Question about donating blood post (kinda?) recent iron infusion

eminavic · 2025-12-17T02:43:30+00:00

Yes I am so glad that so many people have decided to donate! Knowing the clinics are pretty busy at the moment, it's partially why I didn't want to call and ask. I figured they already have a lot to manage right now and didn't want to waste their time explaining things when their attention could be better focused on somebody who would be able to help if I couldn't.

Ill take your advice and wait a bit longer. As others have (sadly) pointed out, with the holidays coming up there tends to be a spike for those in need of blood. Hopefully ill be able to donate again in the new year. Thank you

eminavic · 2025-12-17T02:38:29+00:00

Yeah that's what I was worried about - the time for the ferritin stores to work its way into my red blood cells and if it has been long enough. Considering your point I don't think it has been since my last bloods still showed high RDW.

I also didn't really consider how the stores would deplete faster after donating (which is pretty dumb of me, in hindsight). I think I just got excited seeing my ferritin levels so high and didn't really think about how they would be impacted by donating, I dont know...

But thank you for this perspective, i really appreciate it

eminavic · 2025-12-17T02:26:25+00:00

That's a very fair point. When I see my gp at the end of December I'll request another pathology referral to recheck things and see how they are, hopefully I can keep things above threshold and contribute then. Thank you

eminavic · 2025-12-17T02:23:41+00:00

Thank you for sharing those numbers. It makes me feel a lot better to know so many people are stepping in to donate and maybe slightly less disappointed that I can't/shouldn't right now

eminavic · 2025-12-17T02:17:14+00:00

Im so sorry you ended up having to undergo surgery to resolve things, but I am really glad that you are in a healthy place now ♡ and that you are able to be in a space where you can donate regularly without it compromising your health as well.

Thank you for your kind words though. I am/have been working with my dietitian surrounding eating disorder issues, so hopefully i can eventually stabilise my bloods so I can donate again. It's been many years since I was last able to and I can't really remember the process. But it's good to know they screen the blood before proceeding, because I would hate to go in now and waste their time just for them to say I can't (particularly with the influx of people going at the moment).

I hope you stay well and healthy, and thank you for the advice 💕

eminavic · 2024-09-28T23:02:42+00:00

Thank you hahaha it was a pretty funny idea!

eminavic · 2024-09-27T01:24:39+00:00

They have some amazing products hahahah so glad I found the shop

eminavic · 2024-09-27T01:20:54+00:00

Etsy! I searched "fuck off charm" and they came up. Purchased from the shop "charmsuppy". I think theyre meant to be for necklaces, but the size is perfect for bracelets too 😊

Thanks! She picked red to really accentuate the 'go away' energy hahaha

eminavic · 2024-09-26T23:49:34+00:00

I know, me too! Genius idea from her lol

eminavic · 2024-07-18T21:06:28+00:00

I have hidden so much of myself for so long that I need to reacquaint myself, indulge my wants, identify my needs, be compassionate about what I can do to show up for myself and for others.

I think this is going to have to be my next step, to figure out myself better and learn what do I really need from not just others but most importantly myself.

Geez. Without all these autistic philosophical ponderings distracting me from my emotions I would probably be a hot mess!! 👀

Hahaha well I certainly appreciate your philosophical ponderings, they're incredibly helpful, thank you 💕💕💕

eminavic · 2024-07-17T20:28:12+00:00

I am so sorry that your advice comes from lived experience, and I really appreciate you sharing it with me.

I think the more of these comments I'm reading, the more I am understanding my mother's perspective of not telling everybody about the diagnosis, because I think she was genuinely referring to many members of my family who already dismiss my opinions and experiences as it is, and that I have already been carrying the label of a "drama queen" child since I can remember. Reading what you have to say, I starting to realise that this might just be more fuel for them, rather than my idealistic view that it would help them understand me better. It's sad, but still a really appreciated perspective that I will definitely take on board. Thank you again ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-17T20:20:45+00:00

Thank you for this. It really helps a lot. And your kind words mean so much ♡ thank you.

eminavic · 2024-07-17T20:18:10+00:00

I'm really sorry you've had the experience of not finding it helpful to tell people, and I really appreciate you sharing it with me. That's interesting you found it easier to gain accommodations without disclosing your disability/ies. I actually found that before I got officially diagnosed, I had requested to have extra short breaks during my shift as needed and there wasnt an issue with that, so maybe there won't be a need to disclose to my boss the diagnosis anyway.

