Giving Blood & Swimming Performance

It is said the old Soviet's used to draw blood before hard training and then replace it before big competitions. I think there are some cyclists who have done that more recently and been caught. Perhaps one named Tyler Hamilton!

It is said the old Soviet's used to draw blood before hard training and then replace it before big competitions.

Bad part about being good. While your plasma volume regenerates rather quickly, it takes about 1-2 months to get your oxygen carrying capacity back (red cell volume). My wife refuses to donate as she races but they continue to hound her because she has a rare blood type. My daughter donated last month, passed out, got an ambulance ride and a 2-inch gash on her forehead...2,000 plus dollars--all goes to prove that no good deed goes unpunished.

I donate blood every 56 days (for the most part). I can speak intelligently about how your body regenerates red blood cells relatively quickly after their loss, but I would just be pulling information out of my rear end! I do know that a diet high in iron and vitamin C is supposed to enable your body to replace red blood cells more rapidly. From what I read, the vitamin C promotes more rapid uptake of the iron, which is an important component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen! I'm sure that on some level, donating blood while trying to maintain aerobic conditioning has a negative impact, but I don't know that I've pushed my body to that level yet. Now I'll let people that know more than I do weigh in on the discussion of your theory.

I'm all for giving blood too, but I've been bad and haven't done it in a while... however, if you are giving blood and want to train well... make sure you get a tech who knows how to take blood. In college, I went in to give blood at a school function. After the tech had put the needle in my arm - blood was coming out very slowly and my arm hurt really bad! I told the tech that my arm really hurt - I'm usually a pretty tough person, but he was ticked off that I had mentioned that I was hurting. I will leave the next detail out because it's TMI, but what he did didn't fix the problem. I absolutely couldn't stand it anymore. He threw the free t-shirt on my stomach, I figured that it was my time to leave. After I got my glass of Tang or whatever it was - I told one of the people greeting the students donating. I was ticked. My arm hurt for days and my coach was mad at me for even donating. My arm had the worst looking bruise that I had ever seen. That first practice back, I couldn't use my arms... so I kicked. I was back to swimming afterwards - a little tender but I survived. So, I'm a little hesitant to go back and give blood. Not trying to scare you because I'm sure that is rare... but just make sure you go to a quality place to have it done. Keep up your fluids and eat well. ;) Yeah, if they don't stick that artery correctly you'll get pooling of the excess blood that doesn't get drawn out the tube. I give about 2 to 3 times a year and have rarely been victimized by a tech - twice I think over the last 20 or so years. I love the snacks afterwards. I can astound them with how much I'll consume of their "required" snacks.

I gave blood 2 days before swimming the mile at a meet, in the mistaken belief that everything would be back to normal! I was so dizzy and tired during the swim I almost DNF'd it! Now I time donations a little more carefully :doh:

A few weeks ago after a meet I went to give blood and they had trouble filling the bag. Knowing that I was going to give I paid attention to staying hydrated several hours beforehand but it must not have been enough. Then the tech kept adjusting the needle and my arm was black and blue for several days. It didn't hurt but it looked horrible. Otherwise i felt fine afterwards. Even though that happened I am going to try to donate on a more regular basis....

I'm all for giving blood too, but I've been bad and haven't done it in a while... however, if you are giving blood and want to train well... make sure you get a tech who knows how to take blood. In college, I went in to give blood at a school function. After the tech had put the needle in my arm - blood was coming out very slowly and my arm hurt really bad! I told the tech that my arm really hurt - I'm usually a pretty tough person, but he was ticked off that I had mentioned that I was hurting. I will leave the next detail out because it's TMI, but what he did didn't fix the problem. I absolutely couldn't stand it anymore. He threw the free t-shirt on my stomach, I figured that it was my time to leave. After I got my glass of Tang or whatever it was - I told one of the people greeting the students donating. I was ticked. My arm hurt for days and my coach was mad at me for even donating. My arm had the worst looking bruise that I had ever seen. That first practice back, I couldn't use my arms... so I kicked. I was back to swimming afterwards - a little tender but I survived. So, I'm a little hesitant to go back and give blood. Not trying to scare you because I'm sure that is rare... but just make sure you go to a quality place to have it done. Keep up your fluids and eat well. ;)

Yeah, if they don't stick that artery correctly you'll get pooling of the excess blood that doesn't get drawn out the tube. I give about 2 to 3 times a year and have rarely been victimized by a tech - twice I think over the last 20 or so years. I love the snacks afterwards. I can astound them with how much I'll consume of their "required" snacks. Yup, after this happened... I called my Mom and she said what you mentioned above... but, OMG, what he had to do to to try and "fix the problem" wasn't working and made it alot worse. I do really need to start giving blood again... maybe that will be a new years' resolution. As for the snacks... you can really hit the jackpot sometimes!