How Often Is a Good rate to Donate Blood?

**BigJ2003** · 07-15-2021, 10:38 PM

How Often Is a Good rate to Donate Blood? I know going and donating blood while on cycle and if ur just cruising after is a great healthy habit to have, but hoe frequent does everyone go?

**sully169** · 07-16-2021, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by BigJ2003

How Often Is a Good rate to Donate Blood? I know going and donating blood while on cycle and if ur just cruising after is a great healthy habit to have, but hoe frequent does everyone go?

The NY blood bank has requirements ... i believe its 8 weeks for whole blood and 12 weeks for double red cells ... not sure in other states/countries

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**warchild** · 07-16-2021, 08:33 AM

After every cycle or every 3-4 months on Trt is good rule of thumb

**paulzane** · 07-16-2021, 08:52 AM

In UK you cannot give blood if you have ever injected steroids !

**kloter1** · 07-16-2021, 08:55 AM

Since high blood pressure runs in my family, and using adhd medication my bp is high. I donate 4 times a year, once every quarter/3 months.

Donating on that schedule does so well for me i dont need BP medication.

**kloter1** · 07-16-2021, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by paulzane

In UK you cannot give blood if you have ever injected steroids!

Well yea, thats why you dont tell them. That question is asked in the paperwork here in the US as well.

**paulzane** · 07-16-2021, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by kloter1

Well yea, thats why you dont tell them. That question is asked in the paperwork here in the US as well.

I never said I tell them ....lol. Just stating the rules here!

**almostgone** · 07-16-2021, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by BigJ2003

How Often Is a Good rate to Donate Blood? I know going and donating blood while on cycle and if ur just cruising after is a great healthy habit to have, but hoe frequent does everyone go?

I generally try to let my Hct,Hgb, and platelet levels dictate the frequency. Chronic donation (especially by older guys) can lead to low ferritin levels.

**charger69** · 07-16-2021, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

I generally try to let my Hct,Hgb, and platelet levels dictate the frequency. Chronic donation (especially by older guys) can lead to low ferritin levels.

Just take more tren ..: problem solved.

I used to donate every 30 days when on high tren.
I went off tren and continued and ended up being on the other side and anemic.

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**almostgone** · 07-16-2021, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by charger69

Just take more tren..: problem solved.

I used to donate every 30 days when on high tren .
I went off tren and continued and ended up being on the other side and anemic.

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Tried that. Blood got all stubborn and pissed off? Wouldn't exit my veins.

**Honkey_Kong** · 07-16-2021, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by paulzane

In UK you cannot give blood if you have ever injected steroids!

You're not supposed to tell them that you inject drugs, be it gear or other kinds.

**charger69** · 07-16-2021, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Honkey_Kong

You're not supposed to tell them that you inject drugs, be it gear or other kinds.

Or use needles.

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**AR's King Silabolin** · 07-18-2021, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by BigJ2003

How Often Is a Good rate to Donate Blood? I know going and donating blood while on cycle and if ur just cruising after is a great healthy habit to have, but hoe frequent does everyone go?

Dave Palumbo says donating blood is not necessary. Dont recall, but steroidcaused high hct, does not create clots. Something else cause clots.
After that youtubeclip, my blooddonation interest has degraded.
One of the most knowledgeable members here, who got banned for other reasons, agreed with Dave also.

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**ZanderCage** · 07-21-2021, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by kloter1

Since high blood pressure runs in my family, and using adhd medication my bp is high. I donate 4 times a year, once every quarter/3 months.

Donating on that schedule does so well for me i dont need BP medication.

this was something i was worried about. I tend to run high BP as well. I was worried they wouldn't let you donate because of that???

**ZanderCage** · 07-21-2021, 04:38 PM

is it necessary to get blood test directly before or after giving blood?

**almostgone** · 07-23-2021, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by AR's King Silabolin

Dave Palumbo says donating blood is not necessary. Dont recall, but steroidcaused high hct, does not create clots. Something else cause clots.
After that youtubeclip, my blooddonation interest has degraded.
One of the most knowledgeable members here, who got banned for other reasons, agreed with Dave also.

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I'll disagree with such a broad statement by Palumbo just because everyone is not the same. He was probably referring to platelet count. It is relevant in regards to clot formation.

i'm not a fan of overdonation, it brings its own set of problems. However, I don't think it's very beneficial for the noncompetitive lifters and BB'ers to run around with 56+% Hct. Much wiser to stay below that. I think the upper end of the "normal" range is ~ 51%.

Edit: The reason I disagree is that approximately 8% of people of European/Caucasian descent have at least one copy of a genetic defect that encourages clotting. Approximately 1 in 5,000 have 2 copies of the gene defect known as Leiden Factor V. This defect affects the clotting cascade and causes much more rapid clotting.

Many people never know they have it until they suddenly start throwing clots.

