swollen abit hurts to bend two little purple dots beside needle entry?

Accepted Answer

Blood donation: Congrats on donating blood. It is a wonderful gift of life. Not unusual to have pain in arm where blood was donated.  Headache/light headedness may be secondary to blood loss. Symptoms should start to dissipate in 24-72 hours.

Question 8

donated blood said hlab27 antigen positive pcp had blood drawn hlab27 negative.  joint pain everywhere.  weight gain headaches weakness tingling hands?

Accepted Answer

Cannot be: HLA- B27 is always positive or negative. It does not change. One of the tests was wrong. Also, HLA-B27 is useless as a screening test. The symptoms need to be worked up (eg., the joint pain) and then, only the proper tests should be done depending on the symptoms. Diseases such Lyme disease or lupus cannot be checked for with labs. A history &amp; physical are the first steps.

Question 9

when donating blood is it better to do a whole blood donation or apheresis?

Accepted Answer

Apheresis: Is associated with less dizziness since they give you some of the blood volume back so you may feel a bit better vs whole blood donation.

Question 10

i am thinking of donating blood very soon, but i have smoked weed within the past month, am i still able to donate?

Accepted Answer

Donating blood: When you donate, they'll ask questions about your health, travel, and sexual history to make sure it's safe for you to donate, and for your blood to be in the system.  They don't routinely ask questions about marijuana use.  But should your blood be tested for this, it could show up positive depending on how frequently and when you use.

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Doctor answers about:

Headache after donating blood

A member asked:

Why do i feel so weak and light-headed after donating blood? i donated blood 3 hours ago and only feel normal if i'm seated or lying down. when i get up and walk, my head hurts, i feel weak and i can feel my heart beating?

A member asked:

Could a headache result from donating blood?

A member asked:

I donated blood yesterday. i woke up this morning with a lingering headache. are they related.

A member asked:

Hello! i have had headaches for years that only seem to stop if i donate blood. do you have any idea why this could be?

A member asked:

Hello i tested for cbc test and my hemoglobin18.5 and hematocrit 52 and i amhaving to much fatigue and mild headaches should i donate blood?

A member asked:

My daughter keeps having severe headache on her right side and right shoulder pain. she has no head injuries. she donated blood last friday.

A member asked:

Donated blood yesterday arm still sore headache all day pins and needles in arm swollen abit hurts to bend two little purple dots beside needle entry?

A member asked:

Donated blood said hlab27 antigen positive pcp had blood drawn hlab27 negative. joint pain everywhere. weight gain headaches weakness tingling hands?

A member asked:

When donating blood is it better to do a whole blood donation or apheresis?

A member asked:

I am thinking of donating blood very soon, but i have smoked weed within the past month, am i still able to donate?

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