I tried to give blood last week but the blood donor center wouldn’t take it. They said my iron, and some other thing identified by 3 letters that I didn’t know what it was, were too low. Can anyone tell me how far in advanced of giving blood I have to stock up on iron-rich foods to get it high enough for them to take? When I was a teen/young adult I had some problems with borderline anemia, but not so much in the past 10 years, at least not that I’m aware of. I was giving blood regularly about 5 years ago but stopped after about a year because I got a tattoo (no - not a midlife crisis - kind of a tribute to my husband). Anyway, I didn’t have any iron problems at that time. After a tattoo, they don’t want you to donate for a year, and I just sort of got out of the habit. So, I made a conscious effort to go back and then, go figure, my blood is too weak. Anyway, I want to try again but need to get my iron up. I can’t take vitamins with iron as they make me sick to my stomach, so I guess it’ll have to be the good old-fashioned red meat and spinach way. I just don’t know how long I have to do that before my levels are any good.
Gardenmama's Journal
My Podcast Link
10/01/2008 20:56 #45884
Bad BloodCategory: health
09/30/2008 23:36 #45871
Really good cucumber saladCategory: food
My sister gave me some more fresh cucumbers from her garden - they seem to be going crazy - though I'm sure that will end soon with the changing season. Anyway, I made this really good cucumber salad with it from a recipe that one of my camping friends gave me. Figured I'd share the recipe in case anyone else has an abundance of cucumbers. (I'd take a pic to go with but the camera's out of batteries - sorry.)
Cucumber dill salad
3 large cucumbers â€" peeled and sliced
1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt
1 cup sour cream
1 TBS. dried dill
1 TSP. salt
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
Lots of ground black pepper
2 cloves of garlic â€" crushed
Combine all ingredients and let set for 3 to 4 hours before serving.
We were talking during our camping trip this summer about putting together an Allegany cookbook of recipes we've all made while we were there. A large group of us has been camping together for many years and when we're there we take turns making dinner. That way, each family/cabin only has to cook dinner one night. It's kind of like communal living. We've had some very interesting, really great meals. Of course, it can get kind of interesting trying to figure out what to cook for 30 to 40 people. If we ever manage to get the cookbook together I'll let folks know.
Cucumber dill salad
3 large cucumbers â€" peeled and sliced
1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt
1 cup sour cream
1 TBS. dried dill
1 TSP. salt
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
Lots of ground black pepper
2 cloves of garlic â€" crushed
Combine all ingredients and let set for 3 to 4 hours before serving.
We were talking during our camping trip this summer about putting together an Allegany cookbook of recipes we've all made while we were there. A large group of us has been camping together for many years and when we're there we take turns making dinner. That way, each family/cabin only has to cook dinner one night. It's kind of like communal living. We've had some very interesting, really great meals. Of course, it can get kind of interesting trying to figure out what to cook for 30 to 40 people. If we ever manage to get the cookbook together I'll let folks know.
tinypliny - 10/01/08 20:13
Thanks! I will try this out before cucumber season is out... Not so sure about the sour cream however. I don't like sour cream too much.
Thanks! I will try this out before cucumber season is out... Not so sure about the sour cream however. I don't like sour cream too much.
paul - 10/01/08 09:09
My parents always have so many cucumbers and tomatoes in their garden. I think I ate enough cucumber salad for the rest of my life as a kid. However, they never added dill and I love dill.
My parents always have so many cucumbers and tomatoes in their garden. I think I ate enough cucumber salad for the rest of my life as a kid. However, they never added dill and I love dill.
09/29/2008 20:03 #45851
Home Depot WeirdnessCategory: weirdoes
My niece moved back to Buffalo after 8 years in NYC over the weekend. She's living in a beautiful apartment over on Linwood (near Utica) with 2 of her friends. (I told her she should check out this site.) As a coming home/house-warming gift to her, I took her shopping yesterday to get some essentials and some basic things that she wanted. We went to Home Depot to pick up a few things and while we were there, a guy who worked there actually tried to pick her up. Now, I will be the first one to say my niece is beautiful with a very interesting look. She designs a lot of her own clothing and has a very unique, funky style. She is stunning. So, this brings me back to the HD guy. I've gotta give the guy credit for having big enough ones to actually make the advance, even if it was a little weird since it probably looked like she was there with her mother and little sister (me & my teen daughter), but she is, nonetheless, way out of his league. She, however, was kind and politely tried to tell him that she wasn't interested and had just ended a long-term relationship that didn't go well, at which point she then walked away. Lo, and behold, before we could exit the store he again came up to her, while we were in the check-out, and did the: "hey, I would really like to see you, and here's my number" thing. Now I'm not sure, but besides just being inappropriate, I think he was actually a little closer to my age than hers - which made it even more wierd for her. After we left, she was a little creeped out and I don't think she'll be going into Home Depot again anytime soon - at least not without a male companion. Weird! We did get some nice paint though.
