Q:

I am trying to donate plasma.

In Highschool, I was anemic and had to take iron supplements. Now, 4 years later, I'm not anemic. I rarely take iron pills, and I have donated blood at every blood drive and never had a problem with having too low of an iron count. (I always took an iron pill or two to make sure I'd be fine).

Now I've started to donate plasma. Prior to the donation I took iron pills for about a week. And then I have been continuing since. I donated plasma for the first time and barely was over the necessary amount of iron. I was at 39 and you need 38. Anyways, for the next week I got turned away again and again for having low numbers. 35 and below. I was taking iron pills, and eating iron rich foods for EVERY meal. It was aggravating. Then, exactly a week and a day later than the first donation my iron was back to 39 and I donated. Now I am trying for my third donation, and my numbers are low again at 35.

I am wondering if perhaps I am overcompensating for my lack of iron and maybe too much iron makes it so you don't absorb any?

Or maybe it takes a full week for my body to replenish it's iron after donating plasma? (And no, I'm not menstruating or anything else that would have effected my iron count).

What can I do to guarantee my numbers will be up? (I am currently taking Ultimate iron which includes 278% iron, 500mg of Liquid Liver, 200% vitamin C and more things. I also know not to take iron with diary products because calcium hinders iron absorption).

 

A:

There are other reasons for anemia other than iron deficiency so it makes sense for you to be evaluated in our clinic if you are wanting to continue to donate plasma.  You may not have sufficient iron stores built up so deplete quickly, or you may be vitamin deficient, or you may have genetic reasons for anemia. 

The clinic visit itself is free but we can estimate the cost of a lab work up for you, depending on what tests are run.  If you have medical insurance, that will help with the costs.

~The Doc