Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Donating Blood


Kimbalou

Recommended Posts

Kimbalou Enthusiast

I donated blood yesterday. I was anemic last time, so I couldn't donate. This time my hemoglobin was 12.8...which is still a little low. I think they require it to be at least 12.5. Today I feel exhausted. I am pretty sure it's from donating. I like donating because I know the American Red Cross is always needing donors and I have a rare blood type. Does anyone here donate blood routinely? i don't think I can do it very often due to a low hgb....and the exhaustion that follows.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Kimbalou Enthusiast

Also, I take iron and vitamin supplements

Jestgar Rising Star

I used to, but then couldn't when I became anemic. I did once, post-everything-fixed, but the guy did such a horrible job at the needle stick I haven't been back. My iron was back up to normal for me, and I didn't really feel all that tired.

captaincrab55 Collaborator

I use to donate blood fairly regular, but I got a letter from Red Cross not to donate again back in 1994.. They went on to say they had destroyed my last 3 donations... My Doc couldn't figure out any issue other then a high liver enzyne count... In 09 I was diagnosed with DH and went gluten-free... All Liver Function tests are normal now.. Several months back I tried to contact Red Cross several times about donating again... Each time I ended up on Hold for 30 plus minutes and then click before I could even talk to a person... Looks like I'm a retired donor...

IrishHeart Veteran

The first time I donated, I fainted afterwards. Embarrassing.

I tried to donate a few years ago and because I was anemic, they turned me down. :(

I will try again, in time, but I have "lousy veins" and the phlebotomist always starts to sweat when she cannot get the stick just right at first or the second time or the third.....

Skylark Collaborator

Sometimes I would fail the anemia test. When I did donate, I still found it very draining. After I almost passed out after one donation the Red Cross suggested I stop because it was harder on me than they preferred to see.

Kimbalou Enthusiast

I felt fine right afterward. I have good veins. But today I am exhausted and I know it's from the donation. I will probably only donate twice a year...they call me every 3 months lately...feels like an annoying salesman sometimes. :(


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Googles Community Regular

I have donated blood, actually only after going gluten free. I did feel weak the next day the first couple times. And still a little now. But I put up with it. Are you making sure to stay hydrated (both before and after) and eating well? Those are important.

mommida Enthusiast

I've been turned down more times for being anemic than I can count. The exhaustion after donating is just too much right now. I always have had some one to drive me home after donation too, just in case I pass out.

JNBunnie1 Community Regular

I've donated a few times. I kept getting turned away for a while, have been thinking about going again now that I've been suplementing for a while with iron. My veins are so easy I could probably do the needle myself. It does leave me dizzy for a day or two. I don't mind so much. i just plan ahead for when I'll have a few days of downtime.

GFinDC Veteran

I wonder if there is any chance of people becoming celiac by using our blood? We would have the trained antibodies to gluten in our blood, and it seems like it would not be impossible for those to influence a persons own antibodies in the celiac direction. Just curious if anyone has heard or read anything about this. Could we spread celiac through blood?

IrishHeart Veteran

I wonder if there is any chance of people becoming celiac by using our blood?

:o

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Celiac is not communicable via blood transfusions.

Univ. of Maryland Center for Celiac Research states this emphatically on their website.

captaincrab55 Collaborator

:o

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Celiac is not communicable via blood transfusions.

Univ. of Maryland Center for Celiac Research states this emphatically on their website.

But can blood donated from a person that ate gluten cause a reaction in one with Celiac/DH ???

IrishHeart Veteran

But can blood donated from a person that ate gluten cause a reaction in one with Celiac/DH ???

I don't possibly see HOW? :blink:

Ninja Contributor

But can blood donated from a person that ate gluten cause a reaction in one with Celiac/DH ???

That's why it gets digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. :)

JNBunnie1 Community Regular

That's why it gets digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. :)

That's right, things do not go directly from your stomach to your bloodstream. Which is why some supplements are sublingual, because it gets into your blood better as a specially formulated liquid under your tongue than it does in your stomach.

GFinDC Veteran

:o

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Celiac is not communicable via blood transfusions.