**DinAZ** · 07-24-2021, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

I'll disagree with such a broad statement by Palumbo just because everyone is not the same. He was probably referring to platelet count. It is relevant in regards to clot formation.

i'm not a fan of overdonation, it brings its own set of problems. However, I don't think it's very beneficial for the noncompetitive lifters and BB'ers to run around with 56+% Hct. Much wiser to stay below that. I think the upper end of the "normal" range is ~ 51%.

Edit: The reason I disagree is that approximately 8% of people of European/Caucasian descent have at least one copy of a genetic defect that encourages clotting. Approximately 1 in 5,000 have 2 copies of the gene defect known as Leiden Factor V. This defect affects the clotting cascade and causes much more rapid clotting.

Many people never know they have it until they suddenly start throwing clots.

My dad died at 60 of blood clot in lung making him not be able to breathe (while in the hospital). He was sedentary so I don’t expect the same fate but I’d rather be proactive. So if donating MIGHT help me and might not I see no harm in doing it. There is a blood shortage right now so it is helping people, and may benefit my own health.

I read that donating blood regularly (2-4 times a year) can actually help keep hypertension down. I’m on linosipril BP med and I noticed a lot of other guys here have mentioned being on BP meds too. On top of that many steroids cause temporary raised BP while on them.

I gave blood yesterday after learning it might help my blood pressure. I hope it helps with clotting but even if it doesn’t, helping other people while potentially reducing my own blood pressure sounds pretty Fn good.

**99JT** · 07-24-2021, 08:38 AM

Depends on the person get blood work to determine if you have to. Personally I used to donate as often as I was aloud and ended up anemic.

**sully169** · 07-24-2021, 08:45 AM

Having a high HCT & HGB will not be the only reason you develop a clot but it puts you at higher chance to develop one. Increased red blood cells & platelets will aggregate (join together/clot) at high levels and if you are sedentary or have vessel diseases, dehydrated or many other issues, known or unknown, can also increase you odds of acquiring a blood clot. Also donating blood helps other people, it a win win situation ... please donate... you local ICU RN.

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**sully169** · 07-24-2021, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by DinAZ

My dad died at 60 of blood clot in lung making him not be able to breathe (while in the hospital). He was sedentary so I don’t expect the same fate but I’d rather be proactive. So if donating MIGHT help me and might not I see no harm in doing it. There is a blood shortage right now so it is helping people, and may benefit my own health.

I read that donating blood regularly (2-4 times a year) can actually help keep hypertension down. I’m on linosipril BP med and I noticed a lot of other guys here have mentioned being on BP meds too. On top of that many steroids cause temporary raised BP while on them.

I gave blood yesterday after learning it might help my blood pressure. I hope it helps with clotting but even if it doesn’t, helping other people while potentially reducing my own blood pressure sounds pretty Fn good.

You are absolutely right ... it can help with BP. Also helping other people when donating is a reason to do it by itself

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**almostgone** · 07-24-2021, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by DinAZ

My dad died at 60 of blood clot in lung making him not be able to breathe (while in the hospital). He was sedentary so I don’t expect the same fate but I’d rather be proactive. So if donating MIGHT help me and might not I see no harm in doing it. There is a blood shortage right now so it is helping people, and may benefit my own health.

I read that donating blood regularly (2-4 times a year) can actually help keep hypertension down. I’m on linosipril BP med and I noticed a lot of other guys here have mentioned being on BP meds too. On top of that many steroids cause temporary raised BP while on them.

I gave blood yesterday after learning it might help my blood pressure. I hope it helps with clotting but even if it doesn’t, helping other people while potentially reducing my own blood pressure sounds pretty Fn good.

Yep. Donation is generally a win-win situation. Just be aware that as you get older, is is easier to deplete your ferritin levels.I generally will pull an iron panel annually just because I fall into that "older" age group.

Sorry for the loss of your father. As I posted many people are genetically inclined to clotting/thrombophilia but never notice know it until it happens. I never knew it until my left arm became extremely swollen and an ultrasound revealed clotting. When they put me on anticoagulant therapy but could never get my PT-INR in range, they sent me to an oncologist for testing. Not going into the whole story, but I had a pacemaker for a brief period of time. When they removed it they said the leads had clots attached.

I generally feel better as well with keeping my Hct close to/ or withing range. I don't know if it's related to my reduced cardiac function, but I find I can breathe deeper and my BP does drop several points.

Again, don't let yourself over donate. Just because your Hgb and Hct is in range, it doesn't necessarily mean your ferritin, TIBC, UIBC, serum iron, etc is in range.

**Test Monsterone** · 07-24-2021, 08:56 PM

I'm on BP meds and don't notice an improvement in BP when I donate, however I feel much better. I donated at the end of a few cycles and within a week I felt more energetic and less lethargic. My EQ cycles, especially, made my blood thick and made me tired.

I did hear or read somewhere that donating too often can also affect the bone marrow, which is responsible for creating the red blood cells.

Also, check your iron levels. My hematocrit/hemoglobin and RBC were just within normal range but my Iron levels were high. High iron levels are no good to the organs, so keep an eye on that. I'm donating again Friday cause my iron levels were fucked right before starting my last mini cycles... so I'm sure it's even worse now.