Post by libbygrl109 on Jan 13, 2014 8:15:15 GMT -5
How long does it typically take you to recover after donating? I gave on Thursday afternoon, took off Friday and Saturday, drank lots of water in the meantime, and still felt like body weighed 1000 lbs when I tried to run yesterday. 7 turned into a barely-completed, walking involved 2.5mi. In addition to taking in more water, I take a multivitamin with iron - is there more I can be doing?
It does not usually take that long to recover. But I don't know anything else you can be doing to recover. Thanks for giving blood though. Winter is usually a rough time and the blood banks run short.
I feel fine in my normal life after donating, but swim/bike/run? It takes me up to a week to feel good in workouts again, and for my HR to return to normal. It's up to 10 bpm higher shortly after a donation. The first 2-3 days are the worst. I only donate in the off season when I am not on a training plan because of that, but I do think it's important to do. It's a thing for me - I try for my donations to keep pace with my mom's needs. I know it isn't direct; we aren't the same blood type and we don't live in the same blood donation region, etc., but in a karmic sort of sense it makes me feel like I'm doing something to help. She has ovarian cancer, and I think she has needed 9 pints in the last couple years for various reasons. I'm grateful someone who is A+ was willing to sacrifice their comfort/workout quality/etc. for her.
I feel fine in my normal life after donating, but swim/bike/run? It takes me up to a week to feel good in workouts again, and for my HR to return to normal. It's up to 10 bpm higher shortly after a donation. The first 2-3 days are the worst. I only donate in the off season when I am not on a training plan because of that, but I do think it's important to do. It's a thing for me - I try for my donations to keep pace with my mom's needs. I know it isn't direct; we aren't the same blood type and we don't live in the same blood donation region, etc., but in a karmic sort of sense it makes me feel like I'm doing something to help. She has ovarian cancer, and I think she has needed 9 pints in the last couple years for various reasons. I'm grateful someone who is A+ was willing to sacrifice their comfort/workout quality/etc. for her.
This is the first time I've ever donated while actively training for something, so although I feel fine during normal activities, I could not get out of my own way yesterday. The nasty wind didn't help, either. I was huffing and puffing like I had never run before. I hope it's better tonight when I try to swim.
How is your mother doing? It must be so hard to be away from her during this time. I'm sending good thoughts her way that she kicks it. Although I've been fortunate enough to not have a close family member be affected by cancer, I do think about those who have, and want to do what I can. It's such an easy thing to do to help save someone's life. I hate having to give an excuse for not donating, which is why I chose to do it early in the cycle. Now I know I just need to do it earlier in the week so that I'm hopefully back to normal in time for my long runs.
I feel fine in my normal life after donating, but swim/bike/run? It takes me up to a week to feel good in workouts again, and for my HR to return to normal. It's up to 10 bpm higher shortly after a donation. The first 2-3 days are the worst. I only donate in the off season when I am not on a training plan because of that, but I do think it's important to do. It's a thing for me - I try for my donations to keep pace with my mom's needs. I know it isn't direct; we aren't the same blood type and we don't live in the same blood donation region, etc., but in a karmic sort of sense it makes me feel like I'm doing something to help. She has ovarian cancer, and I think she has needed 9 pints in the last couple years for various reasons. I'm grateful someone who is A+ was willing to sacrifice their comfort/workout quality/etc. for her.
This is the first time I've ever donated while actively training for something, so although I feel fine during normal activities, I could not get out of my own way yesterday. The nasty wind didn't help, either. I was huffing and puffing like I had never run before. I hope it's better tonight when I try to swim.
How is your mother doing? It must be so hard to be away from her during this time. I'm sending good thoughts her way that she kicks it. Although I've been fortunate enough to not have a close family member be affected by cancer, I do think about those who have, and want to do what I can. It's such an easy thing to do to help save someone's life. I hate having to give an excuse for not donating, which is why I chose to do it early in the cycle. Now I know I just need to do it earlier in the week so that I'm hopefully back to normal in time for my long runs.
She is doing... ok. It's hard to characterize. She is 3.5 years in, is on her 3rd course of chemo (a clinical trial), and is holding steady for right now. The tumor isn't currently growing, but isn't shrinking either. I don't totally understand why surgery isn't on the table, but it seems not to be.
It is a chronic illness for her, along with the opportunistic stuff that comes with chemo (she was hospitalized with pneumonia around Thanksgiving, etc.). It is scary because if the current treatment stops working, we are about out of good options, but we try not to think about that before it happens. Statistically, she has already done very well, and we are grateful for the years we've had. Thanks for donating, I have renewed gratitude for people who do. Early in the week sounds like it might work well for you. I often do it on Fridays so I can sleep extra afterwards, but like I said, I don't do it much when I'm in a training cycle with long runs.
It can definitely take me several weeks to be back to normal in workouts.
I try to donate when I can & know it's important, but it really takes a toll on me. If I'm careful to eat & drink a lot the days before, then I do better. I've passed out several times after donating -- I think when I haven't been well hydrated. Then recovery is even longer.
