Donating blood and training for a triathlon

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Donating blood and training for a triathlon Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2009-05-07 3:43 PM

User image

Expert
774
5001001002525
Subject: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
Gave a 1-pint blood donation Saturday (I am a lifetime 4-gallon donor) and I am still wiped out. I have a sprint coming up on June 6 and expect to be fully charged by then. In the meantime, though, my swimming has been devastated - I can't last more than 50 - 100 yards without gasping for air, not unlike when I first started 2 years. I managed 1000 yards on Sunday and 500 yards yesterday. Running is a little less impacted, cycling is the least affected for me. Weight training is unaffected except for longer breaks between sets. I hope whoever gets my blood and its products appreciates it ;-).

(I received blood products last year when I had open heart surgery).

2009-05-07 3:46 PM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Champion
7495
50002000100100100100252525
Schwamalamadingdong!
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
Thank you for donating!!
2009-05-07 4:19 PM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Master
2327
200010010010025
North Alabama
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
Again, thanks for donating!

I'm sure you'll rebound pretty quickly. Focus on some juices for a few more days. You should be alright.

Did you have any problems donating? Did they question you at all b/c of your vitals or were you fine? Reason I ask is because I had difficulties b/c my blood pressure was borderline too low to give and my Resting Heart Rate had them concerned I may pass out.

I've given plenty of times and never had that come up, except now that I've started training harder for tri's.

Just curious.
2009-05-07 4:55 PM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Pro
4824
20002000500100100100
Houston
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

I also donate regularly (well, when I'm not pregnant anyway).  How about increasing your iron?

 

Keri

2009-05-07 8:57 PM
in reply to: #2137185

New user
58
2525
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
another option is to donate platelets or plasma, both in demand, and keep your red blood cells.  they always want me to do RBC because my iron is high, and I do from time to time, but mostly platelets.  I have done double RBC a couple of times and it smacks me down pretty good for a couple of weeks.
2009-05-07 9:28 PM
in reply to: #2137760

User image

Expert
774
5001001002525
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
LostSheep - 2009-05-07 4:19 PM

Again, thanks for donating!

I'm sure you'll rebound pretty quickly. Focus on some juices for a few more days. You should be alright.

Did you have any problems donating? Did they question you at all b/c of your vitals or were you fine? Reason I ask is because I had difficulties b/c my blood pressure was borderline too low to give and my Resting Heart Rate had them concerned I may pass out.

I've given plenty of times and never had that come up, except now that I've started training harder for tri's.

Just curious.


I have O+ blood, so they were happy to take mine. I have no health issues even though I had open heart surgery last year.

KeriKadi - 2009-05-07 4:55 PM

I also donate regularly (well, when I'm not pregnant anyway). How about increasing your iron?

Keri



I read that red blood cells are replaced in 4 weeks, but Iron can take a little longer. I am taking Iron supplements now.

deweylittle - 2009-05-07 8:57 PM

another option is to donate platelets or plasma, both in demand, and keep your red blood cells. they always want me to do RBC because my iron is high, and I do from time to time, but mostly platelets. I have done double RBC a couple of times and it smacks me down pretty good for a couple of weeks.


I did a double RBC donation a couple of years ago and I was devastated by it. Couldn't walk up stairs without gasping for air. I won't do that again.

2009-05-07 9:40 PM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Extreme Veteran
657
5001002525
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
Keep donating.  Unless you're training for a record just adjust your times for your blood count.
2009-05-08 5:46 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Master
2638
200050010025
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

I have had similar experiences with being knocked-down for a week or so post-donation.  I even got denied once (first time EVER) when I tried to donate a couple of days post HIM.  Either the phlebotomist screwed up or I was still too dehydrated to give.

2009-05-08 8:25 AM
in reply to: #2137815

User image

Veteran
286
100100252525
Brisbane, Australia
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
greyg8r - 2009-05-08 1:28 PM

LostSheep - 2009-05-07 4:19 PM

Again, thanks for donating!

I'm sure you'll rebound pretty quickly. Focus on some juices for a few more days. You should be alright.

