Does anyone else have tough time giving blood? Not the whole needle thing, I'm cool with needles even though it was actually quite uncomfortable for me, but I was passing out for three days after. I do tend to have low blood pressure, so I'm kind of blaming that, I'm just curious whether giving blood makes anyone else feel like crap for a few days. Keep in mind I'm a menstruating woman, and giving blood tends to deplete our resources more so than for menopausal women or men, since they don't frequently lose blood anyway. I'm willing to put up with the crappy feelings, and will do so again, just curious if anyone else has had a problem with this.

Here in South Australia people with auto-immune disease are unable to give blood. I haven't given blood since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in November 1994 and should probably never have given it as I am sure I have had Coeliac Disease since I was 12, undiagnosed until 4 months ago

My only problem is after I give blood. They won't let me leave until I eat something or wait 30 minutes (and generally don't get that I'm not anorexic, I can't eat the cookies, and that I physically can see my lunch). Waiting for 30 minutes staring at my lunch does not make me a very happy camper...

They won't let you eat your own food? The people I gave blood with were totally cool about me not eating their food, told me to eat something when I got home. And I didn't have to wait a 1/2 hour, either. Maybe ten minutes. What state are you in?

I only gave blood once. I was 20. I filled the bag in record time- passed out- and felt terrible for 2 days.

I gave blood once and found out I was AB+. They don't want AB+ blood. I'm too slow for the other things they have.

I haven't had a problem. Sure, it makes 8 mile hikes at elevation two days after a bit tougher, and I haven't given blood in the past half year to see if it's any different since my fibro dx, but it hasn't been a problem.