somedood

So I'm donating blood today. Not "Donate blood - mountain bike!", but like the kind where you put it in a bag for other people to use vs. smooshing it into the dirt after wrecking.

I normally drive or take the motorcycle on the days that I donate, but I just got new tires to replace the ones that were cut from a pinch flat and wanted to try them out. I totally smoked a runner on one of the hills on the way to work so they must be good. Anyway, they say that you're not supposed to engage in vigorus physical activity for a few hours after donating, and I wont' be riding home until around 3 hours after I've donated. I figure I can ride slow on a bike trail on the way home instead of my normal riding sort of fast on the road with traffic.

It seems like as long as i have enough water I'd be ok, and the biggest worry is that the needle-hole would re-open if my heart rate is too high. Maybe I wouldn't be able to carry as much oxygen with a slightly lower volume of blood, I dunno. Am I paranoid, stupid or some kind of mix of the two?

Okiegonian

I've done it... no problems except the volunteers with the cookies were very worried about me getting on my bike. I didn't push it on the way home, so I didn't feel light-headed and definetly didn't push any extra blood out the needle-hole.

For the volunteers' sakes, you should definitely eat extra cookies.

capejohn

Your worrying about nothing. Ride, you will be fine.

surveyor

Make sure that you throw back a few shots before you start riding. You've got to make up for that blood loss.









Yes, that was a joke. Ah, memories of doing stupid things in high school...donating blood and then doing shots of tequila in the parking lot...I am really at a loss as to how we managed to thwart the natural selection process.

craigR

From a cycle racing doctor...

https://drmirkin.blogspot.com/2005/09...ing-blood.html

I would just take it easy on the way home and relax for the rest of the day. Then pay close attention to what your body tells you tomorrow or whenever you ride next. Bottom line, don't overexert yourself... "stupid hurts" so mind your pride.

timmhaan

i've ridden after having blood drawn. other than the uncomfortable tight feeling surrounding the insertion point, it's all good.

riding slowly is basically the same effort as a walk, and i'm sure they don't caution against that.

apricissimus 

I give blood sometimes during the work day when they have blood mobiles parked outside. I've never noticed any difference when riding home later in the day (at least a few hours later).

I weigh between 150 and 155 pounds usually (if that matters).

ItsJustMe

No big deal. Last time I had to wait 20 minutes and get my pulse checked 3 times (the last time the nurse said "< 100 this time or you're out of here" - I had forgotten where I was heading, it was a great day, and I just hammered it there.
I've never had any trouble on the way home, though the nurses sometimes decide to get nanny on me. I've ridden home from donating I think 8 or 10 times now. I ride 5 miles, including some hills, within 15 minutes of getting off the table (they won't let you out for 10 minutes).

Of course, YMMV. Some people faint just getting off the table.

mlts22 

Be careful though, less blood means that you are running hotter, and its easier to overheat. Drink more liquids than you normally do for about 3-7 days.

Learned this firsthand.

Another benefit of donating blood. Beer drank later that evening gets you drunk FAST.

savethekudzu

I did this on Tuesday. Eat lots and drink lots of water, especially if it's warm where you are. More than you think you need.

I found myself riding more slowly than usual on the way home, but I can't say for sure whether it was due to the donation. Didn't have a bit of trouble getting home, though.

Note: I didn't ride home till about 4 or 5 hours after the donation had happened.

FredOak

I donate plasma every month and that leaves me a enough light headed for a couple hours that I wouldn't risk the bike. I didn't have as much of a problem when I donated blood.

First issue is you may open the injection point and bleed out, so waiting the couple hours is a good idea.
Second, your fluid levels are reduced, I found drinking 8-16 oz of water a couple times over an hour helped.
Third, some folk get light headed and will pass out, not the best idea going home during rush hour.

Chromavita

It really varies by person. I donated blood in my high school (about 2 years ago) and believe me i took my share of cookies and food . For the rest of the day I was really light headed and tired, and every time I stood up I felt like I was gonna black out. I guess it really just depends on your reaction to giving blood. I guess it affects people in different ways.

lazlo

Ditto. There are a lot of variables. I've donated at lunch and ridden home with no major effect. Once I donated on the way home, on an empty stomach (other than the post donation snacks), and I wouldn't recommend it. I almost felt drunk on the 3 mile ride home. It depends on your size, time of day, weather, general fitness, etc.

Ka_Jun

+1 on the extra fluids, cookies, etc. Don't hammer on the way home, take it easy, you should be fine.

somedood

Well, I'm back from the donation center and the ride back to work was short but I didn't feel funny. I'll just keep taking it easy on the way home. I also have a very fashionable green bandage around my arm which is probably the best part of the whole process.

Does anybody know why they pay for plasma, but not for blood? I was told by a red cross worker once that the plasma doesn't actually go "into" a person, where the blood does so people can't sell it. But reading about plasma "donation" says that it is used to put into people who need more plasma in their blood. I don't donate for the money but am curious why it's like that.

mijome07

I used to donate/sell plasma back in the days. If I went twice a week/eight days a month, then I'd get $100. If I refered people [which I did], then I get $25 for each individual. The doctor at the clinic told me that they make medicine from the plasma.

What kind, I don't know, I never asked. For what it's worth, I was told that I had good plasma. I can't tell you how many people I've seen fall flat on their face once the whole process was done. Luckily for me, that never happened.

fat biker

My usual donation site is 12 miles by bike from home.
On a Saturday, I ride to the Red Cross, donate, do the juice and cookie bit then ride home.
No Problem.

Take it easy though, to be safe.

Jeff, still fat

caloso

I donate platelets. Takes longer but you get to keep nearly all your red blood cells so you don't lose any training. If it's available at your blood center, you might want to check it out.

ItsJustMe

Before I started cycling daily, donating often would leave me rather ill for a day or so; headaches and the like. Now I can't really tell. I still just cruise home at an easy pace, though it's tough; there's a nice long downhill on the way out of town and even without working I'm keeping up with traffic; it's tough to not hammer it when I get to the flats north of town and keep up.

på beløb

It's a good way to lose a few pounds for that hill climb.

ItsJustMe

Well, one pound anyway (500ml = 500g = 1.1 pound). Minus the fluids they make you drink. Say about 6 ounces. Or you could squirt a little bit of water out of your bottle.

Stickney

Everyone is different -- I used to ride after giving blood, but as I have gotten older I have found that it isn't worth it. It is very easy to over do it and it can hit you fast and hard which can be a bad thing in traffic on a bike.

I know try to combine several errands and blood giving so that I feel less bad about driving that day. I gave Wednesday evening and rode this morning and felt fine.

somedood

The ride home yesterday was just dandy. I took it pretty easy and didn't feel any different than normal, except that when i got home I wasn't soaked in sweat. Have I mentioned that I love this forum?

It's awesome to see other people on here donating as well, high fives all around!

JeffS

I wish I could give blood...

I get, and stay, lightheaded every time blood is drawn. Had two and a half vials drawn recently and passed out. It's not the site of blood, or some mental issue either... oh well.

dcrowell

Just to add my $0.02 worth...

I've been donating blood for a long time, and never had any problems. I rode home from work after giving a few weeks ago, and had no issues. I did, however, drink a lot of water for several hours before the ride.

I also weigh over 240 lbs, so that may have something to do with it.