Donated blood - Got my HCT and Hemoglobin under control

[thelazygent]

Lowering your dose will help. Hydrating well can help a little as well. Self-bleed may not be necessary. You may be able to find one of those remote blood drives somewhere to lose another pint as well if you choose. I'd think you'll be fine until next time. Consider a DRBC for your next donation.

Ok with DRBC. I can only donate once every 16 weeks vs whole blood 8 weeks.

Will I get more out of donated RBC once in 16 weeks or donated whole blood twice in 16 weeks?

[CobraMustangSVT]

Ok with DRBC. I can only donate once every 16 weeks vs whole blood 8 weeks.

Will I get more out of donated RBC once in 16 weeks or donated whole blood twice in 16 weeks?

Be careful. Make sure your iron level are good. I've been reading a lot of stories of people using blood donations to control HGB and HCT levels, only to have their ferritin levels go down and then they have to deal with low iron issues

[Mr.BB]

Be careful. Make sure your iron level are good. I've been reading a lot of stories of people using blood donations to control HGB and HCT levels, only to have their ferritin levels go down and then they have to deal with low iron issues

Yes. Blood donation is good to control hematocrit while you have enough iron. Low iron/ferritin levels will upregulate blood factor 8, which at least as bad if not worse, than having high hematocrit, because of high risk of blood clots.

[kelkel]

Be careful. Make sure your iron level are good. I've been reading a lot of stories of people using blood donations to control HGB and HCT levels, only to have their ferritin levels go down and then they have to deal with low iron issues

Correct, there are studies that show the older you get the more succeptable you are to this occuring.

[mazguy]

Correct, there are studies that show the older you get the more succeptable you are to this occuring.

Two questions:
1. What type of iron supplement to take after donating and for how long?
2. I'm 65 and train vigorously in BJJ, wrestling five-7-minute rounds three times a week and lift weights on off days, so how will losing a pint affect my athletic performance and for how long?
thanks

[Lockout888]

Two questions:
1. What type of iron supplement to take after donating and for how long?
2. I'm 65 and train vigorously in BJJ, wrestling five-7-minute rounds three times a week and lift weights on off days, so how will losing a pint affect my athletic performance and for how long?
thanks

I have been struggling with low iron & ferritin after donating blood for a couple of years, to the point of iron-deficiency anemia. If you donate every 8 weeks, you don't have enough time to replenish the iron you lose when donating, unless you supplement.

I have blood test results from right before and after donating. Iron went from 101 to 44, and Ferritin went from 37 to 20. You lose quite a bit.

I use an iron product with great reviews and results, called Blood Builder. Look for it on Amazon or your local Sprouts etc. For me, it looks like supplementing every day for 2-3 weeks with iron after a blood donation is the sweet sport of replenishing iron and not having Hemoglobin & Hematocrit go too high.

[kelkel]

Two questions:
1. What type of iron supplement to take after donating and for how long?
2. I'm 65 and train vigorously in BJJ, wrestling five-7-minute rounds three times a week and lift weights on off days, so how will losing a pint affect my athletic performance and for how long?
thanks

If in fact you needed it just elemental iron, low dose.

[mazguy]

Thanks but I'm curious as to how blood donating will my athletic performance. How many days to get back to normal?