I’m a regular blood donor. I like how it helps people.
Giving blood is also good for my body:
- replenishes with new blood cells,
- burns calories (650 per pint),
- supports healthy liver, heart, and pancreas function, and
- reduces risk of cancer and hemochromatosis
On this visit...
The nurse pricked my finger like always to test if I had enough iron (>12.5) to donate. I gave her my left hand so I could work without trouble with my favored right hand. But my iron was too low, only 12.2, and they were going to send me home. The trip would’ve been a waste.
Then I remembered: this had happened to me before, and the trick is: have them test your right hand!
She retested. Iron levels on my right hand were healthy and strong: 13.2 (and up to 15.2 another time)
It’s all the same blood in my body — why was the iron level so different?
Evidently, the finger prick tests the blood in the tiny capillaries at the tip of your finger, not in the full vein. So, if you don’t use your left hand as much, that capillary may not carry as much iron to the extremities.
Now, even though I hoped that only my left hand would suffer a puncture, it turned out my right hand did, too!
At least I was able to give blood. 🙂