Should I Give Blood ?

[flatfeet1]

My reminder to give blood has come through, I'm not on any medication, only suppliments. Last TSH 3.6 a year ago, very symptomatic but nothing wrong with me according to doc.

[humanbean]

I don't think you should. Anaemia is a classic problem for people with hypothyroidism. I really think it would be too great a risk for you.

[flatfeet1 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks HB, I'm not to worried about me, I'm more worried about my blood doing someone harm. Also they test your blood for iron anemia before. I know that they accept your blood if your adequately treated for thyroid disease.... but is that only in America ?

[Hidden]

They didn't want mine, I'd not long had my PT op I suppose and was having blood tests (as we do!).

Have you been tested for irons e.g. ferritin folate (B12) lately? I think they test Hb first anyway as DIL couldn't give as anaemic.

Besides you'll be fine - you like Danish bacon! Perhaps they take the high TSH out with micro tweezers lol! J

[flatfeet1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi spareribs, Last time I gave it was boarderline if they accepted or not, as I only just scrapped through the finger prick test. That was over a year ago

Not been tested lately.

Have you booked our seats yet ?

PS; what is DIL ?

[Clutter in reply to flatfeet1]

Daughter in Law. I feel for you with TSH3.6 That would be considered overtly hypothyroid in much of the US and Europe. Next time you have TFT have blood drawn as close to 7.30am as possible. TSH will be higher then.

[flatfeet1 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter xx

[Hidden in reply to flatfeet1]

Sorry plane is full (there's only 30 seats) but I will take my biggest suitcase! x

[flatfeet1 in reply to Hidden]

x

[sazzyb]

I got turned away several times in my 20s & 30s when I went to give blood due to poor results after the finger prick test. So you may not get past that first stage if there's a problem.

[flatfeet1 in reply to sazzyb]

Thanks Sazzy, I think the FPT only rules out iron deficiency, I was worried in case I got through that stage ok, but then my blood had an adverse reaction on the receiver from something else e.g. pernicious anemia for example. Although B12 was fine a year ago.

[Brubru]

I'm a regular donor. They know I take 125mcg thyroxine. If it would cause any harm I think the doctors wouldn't let it go ahead?

[flatfeet1 in reply to Brubru]

Hi Brubru, Are you in Britian ?

[Brubru in reply to flatfeet1]

Hi yes I live in London. But I've been taking thyroxine for 13years. Although I still have lots of symptoms and don't eat meat, I'm not anaemic

[flatfeet1 in reply to Brubru]

thanks Brubru, still have symptoms, what sort ? have you been checked for B12 and vit D ? always low in hypos. Or perhaps your not on a high enough dose. xx

[shaws Administrator]

Flatfeet

I cannot answer re bloods but because you are undiagnosed I thought I would link these (which you may have already seen).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[flatfeet1 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws, yes I have xx

[Dannia]

I read somewhere that if you have thyroid antibodies you won't be accepted as a blood donor is that true?

[flatfeet1 in reply to Dannia]

That is a really good question, I would like to know also . . . . anyone ?

[DawnD]

When I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism you were no longer allowed to give blood. This has now changed (although many GPs don't seem to realise it) but the Blood Donor people are happy to accept you for blood donation as long as you are on a stable dose of thyroxine. Sometimes I cannot give blood as I have either had to increase or decrease my thyroxine and have to wait until I have been stable (i.e. thyroid blood results say I am on correct dose) for three months. As has already been stated, they check at the blood donor unit to see if your iron is okay or not.

[flatfeet1 in reply to DawnD]

If they don't test for antibodies (or T3 T4 RT3) and you're TSH is "normal", I do worry, but its their rules.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The official page for who can't give blood is here:

blood.co.uk/giving-blood/wh...

and

blood.co.uk/donor-information/

If they meant to exclude those with autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's, well, they don't make it clear there! There is, however, a webform and telephone number you can use to check.

