I am just curious, I just started (will go to my 12th class this evening). I am a 20 gallon donor at BloodCare (I donate platelets and I am on the marrow registry...it is my good deed). Off and on my iron will be low, to donate it has to be 12.5. Usually when my iron is low it will be under 12.5 but generally no lower than 11. This past Saturday it was 10, really low. I was just wondering if anyone else had run into this, and looking for a good iron supplement. For now I will have spinach for lunch and keep drinking my Power Paks
Thanks!

Hi Girl Friday,

Oh, I know how you feel; it's awful. I am usually always borderline anemic, I have been most of my life.

You need to get a good iron supplement, get one that is 325 miligrams. Don't get one of those 50mg or 100mg, get the good one. Just eating spinach and drinking Power paks is definitely not enough.

You can find the supplements at Costco but you have to ask the pharmacist or whoever is behind the pharmacy counter because they don't have them out. They will start working within a week or two (or did for me). I take one every three days and it works great for me. YOu may want to take one every other day. They can tend to cause constipation so make sure you eat a lot of fiber or take a Metamucil capsule with it.

I hope that helps you and you are awesome for being such a high donor at BloodCare.

Juliana

I have been anemic (low iron) before a couple of times in the past too. For the last five months, I have been concentrating on eating more chicken and beef, and taking a daily multivitamin with iron (its actually a prenatal/multi vitamin). I just had a physical last week and they said I was no longer anemic! Yea! Eating leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, raisins, grapes, and nuts, are all good sources of iron too (along with meats!). Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

It was back up to 13. Found a good iron supplement at Herb Mart, called Blood Builder, made by Mega Foods. No stomach upset like some iron supplements.

Hello!

I have never had an iron deficit, but I completely agree with your attempt at leveling things out using dark leafy greens. Many people think that meat is the only way to get iron and it is good to see you know your stuff!

Namaste,

Elizabeth

Well Hello fellew blood donor!!

Donating blood is one of the best things a person can do for their community, Platelelets are always in need because thay only last about five days.
I have had the same problem on occasion especially if I've been working very hard or stressed out. I've tried to increase my iron levels with diet, but it never seemed to work for me.
I have found a very good suppliment that works very well and is not so hard on the body. It's New Chapter Organics Iron for women (I assume you may be a women as we tend to have this problem) taking this suppliment every other day or daily help me get my iron levels high enought to donate. It's interesting that Bloodcare does a total iron test rather than a hematicrit, as many blood centers do. I will have to get over there and give them a pint.

Hi, thought I'd pipe in on the low iron issue. I'm glad you found Blood Builder - because that would be one of my suggestions - it is a good "whole food"source of iron. I am a chronically low iron kinda gal and have been taking FlorVital Iron + Herbs (available at Whole Foods, probably some vitamin stores too). THis is a good source of iron- and also non constipating- which can be a problem with iron supplements. I like it better that Blood Builder, FlorVita Iron+Herbs provides Vit C, B complex vit and a highly absorbable source of iron. Thanks for sharing your info and your blood!

I am a big fan of Flor-Vital Iron and Herbs as well! I keep it chilled in my refrigerator. I don't use it everyday, but its especially effective for me when I feel puny or its Mother Nature's visit time.

Thanks for being a blood donor - your sacrifice saves lives!