Blood donations & LCing

[Bluegenes]

A funny thing just happened to me. I just went to donate blood, as I try to do twice a year. My veins are difficult to find and the med tech (if they are not old and experienced) as usual, had to "dig" around with the needle to find a good vein. It hurts like the devil, but it's for a good cause, I always say. The rest of the procedure always goes fine.

But today my blood came out at an extremely slow rate. And after just 1/2 pint was extracted, my blood actually clotted the needle. Sadly, because I couldn't fill the entire bag, what I did donate was thrown away.

So I got to thinking.....what's different about me lately that might cause such a thing to occur? The first thing that came to my mind was LCing. It's a bit of a stretch, and I have zero evidence and thus I am not pointing any fingers....... but does anyone have any thoughts? I'm listening oh wise ones!

[skg]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I donate 4 or more times a year and don't have a problem but never really have. Did you drink a lot of extra water, it helps the blood flow faster. I hope you don't give up on donating it really can save a life.

[Houston Heather]

Hm. I'd say dehydration and maybe not enough vitamin E.

I donated Wednesday and was done in about 8 minutes. I work out a lot and maybe that's a factor.

It just flowed right out and stopped when it needed to. DH is moderate carb and once they found the vein (he has bad veins due to a horrible accident) he had no troubles.

Next time I'd say drink more water and get some antioxidants (A, C, E) on board. Vitamin E helps keep blood less sticky, in a good way.

[DorianH]

I have no idea..........you now have bacon in your blood?

Seriously, I will go with dehydration as well!

Congrats on donating- it always feels good to do something like that.

[speedymagee]

I donated in January while I was in ketosis and the same thing happened to me. I could only fill about half the bag and it was SLOW!

I donated 2 weeks ago (no ketosis) and it took about 11 minutes.

I'm guessing you're in ketosis? Maybe wait to donate until you are eating a few more carbs??

[beachguy]

I'm betting it was the lack of experience of the tech. Recently I had a nurse trainee draw blood and she barely hit the vein and then couldn't keep the needle in the vein. Result was the blood barely trickled out. A week later, different nurse, no problem.

[Houston Heather]

I am in ketosis right now, and I was when I donated... so it's not that.

[MarblesLongGone]

I had been wanting to ask a question about LC'ers giving blood.

You know the after donation snack? They are always REALLY high carb. Could I just eat some peanuts or something like that and be ok? High carb things lead me to migraines!

[skg]

Originally Posted by MarblesLongGone

I had been wanting to ask a question about LC'ers giving blood.

You know the after donation snack? They are always REALLY high carb. Could I just eat some peanuts or something like that and be ok? High carb things lead me to migraines!

I just gave blood a few weeks ago, I drank just water after but was going straight home to make dinner. You can always take your own snack, you just need to drink something and sit there for 10 minutes when you are done.

[MarblesLongGone]

I am a water junkie, I ALWAYS have a cup of water in my hands, but they always say that you'll pass out if you don't eat something before you stand up.

[skg]

Oh, I have never passed out and haven't eaten any snack the past year, but if you have the tendency to do so, take your own snack and you should be ok.

She actually let me leave after 5 minutes as long as I promised not to pass out once I got to my car, I said OK I promise not to

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by MarblesLongGone

I am a water junkie, I ALWAYS have a cup of water in my hands, but they always say that you'll pass out if you don't eat something before you stand up.

I've never had a single person tell me that when donating blood. I donated for years and never ate anything afterward. No one ever pushed food on me.

OP, it has nothing to do with LC nutrition. Sounds to me like you had an inexperienced tech and possibly were dehydrated. A good tech can stick you and you'll never feel a thing. Always eat a good iron-rich meal before donating and drink extra water. As already mentioned, the more hydrated you are the faster you will get done. If you want to eat something afterward take your own on-plan snack.

I always had a few liters before donating blood and would be working on another while they were drawing blood.

[Houston Heather]

I brought cut up cheese and a small bag of peanuts. It worked well.

I also had a low carb shake but I didn't need it. I do get hungry afterward, and I was a little dizzy this time. It went away quickly after eating and drinking.