Did you have any problems donating? Did they question you at all b/c of your vitals or were you fine? Reason I ask is because I had difficulties b/c my blood pressure was borderline too low to give and my Resting Heart Rate had them concerned I may pass out.

I've given plenty of times and never had that come up, except now that I've started training harder for tri's.

Just curious.


I have O+ blood, so they were happy to take mine. I have no health issues even though I had open heart surgery last year.

KeriKadi - 2009-05-07 4:55 PM

I also donate regularly (well, when I'm not pregnant anyway). How about increasing your iron?

Keri



I read that red blood cells are replaced in 4 weeks, but Iron can take a little longer. I am taking Iron supplements now.

deweylittle - 2009-05-07 8:57 PM

another option is to donate platelets or plasma, both in demand, and keep your red blood cells. they always want me to do RBC because my iron is high, and I do from time to time, but mostly platelets. I have done double RBC a couple of times and it smacks me down pretty good for a couple of weeks.


I did a double RBC donation a couple of years ago and I was devastated by it. Couldn't walk up stairs without gasping for air. I won't do that again.


Red blood cells are mostly haemoglobin (the protein that carries o2) so that's why you're probably struggling with swimming (and cycling and running at high intensities perhaps?). If you eat enough red meat in your diet (3-4 times a week, especially if you dontate blood) you shouldn't need supplements. Here in Australia, they only take your blood every 12 weeks, because it takes about up to 8 weeks for the red blood cells to return to their usual number.

The blood bank wanted me to schedule a donation less than 2 weeks before my half marathon. I told them I would need my blood at that time, but they were welcome to take it later.
2009-05-08 8:26 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
I usually feel a little more run down for the week after I donate.  I try to drink extra fluids and take iron during that time and take it easy if I have to during training.

Thanks for donating!  I'm O+, too, so I get called a lot and try to do it as often as I can.
2009-05-08 8:33 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

On your right
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
You really shouldn't need too much in terms of extra fluids.  Your body can recover from the volume loss within a handful of hours.  It's the RBC's that take longer to get back.  And as a previous poster said, with the decrease in red blood cells, your O2 transport mechanism will be at less than optimal levels.  And to fix that, you just need time.

2009-05-08 8:40 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

DP



Edited by aarondavidson 2009-05-08 8:40 AM
2009-05-08 8:40 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

I showed up at the Y to swim and noticed they had donations going on. I wandered around for 15min before finding out the Red Cross had packed up early and left. So I swam, probably would have skipped the swim after donating so I didnt donate any to the pool. I have never donated. I used to travel in areas with 'high levels of malaria' or something to that effect.

2009-05-08 10:12 AM
in reply to: #2137185

User image

Lethbridge, Alberta
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon
I make sure my donations are not scheduled too soon before an event but otherwise I hardly notice them any more. I've had donation appointments for right after work, and I worked out both that morning and the next day too. However, the workout intensity has to stay lower for a few days after a donation. I do take extra care to make sure I'm well hydrated, fed, and getting enough sleep before and after a donation.

I had to take a year off of donating once when I came back from a vacation in Mexico. Apparently the city we stayed at was OK but one of the bus side trips took us out into a Malaria risk zone. After a year without symptoms though, I was able to donate again.

Edit: They often ask about my athletic activities too, because the pre-screening HR is usually too low without a good explanation like tri training.

Edited by Micawber 2009-05-08 10:19 AM
2009-05-08 11:38 AM
in reply to: #2137185

Expert
936
50010010010010025
Salisbury
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

Last year I couldn't give blood because of my M-Dot tatto

 

2009-05-09 6:09 PM
in reply to: #2137185

Extreme Veteran
428
10010010010025
Subject: RE: Donating blood and training for a triathlon

I had a similar experience.

Back in the old days (before getting into serious levels of training) I would donate then crash on energy that night but be ok by the next day.

I took a year of donating because of IM training, then donated again last week. I was absolutely wacked for 3 days, started to feel better, and then the middle of this week had another few days where even pedling at recovery intensity was too hard. Was not fun at all.

My haemoglobin (?) was borderline when I went to donate so wonder if that was something to do with it.

Gerrard

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Donating blood and training for a triathlon Rss Feed