The Dentist
 

I biked to the dentist's office today; it makes the trip much more exciting.

?? OK. Any details?

My dentist's office is right on my commute route anyway. His son owns the bike shop across the street from his office.

My only regular thing that gets interesting is when I'm giving blood; sometimes there will be a new nurse who will freak out that I'm riding a bike (especially in the winter) and that I have 5 miles to go to get home. Apparently 5 miles is a crazy distance for anyone to ride a bike, even if they're totally taking it easy.

+1. The last time I donated, the phlebotomist was a bit worried that I would be riding back across town after donating - they recommend no "heavy exertion" for 24-48 hours afterwards. But after checking my resting pulse and BP, she decided I'd probably survive.

In fact, she started chatting me up about cycling and fitness in general, and hung around for a while afterwards.

She was a pretty cute blue-eyed brunette about 12 years younger than me, and I'd bet I could have gotten her phone number. Unfortunately, I'm an ethical Serial Monogamist who's currently in a relationship. Maybe in a year or so... :D

I was so bummed when my cleaning happened to come up when my nearly new bike was at the lbs getting parts put on. 5 mile round trip, perfect errand that I had in mind when I bought the bike a couple of weeks previous.

The last time I donated blood, I hopped on my bike immediately afterwards and almost passed out during my commute. I felt fine when I left, but as soon as I was chugging up a hill, the darkness began to creep in around my eyes. I knew I was going down, so I stopped and drank some juice I had with me. I could hear my lungs and other vital organs screaming, "We need that blood back!" I barely made it home that evening. Whenever I sign up to donate now, I make sure that I don't bike to work that day!

How dare you name this thread after He Who Shall Not Be Named. That 'person' is the devil, and I have no choice but to go see him soon because 2 of my molars shattered in an accident last year and I have been able to avoid decending into that pit of hell . . . alas my pleadings have fallen on deaf ears at the homestead.

PLEASE HELP!


On the donor angle, I can't donate anymore after I had this simple accident:

Donate. Walk out door. Wave to wife. Fall on face. Wake up 10 minutes later with the whole WTF look on my face.

Felt blackness creep in.
Felt nothing else.

For my recently-completed dental implant, I rode for all of the appointments that didn't require me to get a ride (from the anaesthetic), and after which I probably wouldn't want to ride anyway-- only the extraction and the installation required a car.

Sure, he looks at me like I'm crazy, but what am I supposed to do?

My DDS happens to be located right around the corner from my LBS. Funny how a simple teeth cleaning and check up always ends up costing a bit more than the co-pay.

I ride to the dentist all the time (well, about as often as I go which is a couple of times a year). It's just off a couple of commute routes for me. They're quite accustomed to me parking my folder in their office. I've even done the road bike a couple of times and they don't mind.

I don't think I could ride home from giving blood... or give blood in the first place. I nearly pass out simply from having blood drawn for tests!

I remember riding home from the D-man. ok.
I was so numbed up, I would spill a glass of water on
my face! Couldn't find my mouth!:)

I bet that would make drinking from a water bottle a challenge. :)

Wow...that's harsh. We do blood drives at work and I passed out in front of all my coworkers. I felt fine...hopped off the chair and down I went. It was kind of a cool feeling.

My dentist used to ride and has a "Hilly Hundred" poster on the wall. He knows I commute so he asks me biking questions when he's in there... "So, are you riding the hilly this year?". "aaan wea araaha"

fun

Re blood donation: see if your local blood center offers hemapheresis. They take your platelets and plasma and give you back your RBC's.

I haven't given blood in 3 years. Took me five minutes to fill a pint bag.
The crowd I once ran with would hang bets on first place.
Flexing your fore arm would quicken the flow.:)

I hate the damn dentist. I need to go in to be fitted for a permanent crown next week. I'd rather volunteer to have a colonoscopy. I could ride to my appointment but I will drive. I wouldn't want to poison my enjoyment of riding by associating riding with the damn dentist.

The longer I've ridden, the less trouble I have with giving blood. Before I started, I'd be a little lightheaded for a few minutes afterwards, and would ALWAYS have a headache the next day.

These days I honestly usually forget that I've given blood by the time I get home. It just doesn't affect me anymore, though I try to take it easy on the trip and keep an eye on my peripheral vision in case I start to grey out.

I don't have any problems with the dentist. It usually takes me a while to "train" one when I move - they want to use local anesthetic for even light drilling, and I don't need it. Heck, I get stitches without local, I think I can take a little frickin' drilling. I hate being numb. Most dentists are very worried that you'll freak out in the chair without local, it takes a few times to convince them that I'm OK without it.

My Dentist's office is next to mine (both are in the same building), and I used to park my bike there when I rode to work before we both remodeled our offices.