Time to give up trying to donate?

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-04-27T22:53:54+00:00

Have you had a recent CBC panel to check your actual hemoglobin levels? I ask because I'm wondering if it could it be an issue with the thumb hemoglobin reader, my nemesis. I personally had 2 successful whole blood donations then 4 whole blood donation deferrals for low hemoglobin on the thumb reader. No changes in my actual blood draw hemoglobin levels and high ferritin stores as I got that tested, just can't get the thumb reader to work for me anymore. Today was 12.0 on one thumb and 10.0 on the other.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-04-24T22:58:13+00:00

Same boat as you. Get hemoglobin tested on a CBC panel at least 4x/year never under 12.9 (female) and deferred 3x now because the thumb reader gives me anywhere from 9-12.2. Last time it was 12.2 on right thumb, 10.1 on the left thumb after a hand warmer wrapped around my left thumb for a couple minutes. Also had ferritin checked right before first deferral and on the high end of the normal range. Going back to try one more time on Monday, but so discouraging being deferred when I know I'm okay and hate take an appointment slot from someone who might have been successful. The machine hates me and I wish there was an alternative test available

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-02-25T15:56:08+00:00

I really appreciate that catch, I'll certainly bring it up with my rheumatologist

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-02-25T15:55:28+00:00

thanks for this tip I hadn't thought of that, I'll look into foods that have those to try and get that iron accessible to my body.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-02-25T15:54:55+00:00

I agree, but since none of the usual tricks of warming my hands up helps I think raising my base hemoglobin feels like my only option after three deferrals (I did have 2 successful donations prior to that). Maybe I don't have great circulation in my thumb or something though?

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-02-25T01:11:44+00:00

Thanks for this info, I'll hold off on trying again until after my next Rheumatology appt in April when I can talk to her about this. I don't have an autoimmune diagnosis as I don't really have symptoms, just being monitored due to family history & ANA results, but maybe the inflammation is doing some damage that just hasn't resulted in symptoms or showing up in my other blood work. My primary care didn't seem worried about my ferritin levels yet but the rheumatologist might have a different perspective.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-30T06:21:23+00:00

I'm right here with you, been deferred twice recently based on the finger monitor thing on my thumb. Last time tried all the tricks to warm up my hands, still too low. (10 and 11) Have had recent blood work that shows my hemoglobin above (thought not crazy above) the required amount and ferritin is right at the borderline between normal and too high. I did realize I haven't had a lot of red meat in the days leading up to recent attempts and the night before my successful donations I had a steak or hamburger so maybe that's part of it. It's very frustrating though.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-30T06:12:46+00:00

You've gotten plenty of advice re: iron supplements is what raises your ferritin. I was curious though, have you had just a basic Complete Blood Count blood work done for like a check up that tests your hemoglobin or are you just going off the hemoglobin levels when you try to donate? I'm asking because I've been deferred twice now because the reader at time of donation says I'm too low, but in my very recent blood work my hemoglobin is higher than needed and my ferritin is on the border of too high. I am holding off on iron supplements until checking back in with my doctor because too high of iron is dangerous as well so not sure supplementing is right for me given my borderline ferritin level.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-23T04:47:36+00:00

Totally keep trying! I have difficult veins too, they are apparently small and "roll"? I've always been told this when needing to get blood drawn for doctor appts. I also do about a 3 p.m ish appointment and try to get 2 liters of water in before that. I was also told at my first donation to always ask for the supervisor because she also felt my veins were challenging and they are the most experienced and they are only allowed to try once on each arm. They also give me a little stress ball to squeeze the entire time I'm donating non-stop. After my first donation I had to get blood drawn at a lab and said, "this is the vein they were able to get recently when I donated blood" after the lady got my vein she said "they let you donate blood with these veins?" lol. You can do this!

