Donating Blood & Diving

[tstocum]

How long after donating blood should you wait before diving again? I have several dives planned in the near future and want to allow enough time in between donating and diving to prevent any possible problems.

Thanks.

 

[lowviz]

Here is my experience with same: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/269567-donating-blood.html

Always interested in other views, good question.

<For me> 1 week is more than enough.

Keep donating.

 

[DocVikingo]

Here is my experience with same: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/269567-donating-blood.html

Wow, lowvis, that posting sure got highjacked and went far afield ; )

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[lowviz]

Wow, lowvis, that posting sure got highjacked and went far afield ; )

Regards,

DocVikingo

Yeah, but by passing on censoring the whole trainwreck, I made a couple of good friends.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi tstocum,

Divers Alert Network (DAN) is currently recommending 72 hours between donation and diving, and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) between at least 48 to 72 hours.

However, I am unable to discern the basis for those recommendations. We all seem to be in agreement that fluid replacement is the critical matter following donation, and if one's intake of liquids is appropriate in quantity and type this should be a non-issue after 24 hours. Continued appropriate fluid intake during a post-donation dive trip should preclude any increased risk of DCS due to dehydration.

This leaves only the red blood cell (RBC) and associated hemoglobin (Hgb) levels. As I understand it, the drop in RBCs from a routine donation is quite small. In my limited appreciation of hematology, it would seem an individual going in with a normal hematocrit and hemoglobin level (which is checked at the time of donation) should at 24 hours post-donation have sufficient oxygen carrying/waste gas removal capacity to engage in reasonably vigorous physical activity without fatigue. If they do not, I am not sure that the replacement of RBCs that occurs within the recommended max 72-hour wait would be sufficient to significantly attenuate the problem.

Obviously the diver should be otherwise physically fit and psychologically up for the activity.

Regards,

DocVikingo


This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

 

[matthewmark_john]

I have no medical or theoretical basis for this, but eating red meat and drinking lots of water seems to shorten the "weak" period for me. Was recommended by a friend years ago and really seemed to work. Of course, this is just anecdotal, and it doesn't even answer your question about time intervals, but I think your diet in the interim may affect the wait time substantially. Going this route, I'm usually good to go in 48 hours. My .02, YMMV.

 

[tstocum]

Thanks all! It's been awhile since I've donated blood and have never donated in conjunction with diving so I wasn't sure if there was a recommended wait time. I'm pretty fit and eat a healthy diet so I'll monitor how I feel and plan my diving accordingly.

@lowviz - thanks for sharing the link. I tried doing a search, but I guess I just don't have the hang of moving through message boards.

 

[lowviz]

....//...@lowviz - thanks for sharing the link. I tried doing a search, but I guess I just don't have the hang of moving through message boards.

Don't sweat it in the least!

You are a regular blood donor. You get a pass for this one!

 

[tstocum]

Sadly, this will be the first time I'll be donating blood in quite a while. I had gained a lot of weight and wasn't really taking care of myself like I should for a number of years (went back to college, studying for professional license, etc.) so I was eating a lot of fast food and was pretty inactive. After I finished my degree and passed my exams I decided to concentrate on my health and lost the weight and completely revamped by eating habits. Now that I'm back on track health wise and after watching a news broadcast that mentioned how seriously low the blood supply was, especially Type O Negative, I decided I should start donating again. The news broadcast prompted my question because I wasn't sure how the two would mix.

Now that I have some information I can easily plan to do both.

Thanks again.