Donated Blood. Who has lifted afterward?

[UsmcOldSchoolMuscle]

Is there really any pressing danger? In all likely hood I needed to donate blood. Thus I assume it's reasonable and safe that I stick to my scheduled regiment and lift later this evening.

Please share you experience and opinion on this matter.

 

[norp]

Our local Red Cross blood donation center are within a quarter mile of my gym and I use both as regular as I can.

While I cannot speak for everyone, I can count over a dozen times I have worked out right after donating blood over the last 25 years without any issue.
Grab my cookie snack and water right after they pull my harpoon and then hit the gym.

 

[Youngrobert1]

I did on Monday. Probably two hours later. Have in the past before too. Only one time did I feel weird and I went immediately after and was in a deficit

 

[maldorf]

You'll be fine as long as your BP isn't too low afterwards.

 

[juggy38]

As a nurse I’m going to tell you that is a horrible idea.


The problem acutely would be the literal change in circulatory blood volume. You body will correct this with hydration. The loss in iron/hemoglobin probably will not effect the performance of the session much as long as your not doing cardio/squats deadlifts.

Edit: as a lifter I would probably go attempt to lift too

 

[Canuck54]

Should be no issue, you might get some
Bruising at the draw site but it will go away. Hydrate with electrolytes/potassium citrate/mineral salts and EAAS and you should be good to go!

 

[maldorf]

They should measure your BP before you go home, and if it's too low they will administer fluids. I've never had an issue and I have heart failure.

 

[old timer]

Great post. I have always followed the advice of "nothing strenuous" for 24 hours (I think), but I think I'll lift next time. I gave blood on Monday and I wouldn't even take my typical slow two mile run that night.

My wife is a nurse, so I think I'll ask her to take my blood pressure before and maybe afterwards too.

 

[alfresco]

I typically use the two month donation period as a reminder to take a
week off; 8 weeks on, 1 week off from from working out.

I have been told that no heavy lifting for 24 hrs. after a donation.
mostly because the use such a large bore needle, that it takes longer to
heal. Lifting heavy too early will cause a frightful amount of bruising
from I have seen.

Hydration before and after seems to have the greatest positive effect.
A good meal after does wonder along with a good beer ,the ultra-carb.

As a side note . . . I went for a 8 mile hike immediately after giving blood
just to see what the effect would be. (Say I had an accident in the back-
country, lost a lot of blood, and had to walk out. Could I make it and what
would it feel like? It was an experiment of 1.) Well . . . I made it but it took
a lot longer than I thought and my legs felt like lead, really really heavy.
Would not recommend it. But it can be done by me at least.

 

[nicocujo]

I donate and usually lift within 3 hrs of the donation. No problem.

 

[machomadness22]

Never had a problem but on paper probably not the best.

 

[maldorf]

I typically use the two month donation period as a reminder to take a
week off; 8 weeks on, 1 week off from from working out.

I have been told that no heavy lifting for 24 hrs. after a donation.
mostly because the use such a large bore needle, that it takes longer to
heal. Lifting heavy too early will cause a frightful amount of bruising
from I have seen.

Hydration before and after seems to have the greatest positive effect.
A good meal after does wonder along with a good beer ,the ultra-carb.

As a side note . . . I went for a 8 mile hike immediately after giving blood
just to see what the effect would be. (Say I had an accident in the back-
country, lost a lot of blood, and had to walk out. Could I make it and what
would it feel like? It was an experiment of 1.) Well . . . I made it but it took
a lot longer than I thought and my legs felt like lead, really really heavy.
Would not recommend it. But it can be done by me at least.

I'm on coumadin and don't bruise usually after I have a phlebotomy. Lifting doesn't make it worse. That's me.

 

[buck]

I donated for decades and just did so after i lifted that day to not take a chance. Poking a hole in a vein then lifting and raising blood pressure will probably not cause a problem the vast majority of the time. But if it did you would wish that you had done so afterwards. And the chance of being a quart low and having a less then great workout never seemed to make sense. All the centers around me are open at various hours so i can always find something that works.

 

[qbkilla]

Did it many times even after double red, zero issues.

 

[totalrecomp]

I don't see an issue but would probably lay off the preacher curls or anything that directly irritates the draw site. Now if you are the type of person who gets all woozy and shit after you donate I would exercise caution but personally I have never felt different at all donating single unit or double red but I know some react poorly to donating.

 

[maldorf]

I don't think doing double red would be an issue. The only issue afterwards is low BP from lower blood volume, and I don't think double red takes more volume then a regular phlebotomy. Pretty sure double red pumps your plasma back into your body. I could be wrong about drop in volume from a double, I've never had one done.

My blood pressure after getting a regular phlebotomy is always the same as before the procedure. Sometimes it has been higher even.