How to Donate Blood With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Everyone knows that donating blood saves lives, but many people with rheumatoid arthritis are unable to donate blood due to certain medications that they may be taking. However, if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and are not taking any medications that could interfere with donating blood, it is especially imperative that you adhere to the following guidelines to ensure that you experience as pleasant an experience as possible before and after donating blood.
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Instructions
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How to Donate Blood With Rheumatoid Arthritis
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View the list of medications that people who donate blood are not allowed to take by visiting the American Red Cross or the United Blood Services website. Ensure that you do not take any of the listed medications. Most arthritis medications other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) pain relievers are on the prohibited medication list. NSAID pain relievers include common over-the-counter pain relievers used for arthritis, such as naproxen (the drug in Aleve) and ibuprofen (the drug in Motrin and Advil).
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Inform the phlebotomist or staff member who performs your health screening that you have rheumatoid arthritis. Ensure that you disclose any medications that you take, especially those that you take to manage your rheumatoid arthritis, to the individual performing your screening.
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Consume a balanced meal and an adequate amount of water before donating blood. Most people need to drink 4 to 8 oz. of water per waking hour to remain hydrated. Although eating well and remaining hydrated are important for all people donating blood, they are especially important for someone with rheumatoid arthritis to avoid a flare-up.
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Avoid strenuous physical activity for 24 hours after donating blood. Although this is recommended for all people donating blood, it is essential to the well-being of someone with rheumatoid arthritis to avoid a flare-up of symptoms.
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Wait at least 112 days between donations consisting of 2 units of red blood cells. According to the American Red Cross, this is the minimum amount of time required to ensure that your blood supply has been restored. The American Red Cross also recommends waiting at least 3 days between platelet donations and 56 days between whole blood donations.
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