Warning when giving blood
 

Over the last couple years I’ve been donating blood about every four months with no issue. On May 1st I had an appt to give blood.
All my history etc checked out and they asked if I wanted to give “double red cell”. I asked questions about it. Basically it requires a smaller needle takes about 5 min longer. Bottom line when your blood is extracted it goes into a machine to separate the red blood cells from the plasma and platelets. They keep the two units of red cells and return the plasma and platelets back to the donor.
They “talked up” this double red cell donation. A donor needs to be a minimum weight and health. My red cell count was 15, which they said was great.
After about 25 min I was done and feeling well. Later that week I had my blood drawn for a doctor appt the next week. At the appt my Dr was very concerned as my RBC was 10. When I told him about the red cell donation he said it could have caused a heart attack to you. I have some kidney issues and he told me to stop giving blood. Not worth the risk to me.
So I lost 1/3 of my RBC - he said it normally takes one month to increase RBC by one point; the bone marrow creates red cells.
It’s been about a month now and I’m still fatigued and sometimes dizzy. Should slowly improve over time as red cells are replenished. So fair warning to “donators”. Esp for the double red cells. Check with your doctor. I didn’t even think of that. Better safe than sorry.

I believe if you donate red blood cells you have to wait around 4 months to donate again. I did it once on a blood mobile. Double Red Cell Donation | OneBlood

You should wait to donate "double red" (also known as Power Red) again for four months. Because yes it does take awhile to rebuild after getting that much taken out. That's standard procedure, and if they said otherwise they were wrong. According to the Red Cross, double red can be donated once every 112 days.

I donate a single whole plus platelets. I can do that once every 60 days. I learned the lesson the hard way last time though: make sure you have eaten a full meal within an hour prior to donating blood. Not just a snack. I almost passed out when it was time for me to get up and leave.

No problems with normal red and platelet donations for over 30 years but had a similar experience aftera double red.

My counts were back in low range within 6 months but still have not recovered to previous midlevels.

In hindsight, it was probably a FDA. reportable adverse event.

Report a Problem to the FDA | FDA

I'm surprised they didn't tell you about that! I used to give blood but don't think I can anymore due to my health issues. Wish I could! I pray you'll feel better soon!!

Upon reading the whole post, it is fairly easy to deduce that the OP is not going to do it again.

…you deduced correctly. I had no idea that the effect would be so severe with me. Perhaps not for some other folks, but I did want to take the time as a heads-up for those considering the double red cell donation. BTW I never had an effect after regular whole blood donation before.

As I said in my post almost one month after and I’m still putzy. Missed most golf dates due to this, but so be it - live and learn. I learned.

Here's a study, it depletes iron levels and can take a long time to recover, maybe more so in our age group.

"Adverse events and retention of donors of double red cell units by apheresis"

Adverse events and retention of donors of double red cell units by apheresis - PMC

Discussion

2RBC donation is overall safe. Donor retention was low over a period of 11 years. An important reason for abandoning 2RBC was the detection of low SF (iron) levels. The impact of fatigue on donor retention and the course of iron stores after repeated 6-monthly 2RBC apheresis require further investigation

Here's an app that checks iron levels photographing your fingernails.

AnemoCheck on the App Store

I donated double red cells last year with no side effects. I took iron supplements for a couple of weeks afterward.

Thanks for the heads up, like all older people my kidneys aren't as good as they used to be. I almost donated blood the other day, but didn't. Now I won't.

I had a stomach bleed December 2020, and my iron level has never caught up from it.
Have to take iron tablets on a regular basis.

I give all my blood in my garage. I am always cutting myself open somewhere working on my old C/10 pickup or my many motorcycles. I have O Neg, so it's a shame when it gets on my garage floor!

As I read your post it brought back memories of how grateful I am to plasma donors. My son was diagnosed with a rare disease and plasma saved his life multiple times. He just had his third kidney transplant.
However your post opened my eyes to the other side of the coin. I never thought of the side effects and sacrifice of those who donated. It certainly does take a village. I am so grateful and appreciative to all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My doctor told me to stop giving blood for similar issues following a traditional blood donation.

Getting older has advantages and disadvantages, certainly it is not for wimps ������.