I have to have some blood tests taken in the morning. Is it ok to swim right after? I read online that you shouldn't swim due to possible infection in at the needle site. Sounds ridiculous, but want to be careful.
I usually swim (or otherwise work out) before blood tests.
I'm on a blood thinner, so the puncture site can sometimes look pretty bad after. Whether or not it is safe, it just doesn't look right.
Swimming the next day has never been a problem for me either.
(but I've learned to wait a few days before doing arm curls :afraid:)
I mean... I imagine it would be the same as any other wound/opening in the skin. If you're comfortable swimming with a cut/puncture, go ahead. If not, sit out.
I think the "health department" answer would be that you're not supposed to use a public pool with open wounds. Given the cuts and scrapes of daily life, I think most of us would be hard pressed to use the pool half the time if everybody took that advice completely literally.
Thanks, JP. I am very comfortable swimming with a cut. I mean, it's not like the needle is going through my arm, right? Dr. Google is a blessing and a curse. :D
The needles used to draw blood (for ordinary testing) are quite small - I would be less worried about infection, and more about other factors like if you tend to get dizzy after having blood drawn, or you're having a large amount drawn. (Or you're donating blood). Be sure to drink plenty of water (this makes your veins easier to find too) and maybe have a suitable snack before you swim and you should be good to go.
