I opened up the newspaper this morning, after plowing through the articles about the Seahawks heading to the Super Bowl, I noticed the headline about blood levels being really low. I give regularly, but had failed to make the cut the last two tries due to low iron. I decided I should give it a try again.
Started drinking, water and coffee that is. Drove over to the donation center to check in and get my vitals taken. They took the blood for the dreaded iron level check, and it was low, but only a smidge. I assumed we would take a second sample and hopefully make the grade.
But the phlebotomist said my pulse had shown as only 49 when they took my blood pressure, which was 1 beat below the minimum allowed of 50. She checked it again, and it was only 44.
Dismissed, or rather deferred, due to a low pulse rate. New one on me.
So we took a walk in the afternoon. Even though it may have been warmer than yesterday, it felt colder.
No basement work today, I just didn’t have the inspiration.
Raincharm's Weblog 
January 26, 2026 at 9:09 pm |
My daughter has very low blood pressure, not sure about the pulse. Low pulse is not necessarily something to worry about unless the blood donation would make you feel faint, right?
January 27, 2026 at 9:22 am |
I’m not sure if they were concerned about fainting, but that can happen after giving blood. I often take longer to pump out a pint than others, but I always thought that was blood pressure. I am going to get some spinach today and try to boost my iron. We don’t have it frequently because it can result in kidney stones. Such a balancing act.