Too much blood?

[JDeRouen]

A couple of months ago, my doctor told me I have too much blood in my body and needed to donate blood. I'd never heard of such a thing, but sure enough I've found articles about it via Google. Too much blood can cause weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and even congestive heart failure.

So about six weeks ago, I went to donate blood. They told me my iron level was too high. It needed to be 18 or less, and it was 18.1. So I went home, and tried to ear foods lower in iron. Today, I went to a blood drive at my post office and they tested it again, and it was still 18.1

I have too much blood and too much iron, and the solution to both of those issues is to give blood... which I can't do, because I have too much iron.

So do I just let myself die or what?

[wolfie]

I have the solution, I'll be round tonight.

Dracula.


Seriously this sounds really horrible for you. I think you need to get back to your doctor straight away and tell him to come up with plan B. There must be something you can take to lower the iron content of your blood or failing that a transfusion sounds in order.

I'm allmost afraid to ask what happens if you do nothing.

[toys2cool]

Just tell them to take it out and dispose of it

[The Toyroom]

They could just drain the blood and dispose of it...I knew someone who had a similar situation before and they just went on a regular basis to have the blood drained. But it was disposed of because they some sort of blood disorder that prohibitted them from donating the blood.

[Dave Mc]

Just tell them to take it out and dispose of it

Exactly- If you have too much blood and your iron is too high to donate your doctor should be removing it himself or something. Seems he should help you work through this iron thing as well. Does your Doc know about the iron thing or was that something you only found out when you went to donate? Either way, my behind would be in the Doc's office on Monday to figure out a solution.

[JDeRouen]

If the iron content is too high, they can't use the blood for other people, and if they can't use the blood for other people, they won't draw it.

And I am contacting my doctor on Monday. (He told me I had too much blood volume, but said nothing about the iron content.) The blood drive people told me I need to have the doctor contact their other office in Springdale, who then needs to fax the doctor, who then needs to fill out forms, sign them, give them to me, and then I can pay the center in Springdale $40 to drain my blood.

It's just frustrating. I did call the doctor after the first try at donating, and he said to wait six weeks and try again, so that is what I did - with the exact same results.

The whole fatigue, and weakness thing hits home for me. There will be days when I have so much I need to do and just don't have the energy to do it. Maybe I'll be peppy once they drain me? That would be nice!

Joe

[mitchedwards]

Time to invest in some leaches

[JDeRouen]

I'm overweight, but actually in decent shape. Good blood pressure, low cholesterol, etc. I guess I just need to stop eating those damned nails!!

[Riffster]

leaches?

[Hector]

Here you are with too much iron...and here I am with the complete opposite problem, I have too little iron in my blood.

This is due to me lacking a colon...I lose all kinds of stuff...one of them is iron.

I have to take this everyday for the rest of my life (plus other "wonderful" supplements)...



Go figure.

[wolfie]

If you two swap your entire blood supply with each other you will both be much better.

This free advice comes to you from Dr Wolfie.

[Hector]

[LadyZod]

Heck, I'm always in danger of having too low a hemoglobin count with high iron!

[Hulk]

Have your tap water tested

[Bill]

DIY