Plasma Donor Question...

I just want to add that my daughter often GETS plasma, and usually ends up with a headache because it unbalances the electrolytes, etc. Reverse would seem to be true also. She also goes through this process called plasma-pheresis where they remove her blood, spin out the plasma, treat it and put it back. It gives her a headache too because of the fluid imbalance. Next time try to hydrate well ahead as others have suggested, and know that it is VERY much appreciated!

sometimes after donating blood or plasma i get headaches. you could try again and see what happens. if you eat after it might help also.

My dad has donated plasma for the past 20 years now, so I asked him. He said, next time be sure to hydrate for the day before and the whole day you plan to do plasma donation, as well as be sure to eat a good breakfast and lunch beforehand. That helps him, he said.

I wanted to say thanks for donating plasma - you are doing great things for people who are in dire need!

Drink plenty of water before you go and eat well. I did it for 10 years until they decided that a sickness my husband had over 25 years ago should eliminate me.

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate!

And thank you. Our former nanny had leukemia as a child and needed platelets many, many times over the course of her treatment. Thanks to the great kindness of people like you, she went on to beat her cancer, put herself through college and become a wonderful influence on and role model for my daughters (and for me!). If it wasn't for people like you who donated repeatedly over 30 years ago, my family today would be very, very different.

Take care of yourself. And thanks again.

you might wanna add a little gatorade or pedialyte to your fluid intake. Help balance back out the electrolytes. Eat well and drink LOTS and take it easy.

If you start experiencing flu like symptoms call the donation sight and let them know right away.

Drink water .. before and after. you are probably dehydrated.

I think you are supposed to drink 2 - 4 cups of fluid before and after each donation. They are taking alot of fluid out of you.. you need to put it back.

I sometimes get a headache after donating - usually it means you need to drink more water.

I've only don't blood by my MIL does platelets (sp?) Did you follow the advice they gave you? staying hydrated, no strenous activity?? You could always try calling and talking to one of the people that work there and asking if this was normal.

Quick question. Do you clench your jaw when ever you are in pain? I know I do, especially when it comes to needles, and sometimes it will give me a headache. Otherwise you are probably just a little dehydrated, try and drinking some Gatorade afterwards and I bet you will feel tons better! Kudos to you for donating, I tried once and they just couldn't get a vein, so they told me not to come back! LOL

You could call the donation center where you went and ask a nurse if this could be the cause. I donate blood as often as possible and I always get instructions with a nurse's number to call if I have questions later.

Thank you for donating! You spurred me to action---I am going to call right now and make my next appt.

I started donating maybe 1 month ago. Very much the same thing happened to me, even though I drank tons of water and ate a decent protein based meal beforehand. The first appt included the physical and lots of waiting so I too ended up with a tension like headache afterwards. Since then, I am in and out of the center in less than an hour and haven't had another headache. Also, at my first donation I was nervous and kept turning my head to look at the machine, that probably added to my tension headache.