Quote Originally Posted by BabyBlueNTulsa View Post
Well, I was smart enough to listen to the Red Cross and NOT ride the day of giving blood... I even didn't ride the day after. I just took it easy...

And before everyone else jumps on me... I KNOW it was stupid to try to go on ahead to ride after I started feeling bad. Learned my lesson... BAD Susan!!!
Well, I was once NOT smart enough to not ride after giving blood.
I commuted in by bike. Gave blood at noon. Commuted home at 5. Yes, call me Stupid.

Halfway home, I stopped at a light, and I got really dizzy - had incredible tingling at the top of my head - vision went grey. I was propped up like a tripod over my bike - and I think that was the only think that kept me from keeling over right where I stood. When my vision cleared, I got off the bike, went behind a big electric box, which offered some shade (oh...did I mention it was also 95 degrees out and VERY humid?). I rested there until a coworker of mine came by on his bike. He waited with me until I felt well enough to go on and rode with me most of the way home (fortunately, this guy rides a bike at about a walking speed and this time it suited me fine!).

So..lesson learned....no matter how well you feel after giving blood (and I usually feel fine), don't exert yourself. I suppose everyone has a different "bounce back" rate - and perhaps we learn it through trial-and-error. You now know 2 days is not enough for you. I hope that doesn't make you less inclined to give blood. The benefits outweigh the inconveniences, in my humble opinion.