HuntingInMaine Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Has anyone had really bad complications brought on by donating blood? I regularly give blood, and had an appointment to do it again yesterday afternoon. Everything went fine, I skipped the cookies and juice and just had a bottle of water while waiting at the recovery table. Back home I got busy getting the boys ready for their dads and before I knew it they were gone and it was time for me and my S.O. to go to a friends house to play horseshoes. I was sitting at the picnic table watching the games when I got a strong ringing in my ears and my head got really hot. The next thing I knew my SO was shaking me, asking what was going on! I was able to sit up and answer two questions before I passed out again. This time, I'm told, I started breathing hard and they think, had a mild seizure. I came to again and was soaked in sweat, but shaking hard because I felt cold. I threw up all the water I had drank and couldn't move, it felt like anchors had been tied to my arms and legs. Someone called an ambulance and about 1/2 hour later they arrived (not bad time considering all we have are volunteers running the rescue units). I have never been so scared in all my life! I am perfectly healthy and now I felt like I was dying. It seems my blood sugar had dropped to something like 40-45 instead of over 100 like it should and my body was shutting down. I refused transport to the hospital when they told me orange juice should do the trick and my SO stopped at the store on the way home so he could spend the rest of the night force feeding me sugary junk food. Soooo, my question is this, if you have had similar problems, how long did you feel weak? I am a lot better this morning but after more orange juice and a pear my sugar level is still only 95 and I feel very tired and weak. Is there anything besides orange juice that will get the numbers up (would prefer a healthy food instead of spiking the numbers with refined sugars) and me feeling better??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Had problems once after having blood drawn for labwork at a cardiologists office, they did not tell me they would be drawing blood and I had not eaten anything that morning. The ringing in the ears, everything went black while I was sitting in the wating room, just before I was about to walk out the door and drive home. Never really felt very weak as a result and was fine within 45 minutes. Hope you get to feeling better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) never had that problem and hope that I never do. sorry you encountered such things as this trying to do good. hope you are all better and that it never happens again to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) I have never given blood, so I would not know..Sounds bad though..Be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SRA Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) i gave blood one time......probably never again....i kinda passed out right after i did .....took a couple of days to finally get back to normal... .....i guess i don't have enough blood to share ..... hope you get well.....sounds like a bad deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) That sounds pretty Dangerous Linda. Have you been checked for diabetes? It sound like maybe your a border-line diabetic, and giving blood set it off big-time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palssonater Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Wow. That must have been really scary. I hope you are OK! I know it can be frightening for a child to see one of the strongest persons in their life weak. I give blood on a regular basis and usually lay low for the rest of the day. Sounds like you were doing the same. I usually take a Coke before I leave, just because that is what the reccommend here in Winnipeg. I hope you are ok. Does that hinder you ability to give again? Or it might scare you out of giving. I know I would have to be told what happened and how to avoid it in order to give the next time. WHat is the time period between donations at you blood donor clinic? Ours is 56 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwa Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) My sugar level drops at times, so I know what your talking about. (it felt like anchors had been tied to my arms and legs) I talked to my Doctor about it and he said it was normal for for peoples sugar level to drop if they haven't eaten. Yours may have been low when you gave blood, thats why it dropped so much. Thats why they give you OJ and cookies when you give blood, to help get your sugar level back up. Since your sugar level is back up to 95 I wouldn't worry to much now. To much sugar won't be good for you either. Just get some rest. The best quick fix for really low blood sugar to get it up quick is cake icing, it almost pure sugar. Just put some in your mouth and suck on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Buckee---If she was borderline diabetes then her blood sugar would stay a little high--as she would not have enough insulin to get the sugar into the cells. You just had a hypoglycemic episode. If it happens for NO reason then you have something to worry about---but not too uncommon when giving blood--especially for a smaller person who doesn't have any food in their belly. The first time I gave blood I passed out (I have need phobia--but only when they are coming at me). The nurse told me she appreciates me giving blood but understands if i don't want to do it again--I haven't since. todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Sorry to hear about that. The only time that I have passed out giving blood was when i was sick and the doctor drew blood to find out what was happening. I hadn't eaten for two days and when they drew blood it was the same thing that you described. I hope that you feel better soon. