local chapter of the vampires called me for an appt.

[smilingcat]

So I donated blood for the second time and I felt really weak most of the day yesterday. Oh I donated whole blood not the other one where they just take platelets.

How long will it take for me to feel nermal again? And how long should I be eating extra servings of broccoli, spinach and other dark green for the iron and extra protein? A week, two weeks? I like dark greens but I do tire of it after a while. I like variety in my food.

Do I need to go overboard with protein like dinining and pigging out at Churrascaria (brazilian bbq)? There are things I don't know and right now I'm just wayy too busy to be looking up. I'm being lazy. Like some opinion from Doctors, nurses and dieticians here.

thank you,
smilingcat

[gnat23]

I do whole blood donation and usually feel right as rain about 24 hours after. Everyone is different tho!

My recommendation is prenatal vitamins every day (my iron finally went from "borderline" to "wow!") and take in more water before and after your donations.

-- gnat!

[wolfak]

I donate fairly regularly for whole blood - 4-5 x yearly. What works for me is just filling up on stuff for the entire evening after. Liquids, rest, and a good hearty meal. I'm usually good the next day. My mom on the other hand sound like she's like you - it wipes her out completely. It's only your second time, keep donating, see what you can do that works for you. Lots of people have bad experiences and never go back again, but if you've got blood, people can use it.

[RedCanny]

If you do any hard cardio (intervals), you might expect some weaker-than-normal performance.

I've given blood many times, but the last time I gave it was while I was deep in training for a (running) race, and it was just a day before a planned tough workout. I had a much tougher time that normal, in that workout! My HR went higher than normal, and I couldn't go as fast as I'd hoped. They tell you not to do anything strenuous for 24 hrs after giving blood- but I think they should change that recommendation to "three days following giving blood."

That silliness was over in just less than a week. Not a huge problem- but boy, it surprised me. Glad my race wasn't that weekend!

[Aquila]

I donate regularly, too. I feel fine if I drink lots of water and eat decently. I take a women's multi-vitamin (with iron) regularly; when I don't, my iron runs just too low to donate.

I feel a little slow and out of things for a day, then I'm good to go.

The cookies at the donation center have no calories on the day you donate!!

[beccaB]

I get weird after giving blood. I try not to do it before or after I have something big going on. I fainted once a few hours after giving, right in the middle of some intense stress and marathon training.

[Andrea]

How long will it take for me to feel nermal again?

I dunno... I heard that Garfield shipped her off to Borneo again


hehehe... sorry, couldn't resist. Sounds like everyone else had your question answered so I had nothing useful to add.

[beccaB]

hahahha