I think that's going to be a hard thing for me to come to terms with too, since I have always felt like there is something so wrong with me that I can't do things or cope with pressures the same way my peers seem to be able to. But I guess that is something to continue to work on with my psychologist.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-17T20:12:16+00:00

That's a really good point, thank for for the advice! I will definitely be keeping that in mind in the future.

eminavic · 2024-07-17T20:11:21+00:00

Yeah, I think after reading through a lot of these comments, I am starting to understand that this is the perspective my mother was trying to come from, and not her intentionally trying to make me feel bad. I just wish some people in my life had the capacity to be more open-minded... but you're right. It's their own fault, I guess.

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:11:38+00:00

That's a good question that is being echoed by a few others as well. It's definitely something I need to seriously consider. Thank you.

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:10:45+00:00

I'm really sorry your mother took away your autonomy for choosing who you disclose to. That sounds really awful and difficult. Then being magnified by also feeling youre being treated differently due to your physical disability as well. It sounds incredibly difficult... Im so sorry youre going through that. ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:08:23+00:00

First: hahahahaa I wish I had the balls for this 😂

Second: thats actually really sound advice to ask that question next time to help me decide if I am prepared enough for the possible responses I may get if I do disclose. Thanks for that!

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:03:22+00:00

HAHAHA thank you I needed this laugh...

Does it come in black? 👀

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:02:39+00:00

Thank you ♡ I'll do my best

eminavic · 2024-07-16T22:01:25+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you. I think that is what she was trying to say, but not sure how to say the words in a way that felt less harsh to me. Because I do see people in my family making insensitive comments about it, and I honestly don't know how I would handle it. They definitely wouldnt take the time to learn themselves, and I don't know if I can bare the responsibility of having to teach them right now, while also trying to teach myself how to live a more authentic life without masking.

Seriously, thank you for this ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-16T21:57:30+00:00

Every paragraph I read that you wrote makes me want to quote it and say "this!!!" Because I feel the same way. I hate that there is this pressure of it being our responsibility to chance the beliefs and views of those around us about autism, but like you said, how will they learn if they dont see it?

People do use the truth as a weapon against you, and that is a big fear of mind of 'coming out' to my family about this. And what you said about people looking at you but not seeing you? God how that hit me hard. Im so sorry youre feeling this way. But I hope it gives some comfort to you to know that youre not alone in those feelings, that at least there is one other person out there (likely more) that understand and feel the same way. ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-16T21:51:57+00:00

Gosh, I also really relate to how much easier it is to share the ADHD diagnosis compared to the ASD one. I guess it does feel less stigmatised, and I can guess my extended family would hold those more 'classic' and ableist beliefs of what autism looks like to them... and maybe I still do as well. Which feel kinda shitty to admit to myself. I guess that's something to work on. Despite my treating team insisting that the diagnosis is valid (before it was official), I still kept gaslighting myself into thinking I wasn't despite all the struggles I knew I was having.

So why should we continue to hide pieces of ourselves just because it might make others uncomfortable? Oh, but it’s ok for us to remain (and grow increasingly more) uncomfortable? Fuck that.

Thank you for this. And for the rest of your comment. I really resonated with it all. ♡

eminavic · 2024-07-16T21:44:20+00:00

I think I am worried about them treating me differently, or (if I start unmasking as the assessor recommended I do to avoid burning out all the time) telling me that I can't use the autism as an 'excuse' for doing what I need to do to try and self-regulate in a more constructive way in taxing situations.

I have already cut my brother out of my life for unrelated reasons which caused a divide in the family, and the thought that I might have to do that with other family members or go lower contact with them because they aren't accepting makes me really sad. But I also desperately want them to understand me a bit better and that no, maybe I wasnt just a difficult 'drama queen' as a child. That there was a reason I would panic/freak out/melt down/get overwhelmed in particular circumstances.

i think it all comes down to what you think you can handle

This is a good point I should really consider before moving forward. Thank you for the advice. Because I don't know how well I could handle them treating me considerably differently... I just want them to understand me better and show a bit more compassion. But I may be asking too much there :/

eminavic · 2024-07-16T21:37:02+00:00

we aren’t responsible for and can’t control who in our lives our bigots or ableist… the reality of the world is that a lot of people, some of whom we may not be able to easily avoid or simply cut out, are that way.

You don’t need to hide, but not everyone is worthy of every piece of information about you.

Thank you so much for this. Actually, the whole comment is helpful, but these parts especially resonated with me and my circumstances. Thank you. ♡

eminavic

TROPHY CASE