Twice, when donating blood platelets to the Red Cross, I鈥檝e started sneezing uncontrollably. Assistants respond immediately by giving me Tums, a brand of antacid indigestion tablet. Their explanation is that Tums restores my calcium balance. I understand how my calcium could get out of whack when my blood is being removed, filtered and given back to me without platelets, but what does this have to do with sneezing?
Heather Hallen, East Lansing, Michigan, US