Why did I have a weird episode three days after giving blood?

IANAD TINMA etc. That sounds to me like waking up dehydrated and hungry (the normal state after a night's sleep), having your activity level outstrip your stocked fluid and calories, then gradually recovering. If it happens again, absent blood donation, I'd worry, but otherwise I'd assume it was just everything got a little lower than usual because you're a pint down.

I spend a lot of time with seriously low blood pressure and I've never had an episode like you describe. I second KathrynT -- not a doctor, but the first thing that came to mind was TIA and if it were me I'd definitely call my doctor and talk to them about whether to come in.

Oh my gosh! Almost this exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago, minus the blood donation. The first time it happened, I was driving and had a panic attack to round out the experience. It was terrifying! My doctor first diagnosed me with Benign Positional Vertigo, because my eyes were twitching back and forth when she tested me a few days later. Then with orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure, especially when standing up). A couple of weeks of lessening but still present episodes, and we collectively came to the conclusion that it was probably atypically presenting migraine/vestibular migraine. For what it's worth, after about two weeks I felt safe to drive again, and I only intermittently feel slightly "off" this week, hardly impacted at all. Here's what I did, on the advice of the doctor: - drink lots of water and a bit of Gatorade/electrolyte replacement (to boost blood pressure) - take a sinus medication (Sudafed made a difference for me) and allergy meds (YMMV as to whether this is applicable for you) - drink a bit of caffeine (when my episode recurred a few days later, it was paired with a blistering headache and fatigue) - and my doctor didn't suggest this, but yeah, adding a multivitamin or eating a little extra heathy sure wouldn't hurt if it's related to the blood donation. - up next for me is ophthalmologist and potentially neurologist appointments, but that's because it lasted quite a long time for me and is looking like maybe migraines. Good luck, and I hope you continue to feel much better.

Eh, probably a combination of factors, but it certainly sounds like a low blood pressure episode plus a little anemia. Make sure you're hydrating and getting plenty of iron-y greens. (Getting old sucks, sorry.)

So when I had a similar episode that affected vision AND speech at the same time, my doctor (NYD) said that indicated it was not a stroke or TIA as vision and speech are on two sides of the brain implying not a blood flow blockage issue that would typically only affect one side. The consensus was unusually-presenting migraines. Migraines can be worse when dehydrated, not sure how long dehydration can last after a blood/platelet donation.

Hey, I also had a TIA (back in 2005, while in grad school) and it played out similar to this + a bit of numbness on my face and arm(s). I also work in toxicology / public health, for what it's worth. Since this was in close proximity to a blood draw, you should call the donation facility and tell them what happened. Whether or not you follow-up with a doctor visit of your own, this needs to be on your record--and discussed in person with them--before your next blood donation. The facility may encourage you to make an appointment with your primary care physician. If you're insured, I'd call 'em up anyway and ask them if it merits a general office visit. It's nothing to be startled about, since you report its resolution happening throughout your day, but it's never a bad idea to mention situations like this to your caregivers when it involves disordered thinking.

Your blood bank has a medical director who you can contact about this.