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Snacks after donating blood?


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So I have an appointment to donate blood tomorrow. Afterward they will want me to eat all kinds of processed crackers and cookies before I leave. Since I don't want to do that, what would be a good alternative that I can take with me? I'm supposing they want my blood sugar not to be too low. I'm on Day 19.

Thanks for any advice!

Erin

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If you walk in well fed and well hydrated, you really will not need anything. You could take your own bottle of water to replace a little of the volume you donate if you like.

The snacks really are not especially relevant to people who are doing well.

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I'm donating this week too. Am taking some fruit. Not comfortable driving home without something. Water and fruit. It'll be close to dinner time so I can call part of that fruit dinner.

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If you walk in well fed and well hydrated, you really will not need anything. You could take your own bottle of water to replace a little of the volume you donate if you like.

The snacks really are not especially relevant to people who are doing well.

 

Tom, 

If someone is feeling any ill effects after donating, would it be possible to make any snack into a mini-meal, and have protein, carbs, and fat? I've not donated blood before, so I don't know how it affects people. Thoughts? 

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Danielle,

I think the big concern when you donate blood is being lightheaded and fainting. I presume this is why they want people to have a sugar boost after donating. Regarding making a snack a mini-meal, I think that is what is recommended in It Starts with Food anytime you need a snack.

Erin

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I never feel badly after donating but I'm always cognizant that I could feel badly. I always enjoyed the cookies. I'll bring food and a bunch of water just in case I feel crappy since I have to drive home. I give blood or platelets a lot.

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If I were going to take something to eat after donating blood, I would probably take a baked sweet potato because it is simple, easy to eat and digest, and would offer an energy boost. That and water.

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  • 2 years later...

I'm about to make my first platelet donation since starting Whole30 (R1D8). During my donation, I'm regularly given a few Tums for added calcium to alleviate the tingling around my mouth [that's common with platelet donation]. 

Are there any favorable recommendations or replacement for calcium during donation?

Thanks!

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2 hours ago, matty said:

I'm about to make my first platelet donation since starting Whole30 (R1D8). During my donation, I'm regularly given a few Tums for added calcium to alleviate the tingling around my mouth [that's common with platelet donation]. 

Are there any favorable recommendations or replacement for calcium during donation?

Thanks!

You don't say when you're going to donate, but have you tried eating plenty of calcium-rich foods in the days leading up to your donations, to see if that would be enough to alleviate the tingling during donation? (This article mentions the most calcium-rich Whole30 compliant options.)

I don't know of a specific Whole30 compliant calcium supplement brand, you'd really just have to look and see what's available near you.

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3 hours ago, matty said:

Are there any favorable recommendations or replacement for calcium during donation?

Thanks!

Hmm. I have no idea if this is something that would work for this purpose, but I take Calm with Calcium (dissolves in hot liquid -- I make it in tea), and I know it's compliant (found out about it here during my second week on W30): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019QT66I/ref=twister_B00SJUS8D4?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 

It might be something you could bring along mixed in a thermos and sip it during donation. I don't know how the calcium dosage compares to Tums (or, again, if it's really even adequate for what you're looking for). Just something you could look in to or chat with the donation facility about.

Hope your donation goes well!

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Wow, great timing.  I did a platelet donation on Saturday, which fell on about day 6 of the Whole 30.  I was much more nauseous and weak than I typically am after a platelet donation.  The nurse actually gave me orange juice (no added sugar) because he was worried - at the end I was white as a sheet, and I felt like I was dragging myself over to the sitting area.  I also noticed that I was extremely fatigued all day the following day, and I'm not sure if that was an aftereffect or just DST plus being at that point in the Whole 30. (Ironically, it was also one of the best donations I've ever made - I passed the iron test with flying colors and was done in a little over 90 minutes with no pauses.)

Anyway, I took a compliant Larabar with me because I knew none of the options there would work, and I was right.  I let the orange juice do its thing (which helped a lot - I perked up after about 15 minutes), and then ate the Larabar so that I could feel safe driving home (along with a bottle of water), where I whipped up a dinner of steak and steamed broccoli.

Unfortunately, I didn't realize the Tums were not Whole 30 compliant (I haven't needed one since starting the program a week ago!) and did have some. Which is ironic because I think I mistook the early low sugar feeling for the calcium thing.  I'm sure you could drink something like the Calm with Calcium beforehand and it would work.

 

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Unfortunately for me, I had one of the worst low calcium responses during a platelet donation yesterday. While the tingling around the mouth wasn't severe, I began sneezing uncontrollably which typically signals low calcium levels (and slowed down the platelet collection). In short, the staff gave me 6 Tums to alleviate the tingling and sneezing.