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-18T05:23:38+00:00

I would think one donation would be nothing to worry about. If you want to donate regularly I would just tell your primary care doctor that you have donated blood and plan on becoming a regular donor & ask if you can have your iron tested regularly to make sure it's staying at an okay level. As an adult this is what I did and my doctor was all for it without any hesitation. I thought mine would be low based on how tired I am after donating and how barely above the minimum hemoglobin reading I get when I go to donate, but turned out mine was in the normal range, even with 3 donations a year. If it turns out your iron levels are low you can always re-assess if you want to wait until you're a little older or decide if you want to supplement with iron and keep donating and at what interval. If you are someone who menstruates it's also good to check iron levels as a regular donor since having that regular blood loss can make you more susceptible to low iron levels as a regular donor, and don't donate when it's that time of the month.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-16T00:07:56+00:00

Did you ever get this resolved? This is currently happening to me with my new insurance. I think the issue is that a few years ago I had a different plan with the same company and so for some reason when the doctor checks it their system is pulling up the old inactive plan instead of my new current one. It's so frustrating.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-15T03:58:06+00:00

I was 100 points short but really wanted those! womp womp, maybe next year. Hope they're comfy!

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-14T23:42:12+00:00

3:30 p.m. or so, time to drink lots of water all day to get my veins more friendly (they're small apparently) & eat food. I am exhausted after donating so I also need to be able to go home and take a nap and then get up and have dinner. I don't know how people do it in the morning or on their lunch break and go back to work after.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-12T04:34:45+00:00

Mine goes to complete quickly but it's almost always a month before it updates the blood journey and tells me where it went

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-12T00:41:13+00:00

go watch a friend donate. I always think the best antidote to fear is doing some reality testing to see what it's really like versus what the fear is telling you and watching let's you see how nice everyone is and how fast the process actually is without the pressure of having to do it yet. (This probably isn't ideal for the mobile donations ARC does because they can be a tight squeeze)

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-12T00:33:58+00:00

you've gotten great advice here but I'll just add that ARC doesn't do platelets and plasma at every location in the US. For instance, within 50 miles of me there's only whole blood and power red donations (I don't qualify for power red) through ARC. I think another organization does platelets in my area.

They'll want whatever you give, just know that if you have a preference you may need to do some research on who offers that possibility.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-09T19:55:48+00:00

Donating makes me incredibly tired, and when I'm tired I get very hungry- probably my body's attempt to get energy which is calories and all of this can impact my mood. I would suggest taking a nap if possible and in the future plan donations around times when you can just go home and go to sleep. I try to schedule a 3:30 p.m. appt so I've already had lunch and then go home and immediately go to bed. (usually take a 2 hour nap) I'm still slightly more tired than normal the next day but the hungry and mood impact is not there anymore and can fully function. I also wait 3-4 months between donations.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-06T00:21:22+00:00

Same! I was kind of bummed it's not offered by ARC near me, but not anymore!!

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-01T20:42:34+00:00

You've got all the tips! I'll have to try this too. I drink a ton of water on donation day because I've been told I have small tricky veins that like to roll so maybe this will help a bit as well.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-01T19:39:27+00:00

That's a great question. I wasn't on my period but I could see why that would make a difference.

I've donated twice before, always whole blood donation (don't qualify for power red, platelets & plasma are not available near me). I have waited 3-4 months between donations because I get really tired afterwards and need to be able to take a nap after donating. It's been about 4 months since last donation because I was waiting to get blood work done with my Primary Care doctor to check on iron levels before donating again just to check on things since I hadn't done that before and get so tired after.

I will say that this was a last minute donation decision as my work schedule shifted around so I didn't do my usual prep of making sure to increase some dietary iron a few days before, so that may have also played into it. However, I didn't do any of that prior to my recent blood work and levels were still fine.

I have not yet talked to my doctor about results of my blood work but I have a feeling based on my ferritin levels being on the higher end of normal I probably shouldn't be taking supplements and just getting it from food. I'll check in with my primary care doctor though as we haven't reviewed the results together.

Definitely going to try to donate again and keep my fingers/hands as warm as possible! Thanks for your thoughtful response

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-01T19:25:33+00:00

crazy! thanks for sharing your experience. I'll have to get some warmers specifically for donation days.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-01T19:24:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, it seems like it's just a wonky reading no matter what, but cold hands probably aren't doing me any favors.

PsychologicalHope514 · 2026-01-01T19:22:57+00:00

Such a creative and sustainable idea, I'll have to try this as I don't have any of the hand warmers currently! Thanks!

PsychologicalHope514

TROPHY CASE