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Well, you're not diabetic I can tell you that. Like Todd said, your sugar would be high, like over 200, if you were diabetic. Your blood sugar of 95 is pretty normal actually, and injesting extra sugar won't help--your pancreas will just keep dumping insulin in to regulate the sugar. No, I'm not a doctor, but you all know my health problems. My genetic problem has a tendency to grow a tumor called an insulinoma, which is a tumor that pumps too much insulin into the blood thus causing sugar lows, and my wife is a type 1 diabetic, so I have to bring her out of lows every now and then. I can think of 2 things that caused that, but I guess you didn't ask for that. In answer to your questtion, no, giving blood has never done that to me. Then again, they don't take my blood anymore because of my medication. I'd say go eat a huge steak and drink plenty of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) I used to give blood everytime they came around, and have never had a problem. My wife gives all the time to, and has yet to have any kind of problem. I will say tha we always eat/drink something afterwards. Sounds as if you may have overdone it just a tad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billygoat Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) ok linda, let me help you out! First, sorry for your incident and glad to hear your feeling better (soon you will be feeling normal), second, thanks for donating blood! It is really needed! Now for your problem. I am certain that they told you to drink plenty of fluids after they took blood... didn't they? And it would have been helpful to avoid the heat, and eat some sweet snacks. However, it sounds like that may not have happened. What happens when you do not replace the "volume" of fluids, and take in snacks, is that your body recognizes the immense shift of fluids, electrolytes are shifted, and your body attemps to compensate for the volume loss. Obviously some individuals bodies are able to do this more efficiently than others. So, when your body can't "stabilize" itself, it expects either you to do it (by taking in the necessary fluids/foods) or it will begin to shut down what it feels are the "least" essential organs. In the end, what happened with you (it sounds like) is your pancreas slowed function, and resulted in hypoglycemia. Your blood sugar is now normal. If you continue to take in fluids (and lots of them), you should start feeling better by the end of the day, or tommorrow. If you don't, get yourself checked out. Feel better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) [ QUOTE ] What happens when you do not replace the "volume" of fluids, and take in snacks, is that your body recognizes the immense shift of fluids, electrolytes are shifted, and your body attemps to compensate for the volume loss. Obviously some individuals bodies are able to do this more efficiently than others. So, when your body can't "stabilize" itself, it expects either you to do it (by taking in the necessary fluids/foods) or it will begin to shut down what it feels are the "least" essential organs. In the end, what happened with you (it sounds like) is your pancreas slowed function, and resulted in hypoglycemia. Your blood sugar is now normal. [/ QUOTE ] Bingo! Thats what I was thinking as well. Some people have a better tolerance of blood loss then some. I never had any problems, but I seen some of the strongest guys pass out after a pint left there body. Best thing to do now would be to call your family doctor and tell them what happened. I know what it is like to get sugar levels into the low 40's! Its not very good! When I was running on the ambulance, we would give orange juice with a tablespoon of sugar added. That always brought them around fast! But this was only done with a consicious person!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Re-active Hypoglycemia....thats what its called.....I was crash dieting years ago, and I kept bumping into walls in the jail I was employed at.....I felt a bad headache, and for some reason, I went to the nurse and checked my blood sugar...(29)....most people will lose consciousness forever any lower.....I know how you feel.....OJ, and apples, they have a high "good" sugar in them....you should next time take the snack, and consume small snacks daily of fresh fruit anyway.....do to your smaller frame, your body will regenerate that blood at a slower rate, if you feel sluggish after a week, then get the blood work checked....but due to the heat, and loss of blood, next time, please take the snack......hope this helps......................al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Everyone here has fairly well covered the bases on why you had problems... 