i just got done donating plasma and i am really shaken up by what happened to me...?

Question

my question is why after giving plasma did i pass out and go into what they said was a seizure, which i have never experienced before in my life. I completely blacked out and saw flashes of old memories. What could have caused this extreme bad reaction? Should i go to the doctors?Could this have happened because of maybe not having enough food or liquids in my system?

Answer 1

See the links below for some interesting information regarding blood donation and seizures...see excerpt below:

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A seizure is an abnormal, unregulated electrical discharge that occurs within the brain's cortical gray matter and transiently interrupts normal brain function. A seizure typically produces altered awareness, abnormal sensations, involuntary movements, or convulsions.

An isolated seizure can be provoked in a normal brain by reversible stressors (eg, hypoxia, hypoglycemia; in children, fever). A seizure disorder (epilepsy) is diagnosed when a patient has ≥ 2 seizures not related to reversible stressors

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PERSONAL NOTE: I suggest that you schedule an appointment to have your blood sugar levels determined. A thorough blood test will reveal most anything that could have a bearing on your future health. Thyroid testing is good to have taken along with the regular battery of tests. It will probably be necessary for you to wait awhile before scheduling for blood work since you recently donated. However, it should be obvious to you that a physician needs to learn of these occurrences and advise you as to how to cope with the seizures...or 'blackouts' (syncope). See the excerpt below:

Syncope is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness (LOC) with loss of postural tone followed, by definition, by spontaneous revival. Typically, the patient is pale, motionless, diaphoretic, and hypotensive, with cool extremities, a weak pulse, and shallow rapid breathing. Light-headedness and a sense of an impending faint without LOC (near-syncope) are usually considered with syncope because the causes are the same; when the patient is upright, syncope often follows (in orthostatic hypotension). Syncope and near-syncope are fairly common and recur in up to 1⁄3 of people. Although the cause is often benign, identifying the occasional life-threatening cause (eg, tachyarrhythmia, heart block) is important.

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PN continued.. it could be that you donated blood that is complicated with a heart blockage that caused you to faint. Think about the added strain as the donation was being made. Talk with your doctor as soon as possible about what happened...it would be advisable for you to call a hospital and speak with a Registered Nurse about the occurrence and ask if you should report to the Emergency Room as a precautionary measure. Just to be sure that you are going to be alright.

Answer 2

It sounds you had a syncope=too low blood flow for your brain =passed out. You might have had a few jerky movements and most nonNeurologists rush and call them seizures =electric disturbances in the brain.Have seen several where a thorough workup was made and nothing found and the final diagnosis was syncope with clonic movements (clonic=repetitive like in a seizure). passing out of pain/exhasution/too little sleep/too little fluid in system/ whatever which provoked an imbalance in your nervous system is not uncommon and would be understandable. In addition, seeing lights etc. can be at same time and same reason without anything more wrong.

All of the above said -it could be that it was not a syncope=vascular problem, but a seizure=electric disturbance in your brain in first place and a the situation just provoked it. So some kind of workup would be needed by a family practitioner or Neurologist -although, mostly nothing is found. Hope this helps! All the best from mary a

Answer 3

The most likely explanation for your misfortune is Hypotension, or low blood pressure. Given that you just donated Plasma, the most likely mechanism would be volumn (of blood) depletion. This could have been aggravated by any other recent fluid loss, i.e., vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Fainting episodes (Syncope) can be mistaken for a seizure, but can also include a hypoxic seizure, ( a seizure secondary to low oxygen levels). Should you ever feel a "light headed" or dizzy-weak feeling such as that again, try to lie down or put your head beneath knee level. Take care.

Answer 4

I would say, if you didnt have enough food or liguid in your body, that would cause you to black out. I dont know about the flashbacks, but I use to give plasma, and I made sure to eat well before I have the routine done to take the plasma.

Answer 5

Symptoms of blood lost, of course...
They probably took too much of it.
You will be OK, eat some food reach in Iron and take vitamins, minerals and proteins.

Answer 6

Gosh that sure was an odd happening you experienced. I would ask my doctor. Give him a call and see what he has to say about it. You must ask him. bettyk

Answer 7

see your dr. did they not advise you?

Answer 8

I WOULD ASK YOUR DOCTOR..THATS WIERD..GOOD LUCK