Some vague memory suggests that I did ring them up way back - but cannot remember what they said, and the policies do keep changing.

My number one piece of advice is to think of yourself before your think of the potential recipients.

Rod

[flatfeet1 in reply to helvella]

Thanks Rod, something to think on x

[silverfox7]

Several years ago I was sent for so I rang them and said very sorry my dose as been changed I shall ring you for an appointment when its static. Eventually I rang them and the lady answering the phone said something along the lines that I was declined as on medication. Are you taking any medication now? Of course I said yes-Levo so I was told I couldn't donate till I had finished the course so I naturally said I'm on it for life so told I couldn't donate anymore! I argued and said I could if I was stable plus I'm only taking that which my body isn't producing properly. She still wouldn't have it so I insisted on speaking to the duty doctor! She didn't like that but I wasn't going to be fobbed off! I just asked him if I could still donate if I was on a static dose etc as I had been told otherwise! He told me that I could and which wrongly informed person had told me that! I said the idiot who I finally managed to persuade that I needed to speak to him and could he sort her out as she was the first point of call of would be donors who in turn will probably have passed on incorrect advice to others at a time they are crying out for new donors! I didn't mince my words and he thanked me for drawing his attention to it. Incidentally it was the donor service that suggested I took B12. I'm 0 neg so very much wanted but I only had one arm with a decent vein. I often had a dodgy test and failed but then they took a venous sample and tested it so I was well within the range and could donate but not then as my only good vein had been punctured!

[flatfeet1 in reply to silverfox7]

good for you silverfox xx

[flatfeet1 in reply to silverfox7]

silverfox, what triggered them to say take B12 ?

[silverfox7 in reply to flatfeet1]

My finger prink test was falling but not far enough for a positive result. However when they tested it on the machine I was fine so they suggested I took B12 to make it easier to get a positive result. The finger prick test is set at a level that means you are well over the range needed and its not that accurate anyway particularly if the solution has been well used. I never had a problem again and I know that if I had a would have got a letter from them asking me to see my GP as HB was low!

[flatfeet1 in reply to silverfox7]

This is interesting I never knew B12 had an affect on iron levels, or have got the wrong end of the stick ? Does the finger prick test also test B12 ?

FF xx

[Lindy123]

One of the questions they ask you is "do you feel well today?"

How often can you say yes though and how many of us are actually being treated properly for our condition!

[flatfeet1 in reply to Lindy123]

I've been told all my symptoms are down to menopause

I'll just have let them know my state of health is considered "normal " for my age.

[Clutter in reply to flatfeet1]

Was it yet another clairvoyant GP told you this or did he do a blood test? Please ask for it to be confirmed/ruled out. Undiagnosed thyroid can present as peri-menopause/menopause. Optimal thyroxine medication can stop misdiagnosed menopausal symptoms.

[flatfeet1 in reply to Clutter]

Yes it was a clairvoyant specialist who could tell just by palpating my throat no blood test or anything else.

[Clutter in reply to flatfeet1]

Ahah! He missed a trick by not diagnosing depression too.

[flatfeet1 in reply to Clutter]

Yup and my third eye

[Clutter in reply to flatfeet1]

3rd eye, LoL I hope they didn't nick your pituitary gland when they opened it.

[flatfeet1 in reply to Clutter]

[maud10]

I used to give blood but soon as diagnosed with thyroid problem they told me no!

[flatfeet1 in reply to maud10]

confusion reigns

[JanePound]

Lots of issues here. Firstly, I give blood because I have my hypothyroidism under control and feel good. The medication does not prevent you from giving blood.

Next, you should only donate if you feel well. If you feel awful, you should not donate.

Thirdly, your TSH. Most thyroid patients feel well with a TSH of between 0.5 to 1.5. Mine is much more suppressed but my GP is fine with this. Please do more research and have a knowledgeable conversation with your GP or find another one. Good luck!