Donating Blood, Fasting, Communion Question

[BlueRain]

My church is having a blood drive this Sunday. The person who is in charge recommends that we eat breakfast. This will be my forst time donating blood so I’m not sure what to expect.

I plan to go to the Saturday Vigil Mass so I can receive Communion. I’m still going to Mass on Sunday. But, my mom says that I should not go to the Saturday Vigil Mass. She says to just skip breakfast and receive Communion on Sunday since I’ll be there in Mass anyways.

Another note, it’s a bit laughable, I gave up cakes and cookies for Lent, so I can’t eat the cookies they usually offer after you donate blood. That’s why I would rather eat breakfast on Sunday. What can I do?

 

[maryjk]

**Do not **donate without eating breakfast. I just did this last weekend. I spent the rest of the day feeling tired and sick.

Go to the Mass that you want. You must fast for one hour before Communion. Eat breakfast early, go to Mass, then donate. If you eat late and then cannot go to Communion, that is the way it is. You do not have to receive every Sunday.

Take along a snack for yourself if you will not be able to eat the cookie or snacks that they have. Keep in mind many Catholics do not “give up” on Sunday. We treat it as a Mini Easter.

So, eat breakfast. And plan to drink lots of water during the day after you have donated.

Good luck.

 

[Balance]

BlueRain:

My church is having a blood drive this Sunday. The person who is in charge recommends that we eat breakfast. This will be my forst time donating blood so I’m not sure what to expect.

I plan to go to the Saturday Vigil Mass so I can receive Communion. I’m still going to Mass on Sunday. But, my mom says that I should not go to the Saturday Vigil Mass. She says to just skip breakfast and receive Communion on Sunday since I’ll be there in Mass anyways.

Another note, it’s a bit laughable, I gave up cakes and cookies for Lent, so I can’t eat the cookies they usually offer after you donate blood. That’s why I would rather eat breakfast on Sunday. What can I do?

Hi - good on you for giving blood! I donated again recently after not having done so for a year or two and was reminded of what a satisfying feeling it is. You feel like you’ve done a small but valuable thing. Don’t be fearful when you go in - I’ve donated several times and still feel uncomfortable with it all. The nurses are usually really good so just trust them.

You could do one of a number of things, as I see it:

Seeing as it’s preferable to receive communion if you’re at Mass rather than not receiving (our best response/prayer at Mass is a “full and active” participation) you could eat a good breakfast early enough that you could still observe the pre-Mass fast on Sunday. If you’re giving blood you really want to do it on a full stomach and need to drink plenty of fluids beforehand.

Or you could go to the Vigil so you don’t have to plan around your fast on Sunday morning.

As far as the cookies and cakes thing goes - after giving blood you need to eat and drink plenty of fluid to help your body out as it starts making more blood to replace that which has been taken out. I’m not sure, but I think the reason they give you sweets is because sugar is good for that process too; if you don’t want to eat the sweets becuase of your Lenten observance you could take along a couple of sandwiches or something similar. The main point is to eat something, and drink plenty, and rest if you’re feeling the slightest bit lightheaded.

A thought about Lent, and about fasting (and not about you in particular, it’s just something I heard recently) - sometimes it’s good to think not of what we might “give up” for Lent but of what we might “let go” - what is it in our fasting or acts of selfdenial that is a “letting go”?

 

[m134e5]

BlueRain:

Another note, it’s a bit laughable, I gave up cakes and cookies for Lent, so I can’t eat the cookies they usually offer after you donate blood. That’s why I would rather eat breakfast on Sunday. What can I do?

1.) You can eat what you gave up for Lent on Sundays.

2.) The cookies aren’t just to thank you for giving blood- they have T-shirts and stickers for that. They are to help you keep your blood sugar regulated and to give you time to relax before leaving- so you don’t pass out. Have a few cookies and some juice, and don’t think twice about it.

 

[m134e5]

If you are Latin Rite, you are under the 1983 code of Canon Law- whatever Mass you attend- you are bound to fast only an hour before communion. Even if you are Eastern Rite, you are dispensed from the fast if you are sick, I believe. Donating blood in this case could be considered sickness.

 

[RoseMarie]

At least eat -something-. My high school had a blood drive every year, and every year, some poor fool would pass out in the middle of a class because they didn’t eat lunch and then donated blood. Fainting in Mass might not be desirable

 

[BlueRain]

RoseMarie:

At least eat -something-. My high school had a blood drive every year, and every year, some poor fool would pass out in the middle of a class because they didn’t eat lunch and then donated blood. Fainting in Mass might not be desirable

Thanks everyone for the advice. I’ll try to eat a good breakfast before leaving. I have to keep the courage up for the actual donation. I think for me it’s the sight of my blood leaving and going into a bag that makes me faint and that needle as well.

 

[maryjk]

BlueRain:

Thanks everyone for the advice. I’ll try to eat a good breakfast before leaving. I have to keep the courage up for the actual donation. I think for me it’s the sight of my blood leaving and going into a bag that makes me faint and that needle as well.

Don’t look. And I don’t mean to be funny.

Turn your head away when the needle goes in. Take a deep breathe before and let it out while the needle goes in.

The bag will be out of sight. It is placed below your eye level, so to see it, you would really have to search it out.

Tell the nurse that this is your first time. They will want to know.

And know that you are saving a life. In December, my Mom was in the hospital. She was VERY ill. They gave her hours to live, not days. In addition to many other things, she received two units of whole blood. I was just at her house. Although, she is still on the road to recovery, she is doing great. I will never know who gave blood that she used. Maybe it was someone that had never given before. Maybe they were afraid. I just know that they gave and she needed it.

 

[BlueRain]

My mom and I donated blood. I feel fine. I think that little prick in the finger to test for iron hurt more than the big needle. There was juice, water, pop corn, pretzels, and one of my favs Oreos, lol. I hppe I donate at least once per year from now on. Can’t wait to see what blood type I am.

On another note, a couple of years I got registered in the Bone Marrow Registry. I hope if any of you ever have a chance to do so, you will register. It’s so important for all those cancer patients and it’s even easier than donating blood.

 

[Balance]

BlueRain:

On another note, a couple of years I got registered in the Bone Marrow Registry. I hope if any of you ever have a chance to do so, you will register. It’s so important for all those cancer patients and it’s even easier than donating blood.

It’s easy to get on the register - I don’t imagine though, that donating bone marrow is easier than donating blood! It’s a fairly extensive and intrusive process from what I can see.

Glad to hear your donation went well - good on you.

 

[BlueRain]

Balance:

It’s easy to get on the register - I don’t imagine though, that donating bone marrow is easier than donating blood! It’s a fairly extensive and intrusive process from what I can see.

Glad to hear your donation went well - good on you.

Oh of course, I meant the registration was easy, but not the actual donation of the marrow.

 

[Morning_Glory]

**I am used to giving blood regularly, and sometimes on an empty stomache. A good idea though, is to drink plenty of fluids before giving blood (non-caffinnated), and juice is better. Just a suggestion for those who will be giving blood on Sundays.

For those who are universal donors (O Neg), consider the “2-fer”. It takes a little longer, you have to have enough iron in your blood (an iron pill or a bunch of leafy greens the week before donation). You will be giving the equivilant of two pints of blood (the plasma is separated and supplied back to you), and you won’t be able to give as often. The nurse will ask you if you would be willing to do this.

My nurse was so excited I had O Neg, but I fell a point or two short for my iron content. I just gave a regular donation. I prepared for next time though.**