I have a friend of a friend who needs blood platelets. First, what’s the difference between giving blood and giving blood platelets? What type of effect does this have on the body as far as recooperating? I seem to remember reading somewhere it can take a couple weeks or more for the body to fully recover. I have no problem with needles and I’m more than happy to give my blood if it helps somebody but I don’t want it to effect my athletic performance. I have a century coming up this weekend and a triathlon the following weekend. How will giving blood or blood platelets affect my body in endurance events a week or two later?
First you give blood then the hospital lab processes your blood so that it is separated into the RBCs, platelets, and other elements. So you only need to donate once for our friend to get the platelets. Labs will never get enough blood for you to feel any effects (typically less than 500cc). Immediate effects for some persons are dizziness and nausea brought about by the loss of blood volume, which is why people are commonly given chicken soup and crackers after to rehydrate and get some sodium. But this doesn’t even happen to most people. You should be able to get up and about immediately after donating. The amount that will be taken from you is not significant enough to cause any sort of ill effects especially if you’re not racing until a week or two after. You should probably skip your day’s workout though. If there are any potential complications, these will be effectively screened beforehand by the survey and physical examination prior to your donation and you won’t be allowed to donate.
Give it up! You’ll never know when you’ll need it too:-)
Kim
Donating whole blood: they stick a needle in your vein, bleed out a pint or two, give you a cookie and juice, and send you on your way. You’re only on the needle for a few minutes. You won’t be able to donate again for 8 weeks (most likely).
Donating platelets: they pull out your blood, spin out the platelets, and dump what they don’t need back in. This can be a 2-arm procecure (output in one arm, input in the other), or can also be done with just one arm (single needle) if need be, although that takes longer. This procedure will have you on the needles for over an hour (possibly quite a bit over). Obviously a much better yield of platelets from this procedure than from whole blood if platelets is all you’re interested in. You can donate this way much more frequently than whole blood.
Not sure about relative recovery risks/times.
It normally takes me two weeks after giving blood untill I feel really strong again. At 3 to 4 weeks I’m back at 100%. I wouldn’t have a problem doing a long training ride the week after but a race is pushing it. The platelet donation sounds different to me, I haven’t done that one.
If this person’s situation is a matter of life or death then you need to do the right thing and give blood if possible but don’t let them pressure you into doing it, it is a personal decision. If this person is getting elective surgery then getting blood is their responsibility. Sorry to be so cold hearted about that.
My 2 cents
jaretj
How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise MY hand!
I am giving platelets (via pheresis) in two weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Here’s more info: http://www.pleasegiveblood.org/donating/apheresis.php
I’ve done a lot of both types of donations. While pheresis (platelet donation) is a lot more invasive there is virtually no recovery time required. Occasionally, they will also harvest plasma but you can generally replenish plasma levels within a day or so. I believe the Red Cross will let you donate platelets once a week if you are so inclined.
Donating whole blood is a simple and easy procedure but since they take your red blood cells along with everything else, the recovery takes much longer. At least a few days if not a week. That’s why the Red Cross makes you wait like 8 weeks between whole blood donations.
If you are choosing between the 2, pheresis will be a much better choice for recovery.
Thanks for all the informed responses. I’ve decided I’ll do it but wait till after the upcoming events.
I am giving platelets (via pheresis) in two weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes.
It was an easy trip but far from quick. I got there around 2:30. There was the usual blood donor questionnaire, BP, etc. plus another test to make sure my platelet level was high enough (37% to qualify, I scored 43%) I got into the chair about ten of three. Only one needle - blood was taken out, spun inside the machine, then pumped back in, on about a 2:00 cycle. The procedure took about 90 minutes or so (I got to watch “Austin Powers in Goldmember”) followed by a 10 minute “shut-down sequence” After the traditional post-donation cookies and juice, I was out of there about 5:00 - I stuck around to chat up a cutie tech There was no grogginess, dizziness or nausea post-wise. The only unusual effect was a tingly / buzzy feeling in my lips / mouth as the anti-coagulant dripped through … something related to the calcitate??? As far as training … I’m taking today off, Friday’s my other off day, so I’ll have a weekend update on Monday.