While I know Tums aren't compliant, and I had 6 of them, my husband and I are doing Whole40 for Lent so this basically puts me back at D1. But, similar to communion, donating platelets is very, very important to me and something I will continue to do. However, I don't believe I'll donate during rounds of Whole30 to ensure I can avoid taking the Tums!

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This is a very interesting post. While it's not ideal to take medicines (OTC or otherwise) that contain off-plan ingredients, Whole 30 recommends that you do, medically, what a licensed healthcare provider has advised you to do. Basically, PCPs trump W30.

However, blood/platelet/plasma, etc. donation isn't generally a required therapy for most medical conditions, and you yourself state that for you, it's just a very important part of your life, not something medically prescribed for you to do. I wonder then if W30 trumps donation? That is, if you do donation as a form of blood-letting recommended by your provider, then taking the medication with off-plan ingredients would be ok and no more thought about it would be required as per the plan and the Hartwig's recommendations. But, if you do the donation because it's very important to you morally, then by taking the medication with the off-plan ingredients you'd have to decide whether or not you'd want to start your W30 over again.

Not to complicate things, but it's interesting to consider. :rolleyes:

I, myself, probably would not have started over the w30 after having taken the Tums, as long as all the rest of my month had been compliant to that point. But that's just my personal opinion.

On another note, I've never been able to donate blood products. Every time I try, which is maybe 2-3x/year, I fail the hemoglobin finger stick with too low of a number. Ironically, when I was just finished with my very first w30 maybe a week or so prior, I thought I'd try again, and passed the Hgb finger stick with flying colors for the very first time! I donated whole blood, and about 2/3 of the way through became very light-headed. The technician raised my feet and lowered my head, gave me an ice pack, and when I was feeling better, had me sip some water until I was feeling recovered. I desperately wanted to finish the donation to give a complete unit of blood, which I was able to do. When it was over, I felt weak and a little woozy, but proud of myself. I got walked over to the rest/snack area, and since I hadn't thought enough in advance to pack a snack, I ate a bag of popcorn crisps and drank a container of apple juice and some water. When I got home, I ate some normal food and took a nap, and remarked to myself how amazing the Whole 30 is and how it can change your body in just a month's time.

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30 minutes ago, NoMoreCrunchyCravings said:

I wonder then if W30 trumps donation?

Thanks for your helpful insight!! 

For me, platelet donation is very personal. I do this in honor and remembrance of my mother who passed away 18 months ago. Due to her illness (a form of blood cancer), platelets were absolutely vital and critical to her survival in the last 3+ months of her life. In all honesty, I wouldn't have normally chosen to donate during a round of Whole30, but the 18-month anniversary of her death was Monday. Donating platelets on that day was, emotionally, very important to me. So, I knowingly made the choice to go on the 13th, and knew I'd risk having to use Tums during the donation. But, it was 100% worth.

I did decide, following the donation, I won't choose to donate during a round of Whole30. One, so I can avoid having to use OTC Tums, but also to ensure my calcium levels are on track.

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2 hours ago, matty said:

Thanks for your helpful insight!! 

For me, platelet donation is very personal. I do this in honor and remembrance of my mother who passed away 18 months ago. Due to her illness (a form of blood cancer), platelets were absolutely vital and critical to her survival in the last 3+ months of her life. In all honesty, I wouldn't have normally chosen to donate during a round of Whole30, but the 18-month anniversary of her death was Monday. Donating platelets on that day was, emotionally, very important to me. So, I knowingly made the choice to go on the 13th, and knew I'd risk having to use Tums during the donation. But, it was 100% worth.

I did decide, following the donation, I won't choose to donate during a round of Whole30. One, so I can avoid having to use OTC Tums, but also to ensure my calcium levels are on track.

I understand about doing things that are very close to your heart. My mom also passed away recently - last March 13th, so I can relate to your wanting to do things to honor her memory. I do the same. I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm proud of you for taking steps to do what will help you honor your mom's memory as well as steps to make you a healthier you!

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I spent the last week in ICU with a loved one. The surgeon/specialist advised them to throw away all of the calcium horsepills, the B complex horsepills and the Vita C horsepills.  Frankly, they were emphatic and Ooo, so clear about eating real food.

They were advised to eat real foods/calcium that your body can actually absorb into the bloodstream. I know what I would do. I would eat real food.

I want to commend you for honoring your loved one's memory.  It's the reason I'm still here.  I've lost very young loved ones. One from elective weight loss surgery and others. Delicate health is patently unfair.  

Their memory is the engine that motivates me every day.  I keep my WHY nearby and they're a huge part it.   Take extra special care of yourself. 

 

 

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