Fear of Needles vs Fear of Low Performance – Biohacking Results
After a short commercial flight, crowded casinos, 3 full days of conferences, 4 late nights of rich food, alcoholic beverages, and interrupted sleep left me feeling less than stellar. What to do? Decide to try out the very accessible IV Hydration options in Las Vegas. Regenerate Me was a service nearby and with good reviews.
Choosing An IV Therapy Location
Options for finding and choosing a reputable IV and vitamin boosting service come in two main varieties. You can go to their location, or they can come to you for an additional fee. I chose to visit the clinic/spa style location as I wanted to see their facilities before making any final decisions regarding treatment.
Getting Your IV Remedy
Just as the name suggests, this is an intravenous flow of fluids and supplements directly into your blood system. Needles are always a little concerning, but the process was simple and very comfortable.
IV Therapy typically includes a combination of hydrating fluids and vitamins or amino acids. Commonly seen ingredients in an IV vitamin drip are vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and calcium. IV drips may also contain amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and antioxidants, such as glutathione. Most clinics will have a series of pre-made solutions or you can often choose a custom solution at check-in. Talk with your doctor about what nutrients you may be lacking.
For this initial therapy, I chose a fairly common and supportive recipe delivered via a 500 ml bag of sterile fluid with additions of Ascorbic Acid, B Complex, