Gave blood, tried riding 2 days later..

[Tuckervill]

Here's a question. I've rarely if ever been able to donate blood because they always tell me I'm anemic. It has happened so often that I don't even bother stopping in anymore.

When I've brought this to the attention of various doctors, they usually do nothing nor do they ask further questions. I had blood work last year and it was all normal.

Should I do anything about the blood bank findings?

Karen

[Dianyla]

When I've brought this to the attention of various doctors, they usually do nothing nor do they ask further questions. I had blood work last year and it was all normal.

Ask to have your serum ferritin levels tested. Ferritin is not always tested as part of normal blood work. This test will show how much available iron you have stored in your body. You could be anemic, or you could be just on the "low end of normal". In those two cases, you should look at supplementing with oral iron pills. Be sure to get it checked before you start popping iron pills, though, because it is possible to take too much iron and get sick from that. It doesn't sound very likely in your case, this is just a standard disclaimer to anyone who might think it's safe to just start taking iron over the counter.