I don't donate if I'm training heavily, but as Susie said, in the " off season" I still do. Just make sure you get extra sleep & keep hydrating / eating well.
Thanks, this was helpful. Now I think I'm going to lay way back on my times for the next few weeks so that I can just get the mileage in, then pick it back up as I start to feel more normal.
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
That is frustrating. Sometimes I have to wait too, but not that long. I hope you're able to actually donate some other time. (I think the vein thing is crap - mine are tiny and prone to clotting too, but I have never failed to finish a pint. I just can't donate a whole pint as fast as other people can!)
Post by mrs.jacinthe on Jan 13, 2014 13:05:50 GMT -5
It takes me about 6 hours to feel like resuming normal activities. I donate on a Friday and I don't go back to workouts until Monday, and I usually feel fine at that point. This last time, I didn't go back to the gym for almost a week, though - partly due to laziness and partly due to feeling generally like crap, I think from the donation.
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
Wow, that really sucks. I hate having to wait, too, but I don't think I've ever had to wait that long. I've never known of anyone getting rejected before you even attempt to donate, though. I thought it was a "don't know til you try" type of thing.
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
I am often filled with rage at blood drives. No matter how much time I allot, I ALWAYS seem to take longer than I think. I bleed out quickly so it's all the other stuff. The senior citizens signing me in, the sauntering nurses doing the initial check, the too-few tables, and when does pop up, some random who just got there always seems to get on before I do.
I give because it's the right thing to do, I have O- blood, they pretty much stalk my whole life and it is much easier to just succumb to their advances every 60 days than it is to deal with the incessant badgering.
But I hear ya. I know I shouldn't get upset because each step is necessary and the RC is understaffed. But it's still a drag
Post by katietornado on Jan 13, 2014 14:38:28 GMT -5
It definitely varies. Sometimes I feel awesome, and others I feel like crap for over a week afterward. All you can do is get plenty of food and water and rest.
FWIW, I can't keep my hemglobin high enough on just my multi alone (it has 18mg or 100% iron); I have to take an additional iron supplement. Talk to your doc before starting one, as getting too much iron can be bad. For me, it's awesome!
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
I am often filled with rage at blood drives. No matter how much time I allot, I ALWAYS seem to take longer than I think. I bleed out quickly so it's all the other stuff. The senior citizens signing me in, the sauntering nurses doing the initial check, the too-few tables, and when does pop up, some random who just got there always seems to get on before I do.
I give because it's the right thing to do, I have O- blood, they pretty much stalk my whole life and it is much easier to just succumb to their advances every 60 days than it is to deal with the incessant badgering.
But I hear ya. I know I shouldn't get upset because each step is necessary and the RC is understaffed. But it's still a drag
DH is also O-, so he does double red cell donations. He's good for 160 days with that, maybe more, I think.
This is unrelated to the OP, but thought I would post this here. I made an appointment to donate blood on Saturday. My appointment was at 11:15. There were so many people that came to the blood drive that I had to wait until 12:30 to even be seen by the nurse doing the initial consultation to make sure that you could donate. She looked at my arms, then called a head nurse over, and they said my veins wouldn't work well for donating blood. I understood and am glad that they made the decision instead of trying and failing. It was sooooo frustrating to wait for so long though after my appointment and then to not even be able to donate.
I am often filled with rage at blood drives. No matter how much time I allot, I ALWAYS seem to take longer than I think. I bleed out quickly so it's all the other stuff. The senior citizens signing me in, the sauntering nurses doing the initial check, the too-few tables, and when does pop up, some random who just got there always seems to get on before I do.
I give because it's the right thing to do, I have O- blood, they pretty much stalk my whole life and it is much easier to just succumb to their advances every 60 days than it is to deal with the incessant badgering.
But I hear ya. I know I shouldn't get upset because each step is necessary and the RC is understaffed. But it's still a drag
I prefer going to an actual ARC facility rather than drives. My center is further away, but it's better staffed and has better snacks than the mobile drives. That last part is important.
1/14: Arrive at ARC donation center. Show phleb my "donation cannon" vein that's been used for 15 years of donations. She nervously grabs another phleb to work on me because she "doesn't do" that kind of vein, who refuses, so phleb #3 steps in and shreds the bajezusfuck out of another vein that never gets used (because they roll/dive way too much).
1/15, AM: Roll around in bed. Notice arm looks fucking horrorshow. Skip morning run. 1/15, PM: Alleged 4 miles at GHMP turned into turning gray around mile 2.5, walking, then hobbling, then laying down on the track.
Your depiction of your run was pretty much how I felt, though I resisted the urge to lay down in the middle of the street and beat it home instead. I also have quite a nasty bruise next to the needle site. Never had that before.
Keebler does our blood drives, too. They had the most amazing chocolate wafer cookies there this time! I wanted all the cookies. I tried to keep it to mostly raisins, though. Ya know. To try to be good.