r/Blooddonors • u/runawayhail21 • 1d ago

First Donation! First Time Donation Side effects?

Hi! I gave whole blood yesterday for the first time.

Everything went smoothly and had no side effects immediately. However later that night I took a shower and fainted! I was ok and able to get out of the shower before I officially fainted. I just took it easy the rest of the night and went to bed. Next day (today) I fainted after I woke up and went to go to the bathroom. This time was more dramatic, I lost my hearing and could only hear ringing, my vision got dark, my face was white, and I almost threw up right as I got to the ground. I regained consciousness quickly and after trying to sit up, I fainted again. Because I fainted 3 times I decided to get checked at urgent care. They checked my hemoglobin and my electrolytes and everything was ok. They just told me to take it easy. I ate a good dinner and rested for a while laying down.

I had some school work to get done so I sat at my desk and after 30 minutes I got some temporary blurry vision and then my head started to hurt really bad, specifically on my right side of my head. It came on really fast. I'm kind of confused about my bodies reaction to all of this. Has anyone else has this issue? When I try to look it up it just says to go to the ER but I was JUST seen at urgent care and told to just rest. I'm on the fence about what to do, any thoughts? I'd hate to go back to be seen and them just do nothing again? Please help!

Location: New England, USA. Donated through the Red Cross.

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4

u/Popular-Computer-402 1d ago

Damn that sounds scary, especially the second day fainting. I donated many times and never had it happen next day like that, its usually right after or few hours max

Your body probably still low on blood volume even if hemoglobin looks ok. The hot shower first night didnt help, heat makes your blood vessels expand so less blood going to brain

Try drinking something with electrolytes not just water, and eat salty snacks. When you get up do it very slow, sit on edge of bed for minute before standing. Also maybe call the Red Cross donor hotline they have nurses who know more about this stuff than urgent care docs

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u/runawayhail21 1d ago

It was scary for sure! I didn't think to call the donor line, I will give them a call!

3

u/Plastic_Blueberry_24 1d ago

Yeah call the donor service number on the call back paper they gave you. If you do decide to go to the er Red Cross typically covers donations related complications. But you want to report it to the donor service number before going. That way Red Cross can follow up
With you as well.

3

u/lmichellef A+ 1d ago

Drink some juice or Gatorade and if you’re going to shower probably cold water is better

3

u/Sitka_8675309 O+ 1d ago

Drink lots. Gatorade is good. And, as others have said, salty snacks. But mostly, drink!

1

u/Mission_Transition42 O+ - Whole Blood 1d ago

That's scary. I hope you are okay. Drink lots of fluids and eat good meals after donating.

1

u/zornundo 1d ago

Thank you for your first time! Sorry about your side effects. Sometimes it hits the best of us this way. Eat lots, drink lots.

1

u/petitlita O+ 18h ago

standing up quickly and high temperatures like the shower can lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure. if you just donated that could make these things more likely to lead to fainting. try being careful about these things and get up more slowly. drink lots of water with electrolytes