Anyone else gain a little weight after giving blood?

[nytemare]

Not immediately after, but in the week following?

It's kind of strange, but I've been on a weight loss program for a bit, and every time my work has a blood drive, I gain a pound or so afterward. I end up losing it back, it is just weird.

Maybe the body retains the water I drink more after donating.

:shrug:

[Dystopian]

1. I'm sorry I can't answer your question...

I have no idea. I hope someone can answer your question.
I saw this yesterday, so had to find this post.
I want to thank you for being a blood donor....
nytemare...you have a heart of gold...
:loveya:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8428731

peace~

[PBS Poll-435]

2. How many cookies/cups of punch did they give you?

[nytemare]

18. LOL, I had two cups of apple juice

And no cookies, they are about 200 calories each. I did go to my office and have a little 100 calorie chocolaty treat, though.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear nytemare!

I used to be a blood bank RN, and I have never heard of such a thing. I'm not doubting you...

It's possible that your body is retaining the water and such that you drink after donating...

How long does this pound persist? And does it happen right after donating? I mean, like in the next 24 hours?

:hi:

[Dystopian]

5. Dear Peggy....

A blood bank RN.....oh my!:hug:
My daughter's life depends on blood donors, and because of her illness, she became an RN at the age of 36!

I love you....
:loveya:

peace~

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Ah, my dear Dystopian...

And how your kind words touch my heart!

I am retired now...

You must be so very proud of your daughter!

I am, as well...

:loveya:

[Skittles]

7. I am tired of those vampires, Miss Peggy

they give me the same post-donation speech every two weeks - I tell them I'm going to go smoke a cig, drink a scotch and f*** a drug user - same reaction every time: "I'M NOT LISTENING TO YOU SUSAN!!!" :D

[Pierre.Suave]

8. Do prescription drugs count?

Cuz I take some of those? I will even bring the good scotch...

:P

[Skittles]

11. depends on the prescription

anti-biotics for exmple, you'd be deferred :D

[Pierre.Suave]

17. No Anti-Biotics

I am Preferred!

;)

[Skittles]

21. OK, I get your drift now

:7

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I hear ya!

I know the donors get soooooo tired of that speech!

:D

[Skittles]

12. I have to tell them every two weeks I haven't been to Cameroon

or contracted mad cow from England :D

[Lil Missy]

14. I don't go to THAT much trouble. I usually just faint.

Then I gotta have my smoke.

[nytemare]

19. I comes about 2-3 days after I donate.

Every time I've donated in the last year or so, I've noticed this.

Most strange, indeed.

Usually, after a week and a half, the weight starts coming back off.

I don't change my dieting and exercise habits, but I do drink a bit more water after donating, and I usually drink about 80-90 oz of water a day.

[Pierre.Suave]

4. I think it is very possible for your weight

to vary as much as a pound, every day. I bet if you weighed yourself once every hour for a week, you would notice it.

[sohndrsmith]

10. I can't give blood so I don't know about that (my blood doesn't clot). But as far as

fluctuating weight is concerned - mine can go up or down as much as 3-4 lbs from one day to another depending on several factors (time of day, food ingested, digestion, fluid intake, etc.).

Your body may very well be reacting to a change in blood volume (I'm not a nurse, I'm just guessing). As you know, though, from being in a weight loss program, the body doesn't like being starved, and will hunker down and conserve (making yet another argument against rapid or extreme weight loss) so I wouldn't be surprised if your body might be doing what it needs to do - which may present in fluid retention or something - I don't know.

Unless you give blood on a too-frequent basis, is it something to really be concerned about? Especially if it resolves itself... (you're probably just curious about everything, like me). If I remember, I'll ask my hematologist when I finally get one again. : )

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear sohndrsmith!

Blood can only be donated every 56 days. That's to protect the donor...

:hi:

[sohndrsmith]

16. well, since I can't do it ever, I am not well informed. : ) That makes sense, though

and I was quite sure I was exaggerating in the extreme. That said - 56 days is not an insignificant amount of time, so maybe the body does react in different ways as it recoups. I dunno...

Giving blood is a wonderful thing to do - I'm grateful for everyone who does it. Transfusions saved my life after a bad accident - so I'm living proof that blood is a wonderful thing to give! : )

[Skittles]

22. those vampires suck my platelets every two weeks

:mad:

[nytemare]

20. I'm not concerned, just interested.

It is a minor annoyance, since I am trying to lose weight that I seem to lose a week to the twilight zone every two months, but it starts to come off again.

[Lil Missy]

15. Probably some water weight, but I've never kept track. I just know, ..

I drink LOTS of OJ before I give, and flood myself with water, OJ, milk, after that. Otherwise I'd get sick.

I'm sure I must gain some water weight. I drink several glasses of water and OJ before I give blood, so that means I won't faint.

Then I flood myself with more fluids for a couple days. That has to cause some weight gain.