Hating shots and needles is something children worldwide can relate to. So why, you might ask, would a former pediatrician’s office dramatic performer willingly subject themself to a needle every few months? The answer is simple: because I can. Despite my chronic health issues, none of my pre-existing conditions prevent me from being able to donate blood, so I try to as often as I can. I wish that I had asked someone for tips for donating blood when I first started.
When I tell people how often I donate, I regularly get questions from those who have either never donated or who hated the experience so much their first time that they never donated again. A few of those questions tend to be…
“Does it hurt?”
“Have you ever fainted?”
“Are there side effects?”
And my answers to those are: Not if done properly and you go prepared (more on that below). Yes, exactly twice. Yes, but none that outweigh the benefits for others (and never for more than a day).
With all that in mind, it is important to prepare your body for a blood donation, regardless of if you have a chronic illness. After multiple blood donations, I have accrued the following tips for donating blood via personal experience, old wives tales, and shared insight at the post-donation snack table. I hope these work for you too!
Tip #1 “Iron out” your timeline for donating blood
Low iron is one of the most common prohibitors of blood donation. The first step in the intake process is a finger prick to determine your blood iron level. Whether you normally run close to anemia or not, my first tip for donating blood is to take an iron supplement for at least a week before your donation. I personally take an iron supplement every day as I made a connection between the two times I fainted and my iron level being just above the acceptable threshold. This is why it is important to “iron out” your donation schedule ahead of time – last minute donations don’t allow you to prepare.
Tip #2 CHUG
Water, that is. I typically schedule my donations for the afternoon to a) allow me to eat a nice full meal before I donate and b) allow me time to down at least 1400 ML before I need to donate. It is just as important to drink a lot of water after your donation as well, as your body needs to replace the blood you’ve lost. I have found that the more hydrated you are, the faster your donation goes. For me, this makes the overall experience more positive and shortens my recovery time.
Tip #3 Turmeric takes the work out of donating blood
Similar to the water consumption, I have found that taking turmeric supplements in the days leading up to my donation (if I am not already doing so) shortens the time it takes to complete a donation. Turmeric is a naturally-occurring blood thinner, so it makes sense that it would aid in facilitating the donation.
Tip #4 Respect the Rules
There’s a reason they tell you to eat before and want you to snack before you leave. There’s a reason they tell you not to exercise for 24 hours afterward. There’s a reason they tell you to donate using your non-dominant arm. All of these things contribute to how successful your donation is and how you feel after. Please follow these recommendations and rules for your own good, because I have seen firsthand what happens when you don’t (the aforementioned fainting).
So those are my top tips for donating blood! Do you donate often? Did I miss anything? Let me know down in the comments below!