[Bluegenes]

Interesting responses. I thank each of you, very much, for taking the time to do so. Looking back dehydration could have been a factor. It has been hot around here lately. But I have made no special attempt to drink "X" amount of water every day....I just drink when I get thirsty.

Concerning the tech: She did ask another tech to help find a vein, after not being able to do so on her own. Inexperiance, I think now, was likely a factor as well, if not THE factor.

I feel much better now after reading these notes. It's sort of funny now........when I was donating, the bed next to me was occupied by an attractive woman. Before the tech decided to stop my donation she anounced that she was doing so, quite loudly. Perhaps only another man could understand this....... but it was very embarrasing to have it announced "He can't fill the bag!". Especially in front of the woman.

Oh well.....I was trying to do the right thing. Where are my karma points?!!

[TheWildHaggis]

Digging around? Up here north of the 49th, it appears we only have RN taking the blood. That said, in the hospital, I'd take a tech over a nurse most days.

Anyways, I'm betting it was dehydration. Personally, my runs around a minute quicker than before I started LCing.

[MarblesLongGone]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

I've never had a single person tell me that when donating blood. I donated for years and never ate anything afterward. No one ever pushed food on me.

OP, it has nothing to do with LC nutrition. Sounds to me like you had an inexperienced tech and possibly were dehydrated. A good tech can stick you and you'll never feel a thing. Always eat a good iron-rich meal before donating and drink extra water. As already mentioned, the more hydrated you are the faster you will get done. If you want to eat something afterward take your own on-plan snack.

I always had a few liters before donating blood and would be working on another while they were drawing blood.

I've never had that problem, but I haven't donated in ages, and they USED to insist that you drink the juice, and nosh on cookies. I am ALWAYS well hydrated, so being liquid enough should not be a problem. And I always take vitamin E, so the thick blood shouldn't be an issue.

[Kris T.]

You get karma points, don't worry! I think people who donate blood are very special. FWIW, my blood is very 'slow' too. Like molasses. But I try anyway. I personally think it's just trying to stay inside!

[luckiangel]

Originally Posted by Bluegenes

Concerning the tech: She did ask another tech to help find a vein, after not being able to do so on her own. Inexperiance, I think now, was likely a factor as well, if not THE factor.

i wouldn't quite blame the tech yet. WHen dehydrated your veins shrink making them hard to find and equally hard to withstand the trauma of a needle not to mention a 16 or 18 gauge needle. i would also have to say that dehydration played a big part in your experience. WHen the flow of blood is slow there is more of a risk of clotting because the clotting factors are put into play on the point the needle breaks the vein. The first tech who handed off to another tech did exactly what she should have .....she wasn't sure so she spared you an extra stick, not so much inexperience but knowledgeable about their policies and safe lab practices.

[ebonyeyz28]

I try to donate at least 3 times per year and have met that goal consistently since starting this WOL. I have donated during Induction, OWL and maintenance without any problems. The only time I did have a problem was BEFORE this WOL and I happened to see a donor drive going on and decided to donate, despite only having a little bit of water and soda (not diet since this was pre-lc) and my blood was like molasses...he!!, I probably had enough sugar floating around in there for it to act like syrup! Anyway, that was when I learned the importance of ALWAYS being properly hydrated cause my thought was this: if my blood is flowing this slow trying to come out then is it moving this slow inside me too?! Probably not but, hey, if that thought caused me to finally start seeing the importance of water then all is well.

Next time you donate, make sure that you have plenty of water in your body and, for those who asked, I usually take a package of raw almonds and a couple of pieces of string cheese with me when I donate and kindly say "no thank you" to the sugary snacks they offer. They usually look at me weird and expect me to get all whoozy and weak but I walk off there looking cute and healthy just as fast as everyone else and I just have my LC snacks when I get in the car.

[MarblesLongGone]

Originally Posted by ebonyeyz28

....Next time you donate, make sure that you have plenty of water in your body and, for those who asked, I usually take a package of raw almonds and a couple of pieces of string cheese with me when I donate and kindly say "no thank you" to the sugary snacks they offer. They usually look at me weird and expect me to get all whoozy and weak but I walk off there looking cute and healthy just as fast as everyone else and I just have my LC snacks when I get in the car.

Thank you for feedback on what to bring! That makes me feel more confident to give.