Every time I give blood I feel bad for at least a day or two days

As the title states, Every time that I give blood I bad for at least a day or two. The first time I donated was around 7 years ago and it was an interesting experience since the needle kept falling out of my arm. I was not surprised by the fact that bad that time. The next couple of times I was tired but nothing bad, I denied a lot though, but around 2 years after the first time I donated I got really sick, pass out sick. I spent two hours on the "pass-out table". I then went 5 years without donating again, I tried two more times before taking my break, but I got denied both times. I then went 4 years without even attempting to donate again, until last semester.

Last fall, was the first time I donated since my freshmen year of undergrad, and I donated whole blood twice that semester. The first time I donated, I managed to scare a fair amount of people, especially one of my RAs. I was liquid white, I look like I saw a ghost. And it took about another day entirely for me to gain my color back. I also felt rather weak, tired, and a decent size bruise on my arm. I had a similar experience the second time I donated, but I did not feel as bad, and there was no bruise, but it still took a day for me to get my color back. The thing is, when I donate, I am fine for the first 30 minutes to an hour, but after that I start to feel sick.

I then, from not learning my lesson, I gave blood yet again today. However, instead of giving the simple 1 pint of how blood, I gave what is called Double Red Cell donation. This takes twice as long as a normal donation. They took two pints of blood, which they kept the Red Blood Cells and separated and returned my Plasma, with some saline. So in total there was an entire pint of Red Blood and an entire pint of Plasma, but I got my plasma back. I got tired and chilly while I still donating, but the nurse said that, that was normal, at least the tired part. Especially considering the entire process, including paperwork, getting the machine set-up and the actual donation part took 2 hours 2-4PM. However, with the cold part, it was hard to tell if I was chilly or it was just from the room being cool, which it was. After I donated, I got snacks, and went and ate dinner about 30 minutes later, and I still felt sick and I was still freezing, and it until about a couple hours ago, around 10/11PM before I got my color back. At least with this donation I cannot give again until May, because it is a four month wait, instead of two with whole blood.

I want to keep donating blood, but I just hate feeling this sick every single time I donate. Any one have any advise.:help:

 

That makes a lot of sense I very well might be pushing myself too hard. Even now, the next day I still do not even feel close to 100%. The thing with talking to my physician is that I have not been there for 7 years because I do not have any health insurance. I have just been playing everything by ear and hoping and praying that I do not get sick. Its a risky lifestyle, but I cannot afford insurance, and Obamacare was no help either. The plan they offered would have costed me more than I made last year. Which wasn't much, but you see the point.

I will look through the archives for blood donation.

To the others that have suggested Plasma, I will have to think about that. They normally do not have plasma drives on campus, but considering I cannot donate again until May, I have time to think.

---------- Post added 5th Feb 2014 at 11:27 AM ----------

I tell my roommate when I give blood. Well it is more like he notices because I come in the room looking like I just saw a ghost, and I collapse on my bed. There is always at least one person that knows though.

 

I give with LifeShare, I found them easier to deal with then the Red Cross. Waiting does sound like a good idea at this point, doesn't hurt matters that I have a four month defer because of the type of donation I gave. It will probably be at least another year before I get health insurance, but oh well, there is nothing that I can do about that. Yea, I do not think they would be very pleased with me if they knew how bad it makes me feel.

 

I never heard the tums thing before, I might have to try that. I currently feel sick to my stomach, with a coming and going nauseous feeling. I am absolutely freezing, and I would be shivering if it wasn't for my roommate's electric blanket. I also have a headache and it has been a struggle to get my thoughts to come out right, because my brain feels foggy. And I can't keep any color in my face.

I am never going to give a double after this, because no good deed goes unpunished.

 

Yay I no longer feel like I am going to die! Yesterday was horrible, I was so cold, and I could not keep me temperature up. At one point got as low as 95.4F or 35.2C. I also felt nauseous for most of the day.