tinypliny - 10/01/08 20:23
I would be creeped out as well. Sometimes, I am really thankful that I look like my avatar. :D
I would be creeped out as well. Sometimes, I am really thankful that I look like my avatar. :D
gardenmama - 10/01/08 15:13
I by no means was suggesting a lawsuit, simply pointing out that there are people out there crazy enough to pursue one. This man approached someone and was, at the least, irritatingly persistent, whithout having any idea who she was or how she might react. And no, my niece was not assuming she was better than the guy, for a number of reasons she just wasn’t interested. He should have taken the hint after she POLITELY said no the first time. Woe be those guys who don’t believe that no means no. And even with the persistence, she still was not rude. Later she said even though it was creepy, he at least was polite didn't act like a total douche bag. As for her going off on the Amvets guy, her response was totally appropriate considering the man was snapping his fingers and whisteling at her trying to get her attention (hello, she’s not a dog), and when she chose not to respond, he grabbed her shoulder to get her attention. Under those circumstances, no, I don’t believe telling him off was really “shocking behaviorâ€.
I by no means was suggesting a lawsuit, simply pointing out that there are people out there crazy enough to pursue one. This man approached someone and was, at the least, irritatingly persistent, whithout having any idea who she was or how she might react. And no, my niece was not assuming she was better than the guy, for a number of reasons she just wasn’t interested. He should have taken the hint after she POLITELY said no the first time. Woe be those guys who don’t believe that no means no. And even with the persistence, she still was not rude. Later she said even though it was creepy, he at least was polite didn't act like a total douche bag. As for her going off on the Amvets guy, her response was totally appropriate considering the man was snapping his fingers and whisteling at her trying to get her attention (hello, she’s not a dog), and when she chose not to respond, he grabbed her shoulder to get her attention. Under those circumstances, no, I don’t believe telling him off was really “shocking behaviorâ€.
joshua - 10/01/08 09:23
That is creepy, but let's stifle the crazy suggestion about a sexual harassment lawsuit. That is absolutely, positively ridiculous. Woe be to those who approach a girl who thinks she is better than most guys!
Incidentally this is why I don't bother to date ANY girls in Buffalo. I don't have time for that immaturity, and believe me, Buffalo is packed to the rafters with girls with oversized attitude. I'm sure your niece is a fine young lady, but snapping on someone that would approach her is shocking behavior for any human being, full stop.
That is creepy, but let's stifle the crazy suggestion about a sexual harassment lawsuit. That is absolutely, positively ridiculous. Woe be to those who approach a girl who thinks she is better than most guys!
Incidentally this is why I don't bother to date ANY girls in Buffalo. I don't have time for that immaturity, and believe me, Buffalo is packed to the rafters with girls with oversized attitude. I'm sure your niece is a fine young lady, but snapping on someone that would approach her is shocking behavior for any human being, full stop.
gardenmama - 09/30/08 19:07
I tried to tell her she should go get some free stuff but she said that wasn't funny. Anyway, it might not have been so bad if he'd just taken the very polite no thanks my niece gave him and left it alone. That he came back and tried again was kind of pushing his luck. He's actually pretty lucky she didn't go off on him at that point as she's been known to do that when men approach her in some stupid way. She totally blasted some guy in Amvets once who laid some really stupid, incredibly obnoxious line on her.
I tried to tell her she should go get some free stuff but she said that wasn't funny. Anyway, it might not have been so bad if he'd just taken the very polite no thanks my niece gave him and left it alone. That he came back and tried again was kind of pushing his luck. He's actually pretty lucky she didn't go off on him at that point as she's been known to do that when men approach her in some stupid way. She totally blasted some guy in Amvets once who laid some really stupid, incredibly obnoxious line on her.
metalpeter - 09/30/08 18:39
Well if she would have touched his shoulder and winked and taken his number and went to the department he works in to check out she could have gotten a mega discount, HA. I don't know the guy so I can't say if it is creepy or or not. But what happened happens in reverse a lot that customers hit on the help so why not a little bit of the other way around, hey some chicks like older guys and some like younger so why not go for it. On a side note if she is hot hook me up with her, ha. I don't see how hitting on someone could be sexual Harrasement if it is kept clean and friendly. But I so get why she could be freaked out by it also.