Univ. of Maryland Center for Celiac Research states this emphatically on their website.

Hmm, ok, what about vampires then? Would our blood kill vampires?

IrishHeart Veteran

Hmm, ok, what about vampires then? Would our blood kill vampires?

Since the majority of us are battling anemia,

the vampire would probably spit it out and scream

"Blech! what the hell is this crap!? :blink:

Where's the good stuff?"

:D

cahill Collaborator

Since the majority of us are battling anemia,

the vampire would probably spit it out and scream

"Blech! what the hell is this crap!? :blink:

Where's the good stuff?"

:lol: :lol:

I always feel like I am going to pass out when they take it.

I mean just walking in to my endo's office I give 6 to 8 tubes. I do not have that much left on any given day :P

My blood type is uncommon (AB) and for years I gave blood regularly. They would call and remind me that enough time had passed and I could give again. :lol:

Then they reluctantly started to decline my blood.

I no longer give blood.With my recent liver issues and other problems they will not except my blood. I an not sure it would do any one any good any way :huh:

Kimbalou Enthusiast

I wonder if there is any chance of people becoming celiac by using our blood? We would have the trained antibodies to gluten in our blood, and it seems like it would not be impossible for those to influence a persons own antibodies in the celiac direction. Just curious if anyone has heard or read anything about this. Could we spread celiac through blood?

Of course not!! I asked before I donated, just to make sure.

JoeBlow Rookie

That's why it gets digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. :)

Gluten, or any food for that matter, does not necessarily get digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. That is only what is supposed to happen. I have been shown partially digested fragments of food in my blood, under a microscope. That's from a leaky gut, with a lot of damage. People can have a leaky gut from other things, like a medication, I've been told. I've also been told, by a doctor addressing a local Gluten Intolerance Group meeting, that people don't fully digest wheat, barley, rye or oats, because some of the proteins are just too large and complex. It only takes a small fraction of a gluten molecule to cause a celiac reaction. There are multiple short chain peptides of gliadin, sequences of only 4 or 5 amino acids that can cause a reaction. There are multiple instances of each of these several peptides in one gliadin molecule. Partial digestion can make these peptides more available for our immune system to react to.:unsure:

captaincrab55 Collaborator

Gluten, or any food for that matter, does not necessarily get digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. That is only what is supposed to happen. I have been shown partially digested fragments of food in my blood, under a microscope. That's from a leaky gut, with a lot of damage. People can have a leaky gut from other things, like a medication, I've been told. I've also been told, by a doctor addressing a local Gluten Intolerance Group meeting, that people don't fully digest wheat, barley, rye or oats, because some of the proteins are just too large and complex. It only takes a small fraction of a gluten molecule to cause a celiac reaction. There are multiple short chain peptides of gliadin, sequences of only 4 or 5 amino acids that can cause a reaction. There are multiple instances of each of these several peptides in one gliadin molecule. Partial digestion can make these peptides more available for our immune system to react to.:unsure:

Sounds like blood from a donor that ate Gluten could set off DH, in one that has DH...

IrishHeart Veteran

Whoa, what a second.... :)

One more time:

Celiac is not communicable via blood transfusions.

People who eat gluten cannot "contaminate" us.

Univ. of Maryland Center for Celiac Research states this emphatically on their website.

Do you really think that we would be allowed to donate or receive a blood transfusion if it were a HEALTH HAZARD??

Read a medical journal to see how the digestive process works for you to have an autoimmune reaction to gluten when you have Celiac.

Please, guys.... let's not get all crazy over this NON-ISSUE.

We have enough bogus crap/ myths to bust on this site. :P

IrishHeart Veteran

Sounds like blood from a donor that ate Gluten could set off DH, in one that has DH...

Capt. honestly..... I would not make that statement, based on one person's post.

that is not how the gluten antibodies OR the digestive system works.

Please read this:

Open Original Shared Link

I have seen NO medical evidence supporting any of this.... Have you?

