Gave blood, tried riding 2 days later..

[RoadRaven]

OK... very pleased you posted this.
I would have thought a couple of days was plenty of time before one tried a gentle ride
Thank you for being our guinea pig!

Trust you are able to get on your bike real soon without adverse effects... can you let us know when you do?

Take care, pleased you did not actually pass out on the bike or anything like that!

[Aquila]

I donate regularly, and while I avoid riding that day, I ride the next and am fine. I think how you feel afterwards is probably mostly individual. But, that said, I always feel better if I drink lots of water before and after donating, and also take an extra multi-vitamin (with iron) the day before.

That and I treat myself to a volunteer cookie at the donation center. /nod It's all about the cookie!

Congrats on donating. I'm sure we all know someone who's needed blood or blood products, and it's important that we help if we can.

[Torrilin]

You probably went into shock.
A pint of blood is roughly 500 mL. The "average" adult human can lose 750 mL before going into shock. And well, noone is an average human... so if you're a smallish female, it's quite possible for a blood donation to be a bit more than your body wants to deal with. Yes, you can keep going into shock after you've lost blood.

What I'd do (until you stop feeling icky when exercising) is bring a cell phone with when you ride, and let someone know when you leave and where you're headed. Bringing a light jacket, some electrolyte replacement drink, and a snack isn't a bad idea either, even if you don't normally need those things. Standard first aid for donating blood is "eat something" and "drink something". And wrapping someone who is shocky in a blanket is an easy way to help them. Blankets don't work so well on a bike, so a jacket makes a good substitute.

[Tri Girl]

I've only had one bad reaction after donating, and not since (and that was immediately after when I passed out- now I put ice packs on my neck during donation and drink a gatorade).
I donate every 8 weeks- I usually work out before I dontate, then again the next day. I've never experienced what you did 2 days after. I think your reaction may be a result of your own body's reaction to the depletion of the blood (and maybe it's just mad at you for taking a pint away from it ). Are you low body weight, or have normally low blood pressure? Torrilin could be right on.
Anywho- hope it doesn't happen again. Keep on donating, tho!

Oh- and we went to ancient ruins in Mexico and couldn't donate for a year. I was totally bummed. If I'd known that- I wouldn't have gone (to the ruins- I still would've gone to Mexico). I understand that they just want to be extra cautious tho- if I'd developed malaria months after returning I sure wouldn't want to have given that to someone.
I didn't mind the inconvenience- I'm glad they have so many precautions- makes it safer in the end.

[Tuckervill]

Here's a question. I've rarely if ever been able to donate blood because they always tell me I'm anemic. It has happened so often that I don't even bother stopping in anymore.

When I've brought this to the attention of various doctors, they usually do nothing nor do they ask further questions. I had blood work last year and it was all normal.

Should I do anything about the blood bank findings?

Karen

[Dianyla]

When I've brought this to the attention of various doctors, they usually do nothing nor do they ask further questions. I had blood work last year and it was all normal.

Ask to have your serum ferritin levels tested. Ferritin is not always tested as part of normal blood work. This test will show how much available iron you have stored in your body. You could be anemic, or you could be just on the "low end of normal". In those two cases, you should look at supplementing with oral iron pills. Be sure to get it checked before you start popping iron pills, though, because it is possible to take too much iron and get sick from that. It doesn't sound very likely in your case, this is just a standard disclaimer to anyone who might think it's safe to just start taking iron over the counter.

[MM_QFC!]

I donate regularly, and while I avoid riding that day, I ride the next and am fine. I think how you feel afterwards is probably mostly individual. But, that said, I always feel better if I drink lots of water before and after donating, and also take an extra multi-vitamin (with iron) the day before.

That and I treat myself to a volunteer cookie at the donation center. /nod It's all about the cookie!

Congrats on donating. I'm sure we all know someone who's needed blood or blood products, and it's important that we help if we can.

I'm a regular blood donor too and haven't experienced feeling weak or otherwise after, but I am careful to hang out, drink juice, eat some pretzels (and cookies too, oftentimes!) and then take it easy the rest of the day.
BabyBlueNTulsa, you mentioned watching the tour and reading, but did you replenish fluids sufficiently? I know that it might even be better to over-hydrate a bit right the day of and day after donating...
At least this way, you are OK, but you've learned from the experience, so all will be much improved next time, right?