I can't donate blood because my iron's too low!

Factual Questions
1

Today I visited the little Blue Cross van to donate blood, but was deferred because of insufficient iron in my bloodstream. This would be a good thing if I were an X-Man, as it would mean I’d be safe from Magneto’s evil schemes, but as I am in fact an actual human being and not a mutant, this isn’t welcome news.

So how do I get my blood iron built up? Change in diet? I munched the Oreos and apple juice the Blue Cross gave me as a consolation, but I doubt they contain lots of iron. Any other suggestions?

2

Red meat is a primary source of iron I believe, though I’m not sure at all.
Actually, just googled ‘dietary source iron’ and got http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/handouts/dietiron.html as the first result. Checking google, wikipedia and such can usually answer questions like this for you pretty easily.

3

Yeah, I googled it and came up with this http://www.veg-soc.org/html/articles/adding-iron.html

4

Your Diet my have to change.
Eat Red Meat, Spinach, Kale or take Iron Supplements - you should talk to your Dr., you don’t want to much Iron in your blood.

5

^^ That only refers to vegetables as it’s from a vegan site, but it’s still useful I guess!

6

A fairly comprehensive list of foods containing a high/moderate amount of iron. Note that cooking in cast iron also helps. Also, I’ve read (though I cannot find a cite right now) that non-heme iron (in vegetables) have more iron bio-available if the food is cooked.

7

I never pass the blood iron test. You’re female, right? Many females of child bearing age have this problem. (if you’re not female, I’d recommend seeing a doctor, it seems to be a lot more unusual for males to be iron deficient) Eat things with iron. Red meat is a really good source that’s easily absorbed. If you don’t eat meat (one of my issues), the blood center recommended raisins and fortified cereals (however, iron in non-meat foods are generally less easily absorbed). And colas and coffee cause your body to lose iron so cut back on them. It’s pretty easy to OD on iron supplements so I wouldn’t recommend them without a doctor’s supervision. The blood center also told me they have fairly high iron requirements and I wasn’t anemic so I would only need to raise my rion levels to donate, not for health. This may be applicable in your case as well…

8

I fail occasionally, usually in conjunction with just having finished my period before trying to donate.

Take and iron supplement - ask your Dr. to recommend one.

Also, Cream of Wheat has the highest iron content of any cereal type food. Eat that for breakfast a few days a week and you should be fine.

Incidentally, when they did the test did you watch? Did your blood drop and then float back up, or did it just hover around the top?

9

Women tend to have a lower iron content in their blood due to menstruation. A very low amount of iron can actually be a sign of internal bleeding.

You may be healthy enough with the lower iron level, though. The Red Cross is conservative and if your iron is low it’s a good idea not to take more blood from you (especially if the cause is internal bleeding).

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to get more iron in your diet.

10

I have the same problem. I’m not actually anemic, but my iron levels are below normal. Trying to get as much iron as possible in my diet as well as taking supplements have raised my iron levels, but it’s still lower than it should be. It doesn’t affect me in any way other than I can’t donate blood, so I’m not too worried about it, though this does remind me that I really should get to the doctor for a checkup, it’s been a while.

11

Iron supplements can be nasty on the digestive system - much better, if you can, to get it from natural sources.

12

I have also failed the iron test a few times. I started to take a vitamin for women which is high in iron and I haven’t had the problem since then.

13

I would tell you to take a nasty 300mg ferrous gluconate with each meal, along with some vitamin C in pill or glass. Once your iron level is back to normal, include foods with bioavailable iron in your diet as mentioned above.

14

Hey - I take nasty 300 mg ferrous gluconate.

Um - why is it nasty? (I only take one a day, as opposed to with each meal).

15

Some folks find it hard to digest or constipating. I guess I’m not talking old-time The-Wicked-Witch-Is-Trying-To-Eat-Your-Bones nastiness here.

16

Nichol - are you a runner? I donated blood for years without problems, then , in the midst of marathon training - I came up short on the hematocrit (I think that’s what the test is called). Went back to OK after I backed off the mileage.

17

Molasses cookies!

18

Have you ever taken NSAIDS for any period of time? I took them for arthritis and had internal bleeding after a few years. A stool test can tell you if you have any blood leaking into your gastrointestinal system. Can be a small loss you never notice in your stool. Maybe it’s time for a good physical.

19

Well I’m sorry I just skimmed the thread, but my mother was recently told the same thing when going to donate blood.

She freaked and went a real doctor the next day who performed more complete tests indicating her blood was perfectly fine.

20

You can have a hematocrit which is completely compatible with good health but is still considered too low to donate blood. Blood banks hold a higher standard for liability’s sake – they don’t want people to become ill after donating.

Nichol, I’m surprised that the blood bank didn’t give you some reading material about iron deficiency. They should’ve also given you information about the low iron deferrment that will attach to you now. I believe it will be six months before you’re permitted to donate, regardless of your hematocrit level. If you test too low again, you’ll be deferred even longer.

In the main, it’s a good idea for women to schedule blood donations for the two weeks prior to their menstrual period, not the two week after.