Ninja Contributor

Gluten, or any food for that matter, does not necessarily get digested and metabolized before entering the blood stream. That is only what is supposed to happen. I have been shown partially digested fragments of food in my blood, under a microscope. That's from a leaky gut, with a lot of damage. People can have a leaky gut from other things, like a medication, I've been told. I've also been told, by a doctor addressing a local Gluten Intolerance Group meeting, that people don't fully digest wheat, barley, rye or oats, because some of the proteins are just too large and complex. It only takes a small fraction of a gluten molecule to cause a celiac reaction. There are multiple short chain peptides of gliadin, sequences of only 4 or 5 amino acids that can cause a reaction. There are multiple instances of each of these several peptides in one gliadin molecule. Partial digestion can make these peptides more available for our immune system to react to.:unsure:

Do you have any articles you could direct me to, to substantiate these statements? This thread indirectly deals with the digestion of gluten proteins...if you are interested. :)

As far as donation and the above logic – I don't know many newly or un-dx'ed Celiac's who would be up to giving blood (presumably the less recently dx'ed ones would have less damage due to the healing). :P

My 3 cents (inflation!). B)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Florence Lillian replied to Jay Heying's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      5

      Celiac friendly probiotics

    2. - slkrav posted a topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      0

      Gluten free beer ?

    3. - cristiana replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

    4. - Mari replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      New here

    5. - Colleen H replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,879
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Peta Dunn
    Newest Member
    Peta Dunn
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Florence Lillian
      In response to your questions regarding probiotics.  I have had Celiac for 40 years.  Stomach issues: digestion, IBS to chronic constipation, bloat after eating anything.  I was unable to eat a healthy variety of foods, tried probiotics supplements - some made me worse, others made no difference.  After reading about people with Crones, IBS, etc, who made their own probiotics I started making Milk Kefir: not water Kefir. There are 10 probiotics in milk KEFIR. After 3 weeks I was able to eat more, no gas, no IBS.  If you have a computer just ask for videos on making milk Kefir. I branched out and make my own Kombucha for even more probiotics. I do not make my yogurt because there are only about four probiotics in that. I started this when I was 82 and I still make my own Kefir and Kombucha. My stomach issues were fixed with the Milk Kefir alone. If you decide to try making it, make certain you order MILK GRAINS. The finished product tastes a bit like Buttermilk. I hope this helps in your journey to good health.
    • slkrav
      Help me out here. Lauren Dam gluten-free beer from Spain is listed as gluten free. Yet its made from Barley Malt. I thought barley and any form had gluten. Anybody have any more information about it?
    • cristiana
      Ferritin levels.  And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic?  You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests.  I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial ordered an iron infusion for me as he felt my levels were too low and if he  raised them to 40, it would help.   Because you are not feeling 100% it might be worth looking at your levels, then discussing with your doctor if they are low normal.  But I stress, don't supplement iron without your levels being monitored, too much is dangerous.
    • Mari
      Hi Katht -  I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal  function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was very true for me. I am still elimination foods from my diet. One person suggested you keep a food diary and that is a good idea but it is probably best just to do an elimination diet. There are several ne and maybe one for celiacs. I used one for a while and started with plain rice and zucchini and then added back other foods to see if I reacted or not. That helped a great deal but what I did not realise that it would only very small amounts of some foods to cause inflammation in my intestine. Within the last few years I have stopped eating any trace amounts of hot peppers, corn and soy(mostly in supplements) and nuts, (the corn in Tylenol was giving me stomach aches and the nuts were causing foot pains). Starting an elimination diet with white rice is better than brown rice that has some natural toxins. In addition it is very important to drink sufficient plain water. You can find out how much to drink for your height and weight online. I do have difficulty drinking 48 ounces of water but just recently have found an electrolyte supplement that helps me stay well hydrated, Adding the water and electrolytes may reduce muscle cramps and gag spams you wrote about. . Also buy some anti-gluten enzyme capsules to take with meals. I use GliadinX advertised here. These are a lot of things to do at one time as they reflect my 20 years of experience. I hope you do what you can manage to do over time. Good luck and take care.
    • Colleen H
      Yes thyroid was tested.. negative  Iron ...I'm. Not sure ... Would that fall under red blood count?  If so I was ok  Thank you for the detailed response..☺️
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.