Blood donation - Health + Injury

The Eggman

24/09/2007 at 22:32

Anyone have any information on the known/likely effects of blood donation on training? I'm running a fairly low mileage at the moment as I'm coming back from a long layoff, and my general health is good. I want to give blood because not enough people do, but I want to know what the effect will be on my running. Anyone?

cougie

pirate

24/09/2007 at 22:37

I'd skip training that day, and take it easy the next. Theres no reason to not do it unless you have a big event coming up.

(Well I advise people to take a rest - I normally dont. Sometime I get away with it, and sometimes it does take it out of me - funny feeling - its like your throat isnt wide enough to get all the air in)

sioUx

24/09/2007 at 23:26

My experience is the same as Cougie.

Exersise before you give on the day of donation or wait till the next day but still go a bit easy.

I've tried to push it on the day and found myself totally wiped out. Will vary between people though.

I'm not that much above the weight cut off of 8 stone so someone heavier may not find it takes as much out of them.

It won't have any long term impact on training but I wouldn't give in the month leading up to an event.

Johnny Blaze

24/09/2007 at 23:35

i know they try and say that people suffer no after-effects but that is just baloney.

Personally I would not train at all for 48-72 hours after - i have known people faint immediately upon giving blood, within an hour after and also the evening of the day they gave (my wife).

Partic if road-running i would not take the risk.

Johnny Blaze

24/09/2007 at 23:47

An article in Omega Cycling by Dr P A Lambeti (MBBcH), said, in part:

"A study has been done looking at the effects of blood donation on exercise performance in competitive cyclists. This study evaluated 10 male cyclists before and after phlebotomy (donating blood), to determine the effect of donation of one unit of blood on exercise performance. Each subject underwent maximal exercise testing with oxygen consumption measurement at baseline, 2 hours after phlebotomy, 2 days after phlebotomy, and 7 days after phlebotomy. The results found that maximal performance was decreased for at least one week and that submaximal performance was unaffected by blood donation.

Thus, if you are a competitive cyclist, do not donate blood within 7 – 10 days of a competitive race, as your performance will be compromised. If you are a casual cyclist performing submaximally, you may not experience any deleterious effects apart from a higher heart rate than normal from the day after donating."

Monster facts. Also 150,000 people faint or feel faint after giving blood each year.

cougie

pirate

25/09/2007 at 00:19

I only do it for the biccies.

sioUx

25/09/2007 at 00:48

Same here Cougie...but I do miss the big biscut tin that you could root round in....on a good day they'd be choccy ones!

Those little packets just aren't the same ...... bl**dy Health and Safety Regs

I had an e-mail off the Blood bank today about on-line donation...isn't the WWW just amazing

Nick L

25/09/2007 at 09:07

I gave blood yesterday (24th time) and I had a Wagon Wheel AND a Kit Kat! Cup of tea and bikkies are the only reason I go too!

I find it does affect me...last donation I tried to do a 25 mile run and had to bail out after about 15 as I was totally wiped out. I didnt try to do that yesterday, although I did feel VERY sleepy after a couple of hours.

Hopefulyl I will have recovered enough for the 30 mile race I have on Saturday!

Best to take it fairly easy on the day of and day after your donation. The effects vary from person to person I reckon, but well done on giving blood.

Duck Girl

pirate

25/09/2007 at 10:30

I usually take multivits/ minerals (particularly iron & B12) for a couple of weeks either side of a donation. Dunno if it makes a difference, but I've not been turned away for low iron since i started doing that.
I'd definitely not run the day of a donation (if you run before, have a proper meal first) & take the next day off. The next week I'll probably be a bit below par & I'd not give within 2 weeks of a really important race or mara to be on the safe side.

Well done for going though.

NeverMind

25/09/2007 at 10:33

I'd train on the day you giving blood and take it easy for 24 hours and then train two days afterwards with no ill affects.

If I'm training for an event longer than 10K and my training is going well then I give blood on one of my reduced training weeks.

However if it's not going well i.e. been fighting off colds and injury I don't bother. This is mainly because I've had donations rejected when I feel like that so unless I feel in fabulous health it's a waste of time going to donate. However they still give me the free biccies and I do get to leave work early.

Nick L

25/09/2007 at 10:35

ooh carp.....30 Mi race on sat may mean I struggle!

Toruble is all too often I am doing a long run or race, so it never really fits in with my 'schedule'....(which i make up anyway!)

cougie

pirate

25/09/2007 at 10:48

KIT KATS ?! Where the heck do you give blood Nick ? They could take two pints if i get a kit kat. (not keen on the wagon wheels tho)

The Eggman

25/09/2007 at 12:39

Thanks everyone. I'm going to donate on Friday, running beforehand, then take the weekend off. I'll report back on Monday how that morning's run goes.

Looking forward to the biccies. I hope they have wagon wheels in Leeds. Although wagon wheels aren't as big as they used to be, are they?

The Anti-Coach

25/09/2007 at 13:57

well if the study on the cyclists who gave blood (odd that I thought pro cyclists only injected themselves with other peoples blood) is anything to go by then your performance on the 30 mile race may not be affected as its submaximal, just no sprint finish this time round! but I'm sure you can make you're own mind up if you're capable of racing that kind of distance

Nick L

25/09/2007 at 15:13

Cougie - cheltenham....helps if you get there are the start of the session....more selection! There were packets of crisps, and TUC cheesey biscuits too!

USed to live in worcester....one year at xmas they had tins of roses.....i didnt want to leave!

Duck Girl

pirate

25/09/2007 at 21:52

Uni blood sessions get really pants boring biscuits, & you can't book an appointment so you have to hang around ages unless you turn up an hour beforehand.
I usually sneak off to a town session - better biscuits, nicer place (old church), & I get two cups of tea there to make sure I'm OK to cycle half-a-mile home again

25/09/2007 at 23:50

I was recently turned away for having (a bit) low iron for the first time in 20 years/30 donations. I could only put that down to stepping up to running 50+ miles a week and an 18 mile long run the day before, because I felt fine otherwise. Luckily, I'm injured now, so next week's donation should be fine!

sioUx

26/09/2007 at 03:10

I've got biccy jelousey.

I may demand a better selection next time I go.

The Eggman

28/09/2007 at 17:32

My report: the cakes were good but the blood donation a bit of a washout. Less than a minute into the donation I started to lose consciousness and they had to stop. They reckoned it's because my BMI is virtually Kenyan and so my body doesn't have any blood to spare. I wanted to come back and try again in a couple of weeks. I was told to come back in a few years if I put on some weight.

I urge those of you who can give blood to do so. The stocks are severely depleted and it's immensely frustrating to want to help and not be able to. In Leeds, they have cake. Go on.

Tracey G

28/09/2007 at 20:04

Daniel

What a disappointment for you. I have plenty of fat on me. I got my blue card yesterday, as I have donated 5 times.