90% of my family is diabetic and I worked at a hospital as a tech and was assigned a very non compliant diabetic patient for my shift several weeks in a row. Point being that Milk rather than fruit juice or sugar is the recomended treatment for low blood sugar as long as it is still above 35 or so(below that the sugar stuff is faster but still not healthier). Milk has the carbs that break down rapidly into sugar but it doesn't shock the system like cake icing or OJ can. It also helps the body regulate itself and gain that equilibrium again. Finaly, for your case, Milk will also replace both the fluids and electrolites you lost in giving blood... "Milk! It does a body Good!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted July 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Thanks so much for all the advice and well wishes! I spent a lot of time napping yesterday and feel great this morning. I did drink lots of water after donating, but didn't eat or have any juice to replenish the sugar levels. Boy, was that scary (and now embarassing that it happened in front of so many people)! I think it will be a while before I donate again, I don't care much for feeling like I am going to die! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Wow, I am glad to hear you are ok! Talk about scary. I would suggest eating fruit as that is healthy and high in sugar. I have never given blood. They have blood drives at college each semester and my mom says I should give blood as I have one of the more uncommon blood types. I'm just kind of hesitant though,the thought of lying there with a needle stuck in your arm and blood draining out, ugh. Glad you are feeling better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) I'm glad to hear you're doing better Linda. That was a scary situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) Ive had some bad experiences with giving blood but not from crashing my sugar. Number one is that I cant stand needles. Number two is I have very thick skin so they actually drew blood from the back of my ear for the initial test. To top of that I have a very high clotting factor (white blood cells) and I clogged the needle over and over. They finally switched needles to a larger gauge and it still clogged. They then decided to move the needle back and forth under the skin (plunging) trying to break the clot loose.... negative. After about 30-minutes and 1/4 of a pint I called it quits. They told me they couldnt do anything with the 1/4 pint so I told them to throw it away. I would really like to know what blood type I have too. My sister and dad have O- and that would be handy information to have. [ QUOTE ] You just had a hypoglycemic episode. If it happens for NO reason then you have something to worry about---but not too uncommon when giving blood--especially for a smaller person who doesn't have any food in their belly. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I am hypoglycemic...meaning, I'm skinny and burn sugar quick, so quick my body stops making sugar, at that time I have used up the sugar I ate, now I have almost NO blood sugar and I start shaking, lips get white....hate that feeling I had a few episodes a couple years ago right after the divorce(mainly worried about getting mutilated again) and moving...had blood work done, everything was normal..... [/ QUOTE ] These all hit the nail on the head. I was hypoglycemic when I was younger I weighed roughly 145lbs (until I was about 23). From the time I was 16 until then I had an eppisode all the time. It was mainly due to my not eating as much as I should. I was very active back then and would eat when I got the chance. I often carried a Snickers with me. When I started getting to the cold sweats I would eat the snickers and drink a soda to boost my sugar. One time in particular I was working on a car in the middle of the summer. I had my neice with me so my sister could work. My neice was sitting in my car listening to the radio (I was working on a different car). I started getting tunnel vision. I knew something wasnt right so we left the shop and headed home quickly. Within roughly 10 minutes I was blind. I managed to call my sister at work and she rushed out to get me and my neice. She rushed me to the emergency room. I ate snickers, pure sugar, and drank Dr. Pepper all the way there. I wasnt quite right either. I said several things that I cant remember. After getting to the hospital they put me on some sort of drip and within 45 minutes I was fine and could even see again. I felt as if a truck had ran over my head. I skipped breakfast that morning and was out in the heat working, sweating, etc. I had leveled my sugar. I use to have the spells like JB all the time. Ive gained roughly 50lbs since then and have never had another episode. Im glad too because those things will wipe you out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Re: Blood donation complications (long....) If you pass out on the table it is mental most of the time. My wife gives all the time she got is about to get her 3 gallon pin. I used to give all the time til one day the guy that took my blood was really nervous and could not find the vein. He made me real nervous and I passed out. The only thing I remember is waking up saying "Man that some bad s**t" as they pulled the smelling sauce out from under my nose. It's funny how you know when you are fixing to pass out because it feels like the room is getting real hot and is rocking back and forth and them boom you are waking up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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