General Cycling Discussion - riding before or after a blood donation?

is this a bad idea? I have a donation scheduled for 5:30 tomorrow, not sure I'll have the time to ride before but might like to get out after... is this a bad idea or is it okay?

I wouldn't try it. Though maybe I'm unique. My body wants to pass out when I donate. I've done it, especially for friends or family going in for surgery, however, it takes me a good long while to recover. If I were to ride after, I am quite certain I'd be passed out on the side of the road, still clicked into the pedals!

YMMV

I haven't ridden to and from the blood center for quite a few years - that was never a problem - the only thing I notice in recent years after a donation is that my capacity for strenuous exercise is less than normal. Not quite the oxygen-carrying capacity when I have a unit's worth of RBC's missing.

Sounds like a poor idea to me. Getting dizzy or passing out on a bicycle will not end well.

I ride to my donation appointments, and take my bike on the train home. I was dizzy for a few minutes after my first donation and that was it.

Not smart. Dont ride before either, you dont want to pass along anything stored in your fat cells to patients either.

before: you could raise your body temperature to a level too high to donate (happened to me once when driving in the summertime, despite feeling perfectly healthy)

after: obvious possibilities, as posted already in this thread.

sooo. I probably wouldn't, though I'd love to. If you do, just take it really easy both ways.

Enh, it's a 1-beer drunk, so it sounds like fun to me. :)

Just drink a Jolt Cola after you donate, you'll be fine for the ride home.

I'm kidding. Don't do this. If you do do this, please have your next of kin put the video up on Youtube.

I've thought about this for a few years, never pulling the trigger; being car-free, my alternative was the bus, which only goes by about a half-mile from the donation center. I've also often wondered if the tech there would try to STOP me from riding afterwards, as I've seen some pretty restrictive requirements.

They only hurt their own cause being overcautious; but they're motives are good, concern about someone's health, as well as their own liability.

is this a bad idea? I have a donation scheduled for 5:30 tomorrow, not sure I'll have the time to ride before but might like to get out after... is this a bad idea or is it okay?


If you mean going out for a quick 30 before dinner, I'd definitely pass. However, if you commute, I'd take some extra orange juice and plan on taking it REAL GENTLE. Unless you've given blood several times before, take it real easy.

If you mean going out for a quick 30 before dinner, I'd definitely pass. However, if you commute, I'd take some extra orange juice and plan on taking it REAL GENTLE. Unless you've given blood several times before, take it real easy.

Agree. I've been riding to and from blood donations for years and have had no ill effects. Everyone seems to react differently to blood donation though so have a backup plan like a friend who can pick you up if you do start to feel dizzy.

Agree. I've been riding to and from blood donations for years and have had no ill effects. Everyone seems to react differently to blood donation though so have a backup plan like a friend who can pick you up if you do start to feel dizzy.

Absolutely, my ex was a generous donor for years with no effects. But after a several year lapse because she was disqualified, she donated again a couple of times and came down with a severe reaction each time, that we didn't link to the donation till after the second time.

I asked the guy from the Red Cross tonight and he strongly advised against it, as many of you did. I feel fine after my donations but that's at rest, who knows what changes when I get my heart rate up.... its okay though, by the time I got home, I didnt get much time to play with my daughter anyway so even if he said it would be fine, I would have ended up passing on it.

[QUOTE=CNY James;10765366]I asked the guy from the Red Cross tonight and he strongly advised against it, /QUOTE]

They will always give you the most cautious advice that would be appropriate for folks who are unfit and who might have medical problems. In which case, that conservative advice is appropriate.

I'm just hoping it doesnt rain for the rest of the week. Tomorrow night looks okay, the end of the week not so much. Yes, I am a fair-weather cyclist.

Not smart. Dont ride before either, you dont want to pass along anything stored in your fat cells to patients either.
I get what you're saying, and not saying your wrong, but I'd want to hear a doctor say this before taking this advice. Never heard that one before. (Then again, maybe you ARE a doctor :) )

I just recently started riding to my donations, after gauging my ability over the previous half dozen or so appointments by getting in a little excersize and finding out how I reacted. If you're normally fine with a bit of activity afterwards, like I was, go for it on the bike. I still found that I was winded pretty quickly biking home, but I just took it easy and I'll definately continue to ride to and from my appointments.

Not smart. Dont ride before either, you dont want to pass along anything stored in your fat cells to patients either.



I get what you're saying, and not saying your wrong, but I'd want to hear a doctor say this before taking this advice. Never heard that one before. (Then again, maybe you ARE a doctor :) )

I just recently started riding to my donations, after gauging my ability over the previous half dozen or so appointments by getting in a little excersize and finding out how I reacted. If you're normally fine with a bit of activity afterwards, like I was, go for it on the bike. I still found that I was winded pretty quickly biking home, but I just took it easy and I'll definately continue to ride to and from my appointments.

I've never heard this before either, and given how extremely cautious the blood collectors are, I find it hard to believe that it is a real issue. If there was even a potential problem with it I'm pretty sure we'd be asked about it along with everything else.

I would recommend against it, but.... if you do, make sure you take in a LOT of fluids and a few carbs before getting back on the bike (blood banks usually provide that stuff).

Not smart. Dont ride before either, you dont want to pass along anything stored in your fat cells to patients either.

Anything stored in your fat cells? I've never heard of that, and aside from the medications on their deferral list and the other health-related questions (tattoos, piercings, have you had sex with a man who has had sex with another man) they don't say anything about not exercising before a donation. I almost always exercise before a donation because I know I won't be able to for 24 hours afterward.

The donor center I go to has secure bicycle parking, which is unusual as facilities for cycling in London are generally pretty crap. Just don't go racing off afterwards, I've never had any problems.

Anything stored in your fat cells?

There is a persistent belief among marijuana smokers that exercise liberates THC from fat.

As far as exercise after blood donation, there's a wide range in tolerance. Some people can't do anything more strenous then walking to a car. others don't notice at all.

No way ! I bleed very quickly & " fill'er up " within minutes. Then I have to lay there for a couple of hours before I can even drive home.

I often pedal 5 miles to donate.
I take the bike inside, they don't seem to mind.
I've never had an issue with it, I do drink during and after donation and down a cookie & some nuts before leaving.
I'm not a racer, so I don't feel compelled to go all out on way to/from donation.