Well if she would have touched his shoulder and winked and taken his number and went to the department he works in to check out she could have gotten a mega discount, HA. I don't know the guy so I can't say if it is creepy or or not. But what happened happens in reverse a lot that customers hit on the help so why not a little bit of the other way around, hey some chicks like older guys and some like younger so why not go for it. On a side note if she is hot hook me up with her, ha. I don't see how hitting on someone could be sexual Harrasement if it is kept clean and friendly. But I so get why she could be freaked out by it also.
hodown - 09/30/08 14:13
There have been a ton of studies on this. Dudes always think they can get the hot girl no matter who they are.
There have been a ton of studies on this. Dudes always think they can get the hot girl no matter who they are.
gardenmama - 09/29/08 20:25
Yeah, I thought about the work thing too. It could kind of be a law suit waiting to happen - sexual harrassment sort of thing. My niece isn't like that but people sue for less (and win) all the time.
Yeah, I thought about the work thing too. It could kind of be a law suit waiting to happen - sexual harrassment sort of thing. My niece isn't like that but people sue for less (and win) all the time.
paul - 09/29/08 20:10
Wow that is crazy. You would think it would be so risky for him to do that at work. Hope she starts a journal. It would be fun to have some more Linwoodians ;)
Wow that is crazy. You would think it would be so risky for him to do that at work. Hope she starts a journal. It would be fun to have some more Linwoodians ;)
09/28/2008 12:08 #45825
Financial Markets ala Bill MaherFrom New Rules by Bill Maher
http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/
"New Rule: Stop calling what's happening to the financial markets "an adjustment." An adjustment is something you do in your sweatpants when your penis falls out of your underwear. This is a cluster-f*ck."
I love Bill Maher...
http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/
"New Rule: Stop calling what's happening to the financial markets "an adjustment." An adjustment is something you do in your sweatpants when your penis falls out of your underwear. This is a cluster-f*ck."
I love Bill Maher...
gardenmama - 09/29/08 19:34
Though he does tend to treat “religion†as one thing, I think he actually more groups things like fanatics, religious hypocrisies, and blind faith together â€" something many/most organized religions have in common.
I do find him very witty and his commentary on politics, and other issues as well, though sometimes rude and/or crude, hysterical nonetheless.
Though he does tend to treat “religion†as one thing, I think he actually more groups things like fanatics, religious hypocrisies, and blind faith together â€" something many/most organized religions have in common.
I do find him very witty and his commentary on politics, and other issues as well, though sometimes rude and/or crude, hysterical nonetheless.
metalpeter - 09/29/08 18:23
Bill is great. I just have one problem with him. It isn't that he is anti Reliegon it is that he seems to group all of them together as if they are all the same, but other then that I like a lot of what he says also.
Bill is great. I just have one problem with him. It isn't that he is anti Reliegon it is that he seems to group all of them together as if they are all the same, but other then that I like a lot of what he says also.
09/27/2008 23:32 #45813
Some days just suck & crazy parent rantThis has been a really bad week. I feel like Eeyore when I’m generally much more like Winnie-the-Pooh (in a happy-go-lucky way - though not quite so, shall we say, dumb). Work has been terrible and, on top of that, I had to put in 8 hrs. of overtime today working on some stupid state report that shouldn’t actually even be my responsibility. Also, we’ve been understaffed since April and I’m already working really hard at fighting the burnout. (whining - sorry)
In addition, took my darling teenage daughter to a friend’s for a 2-night sleepover b-day party last night and realized (when I got home from my glorious day of OT and the phone was almost dead) that MY phone charger was gone and was most likely with her (we have the same type of phone). She, of course, left HER plug at a friend’s house in S. Buffalo last weekend. So, I call her from the house phone - because mine is now completely dead - and yell at her for a while as she tries giving me some crap like “well, I don’t know if I have it; maybe it’s in my bag, I have to check but we’re out and the bag’s back at the house†- blah, blah, blah. Teenagers are so incredibly full of crap sometimes. Of course, she was supposed to call me back and hasn’t, and, she now has her phone set so that it goes right to voice mail. Like that’s somehow going to make things better - duh - can you say ostrich? Well, I have now left her several messages, each a little escalated in its nastiness. When I pick her up tomorrow I’m going to try really hard not to be a screaming maniac and will simply take a deep breath, take back my plug, and take her phone, which, if she manages not to act like a butt, she might get back in a couple of weeks - or not. Arrrrrgggghhhh! (yelling - sorry)
Anyway - some days just suck - that's all.
