They were afraid to take my blood

Red Cross had a blood drive yesterday so I decided to go after work and donate. Every thing was going along fine then for some reason I mentioned I had gastric by pass. You would have thought I told them I just came back from a trip over seas where I used dirty needles and had sex with a prostitute. If you ever gave blood before you know why I say that. The nurse brought every thing to a screeching halt. She said that some doctors now tell people not to give for 5 years or never at all. My surgeon told me to wait 18 months, which I told her. She got  the nurse over her, who went to get the nurse over her, who after the same questions the other two asked,called a doctor. None of them knew as much as I did about WLS! The first one said that if I passed out they would have to give me soda or orange juice to revive me and she knew that I could not have either one.  I told her that if I was passed out I didn't think that she was going to be pouring anything down my throat with me being unconscious. She said after they would revive me. Then they started in about my iron levels, which were fine and then dehydration. I then told them exactly how much I had to drink because it is something I monitor every day. Eventually the doctor told them it was all right after I drank a bottle of water and then after wards,another bottle. I was just trying to something for the greater good. Needless to say I did not pass out and every thing went fine. I am working on my 4 gallon pin. My dad always gave blood and in some
way I feel connected with him when I give blood. Any one else give blood since surgery? Have you ran into this problem?

pan head

I give blood every two months and it has never been a concern. I even specically asked them when I started again 6 months after surgery. I have donated over 5 gallons in the last 30 years. I figure it is a small way of giving something back to the community.

Life is great, Rick

My daughter is having a c-section in a few weeks and I'm scheduled to donate blood on July 1, with the blessing of the bariatric center.  This is a day past two months post-op, and two months was the Cleveland Clinic's magic number for donating.

I used to give annually.  In the gallon club.  I quit giving several years ago when the local Red Cross found HIV in their blood bank.  Figured they better get their act cleaned up before I go back.
My Doc did'nt say anything about donating