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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

2164.0. "Blood Levels" by SHALOT::ELLIS (John Lee Ellis - assembly required) Mon Jan 13 1992 08:55

    
    Here's a new topic (I think).  Last Thursday I engaged in the
    opposite of "blood doping" - namely, donating a pint of blood.
    Is this enough to make a difference in performance?  Saturday
    (and to some extent Sunday) seemed like difficult rides - feeling
    weak and, mainly, malnourished (not tired, just malnourished).
    
    Maybe it's just coincidence.  Anyone have any experience or actual
    technical knowledge?
    
    -john
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2164.1Need those cells.NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurMon Jan 13 1992 09:305
    Absolutely.  Less O2 transference capability, f'rinstance.
    
    You'll get over it though and be ready for a century Wednesday evening.
    
    ed
2164.2SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Jan 13 1992 09:346
    
    RE: "century Wednesday evening" 
    
    Sounds like a challenge to me!  I'll bring my Neoprene booties.
    
    -j
2164.3Short of breathMVSX00::MVSX02::GISLERi wish i hade mory energy or less ambitionMon Jan 13 1992 13:1310
	Yes, I made about the same experience (not in a race, just for
	work-outs).

	About the two weeks following of my blood donation I was out of
	breath much quicker than usualy. In a blood donation you give some
	thing like 5 purcent of your blood. If that means 5 purcent less
	oxigene transfer I'm sure you can feel it. Recovery is quiet good.

	Norbert
2164.41/8 = 12.5%NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurMon Jan 13 1992 15:444
    It's closer to 12.5 percent of your blood because the avg human has 8
    pints and the standard donation is 1 pint.
    
    ed
2164.5SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Jan 13 1992 16:217
2164.6LJOHUB::CRITZMon Jan 13 1992 16:414
    	But, Ed, you know John's not your average human. Human,
    	yes, average, no.
    
    	scott
2164.7could have also caused dehydration?NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurTue Jan 14 1992 07:423
    yeah, he probably only has 7 pints.
    
    ed
2164.8DANGER::JBELLZeno was almost hereTue Jan 14 1992 17:435
    According to the workers at large blood drives, the amount of
    juice that they give to donors almost exactly matches the
    amount of blood donated.

    -Jeff Bell
2164.9Then it takes time for a pt of water to become "blood products"NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurWed Jan 15 1992 08:179
    re:.8: Bunk!  Whenever I have given blood, noone has ever checked the
    amount of liquid I consumed before leaving.  They may average 1 pint
    per donor but they do not verify that they give anyone any amount
    of liquid.
    
    They do try to assure that you sit down for at least 15 minutes and
    eat/drink something and, as a biker, I've never failed to do that.
    
    ed
2164.10DANGER::JBELLZeno was almost hereWed Jan 15 1992 11:5616
>    re:.8: Bunk!  Whenever I have given blood, noone has ever checked the
>    amount of liquid I consumed before leaving.  They may average 1 pint
>    per donor but they do not verify that they give anyone any amount
>    of liquid.

    They didn't force the people to drink a measured amount.
    I'm sorry if my note in .8 was misleading.

    What I meant to say is that when donors were allowed to drink
    as much as they felt like drinking, the average amount of drink
    consumed is real close the the volume of blood donated.

    I don't know whether it's a homeostasis thing, or if it's
    just a statistical coincedence.  Maybe everybody drinks two 8oz cups.

    -Jeff Bell
2164.11Are you a Blood Dope ;-)NEMAIL::DELORIEAI've got better things to do.Thu Jan 16 1992 13:4125
In the Bicycling Mag's Health Q+A

Q.

"Now that you've got me worried. In a recent issue
you said it takes 6 weeks to recover from a blood 
donation. As an avid runner and cyclistwho has donated
every 8-10 weeks for the last 10 years, I'm afraid I may
be hurtin my performance. I take 1-2 days off from 
exercisingafter a donation. Would I perform better if
I stopped giving blood altogether?

A.

Complete recovery from a blood donation does take about 
6 weeks. This is why you can't donate blood more often.
However, most of the recovery occurs within the first 2 
weeks. After this, only top atheletes will notice any 
reduction in performance.

It won't do any harm to keep donating and exercising.
However, if you're planning on competitive activity,
give blood after rather than before.

	David L. Smith M.D.