"No Give and Take. No Exchange of Thought. It gets you nowhere, particularly if the other person's tail is only just in sight for the second half of the conversation."
Eeyore - The House at Pooh Corner
In addition, took my darling teenage daughter to a friend’s for a 2-night sleepover b-day party last night and realized (when I got home from my glorious day of OT and the phone was almost dead) that MY phone charger was gone and was most likely with her (we have the same type of phone). She, of course, left HER plug at a friend’s house in S. Buffalo last weekend. So, I call her from the house phone - because mine is now completely dead - and yell at her for a while as she tries giving me some crap like “well, I don’t know if I have it; maybe it’s in my bag, I have to check but we’re out and the bag’s back at the house†- blah, blah, blah. Teenagers are so incredibly full of crap sometimes. Of course, she was supposed to call me back and hasn’t, and, she now has her phone set so that it goes right to voice mail. Like that’s somehow going to make things better - duh - can you say ostrich? Well, I have now left her several messages, each a little escalated in its nastiness. When I pick her up tomorrow I’m going to try really hard not to be a screaming maniac and will simply take a deep breath, take back my plug, and take her phone, which, if she manages not to act like a butt, she might get back in a couple of weeks - or not. Arrrrrgggghhhh! (yelling - sorry)
Anyway - some days just suck - that's all.
"No Give and Take. No Exchange of Thought. It gets you nowhere, particularly if the other person's tail is only just in sight for the second half of the conversation."
Eeyore - The House at Pooh Corner
tinypliny - 10/01/08 20:16
I hope this week turns out really really nice for you -- as a double compensation for all the frustration!!
I hope this week turns out really really nice for you -- as a double compensation for all the frustration!!
I'm not a doctor but I would think having Anemia might stop you from giving blood. I all ways thought that Anemia was that your RBC (red blood Cells) and not the White Blood Cells didn't carry enough oxygen but I could be wrong about that, it has been some time since I've studied that in school. Well I was close it is that there isn't enough RBC's here is a link to some more information about the different kinds :::link:::
Thanks for all the info Tiny.
Your iron storing capacity is controlled by the relative balance between your "absorb-able" iron intake Vs iron-loss via menstruation. I lose a lot of blood every month and I am a vegetarian so this puts me on a shaky footing for a healthy iron level. In fact, if I stopped my iron supplements, I would turn anaemic in a heartbeat.
The type of iron that you eat matters a lot. Iron from animal sources (Eg. red meat) is very good because the iron compound is in the form (Haem Iron) that is easily absorbed by your body. Ferrous Sulphate, on the other hand, is a notoriously tough to absorb form of iron. Unfortunately, this is the form that most multivitamins or stand-alone iron tablets have since its cheaper to produce in mass scale, stable and has more shelf-life. It also causes the most stomach upsets and constipations. :/
Ferrous Fumarate is better absorbed and tolerated better (with almost no side effects that sulphates have). The drawback is, it is costlier.
Spinach and green-leafies are good sources of iron but again, the iron form is very tough to absorb! You end up absorbing hardly 5-8% of the total iron content of the green leafies!
You can increase your iron absorption and make it more efficient by drinking any citrus drink (eg. lemon juice, grapefruits, or vit C tables) immediately after eating an iron source (red meat, spinach, iron tables etc). This is because vit C increases the bio-availability of iron in your stomach.
Good Luck in the fight against Anaemia!
Detailed eligibility criteria for blood donation are are here: :::link:::
You need to have a Haemoglobin level of 12.5 grams per decilitre of blood. Haemoglobin is the protein that carries iron in your blood. Your Haematocrit needs to be more than or equal to 38%. Sometime this is abbreviated as Hct. It gives you an idea of what percentage of whole blood is red blood cells. Since red blood cells contain haemoglobin, Hct is also an indicator of iron.
Since I am gay and I traveled to Africa my blood is considered unacceptable too, despite the fact I do not have AIDS. I actually have never donated blood.