fullcortex.net

( 1999 )

-I was recently turned down for donating blood. I donate all the time and now am being told that I don’t have enough hemoglobin. How does this happen and what do I need to do to get my hemoglobin up where it belongs?-

It’s unusual for hemoglobin to drop significantly as the result of donating blood, unless it’s done at frequent intervals. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen. While some iron, needed in the production of hemoglobin, is removed in donating a unit of blood, a normal diet will usually replenish this lost iron in a short time.
It’s important that you seek a medical evaluation to find the cause of your low hemoglobin (anemia). Tests can determine if iron deficiency is the problem. If so, there may be causes other than being a frequent blood donor, such as loss of blood from a problem in your stomach or intestine. Other causes of anemia unrelated to blood loss include problems with bone marrow function.
Again, it’s important that you have an adequate evaluation to establish the cause of your low hemoglobin, and that you not simply take iron supplements on your own. Taking extra iron may cover up the evidence of significant blood loss while the underlying cause, such as a tumor in the colon, goes undetected.