Knowing that the Red Cross blood supply was low, I went to give blood last fall in a Corvallis church. I also convinced my husband to give blood for his first time since the ban was lifted for giving blood due to living in regions with Mad Cow Disease while in the military.
They did a minor screening of blood pressure, pulse and iron level first. I was surprised when she asked me if I was an ultra marathoner. She proceeded to tell me my heart rate was low. I told her it has always been low, and I have attributed it to the fact that I do a lot of running, biking, exercising, etc. But she said it was a deal breaker. She even called to confirm with their doc-on-call and he said absolutely not as it could be hard for me to replace the blood.
It certainly got me thinking that maybe I had felt so draggy lately because of this. My blood pressure was too low and I had been turned away one other time in early summer from a blood drive. My doctors had been telling me it was because I wasn’t hydrated enough so I had tried to drink more water and even make it better with those electrolyte mixes.
Meanwhile my husband came home early from his blood draw because his iron levels were too low! He had never had anemia before.
I got in to see my doctor and she said I had an issue, and sent me to cardiology for a consult telling me the good news was that it was “fixable”. When I got the diagnosis, it was called sick sinus syndrome. What I needed, he said, was a pacemaker. I had it “installed” in early November and haven’t looked back since. I am back to my old self and no more almost fainting and lethargic episodes.
Meanwhile my husband’s doctor confirmed he needed more iron and he started taking supplements and is back to normal levels which is great due to his need for total knee replacement surgery soon. I tell you this as the Red Cross blood program is really a public health initiative of sorts. And if you are willing to give whole blood or platelets which are so sought-after, you will even get a whole blood screening (CBC and comprehensive metabolic panel) that would normally cost quite a bit, for nothing except giving your blood, of course. They are also talking about adding A1C screening as well. You will get the results as well.
As you probably know I am on the Board of Directors of the Southwest OR Chapter of the Red Cross so I’m on a mission of awareness and wanted you to know of the side benefits of this life-saving function many of us can partake in. I am excited that I am eligible to give blood again!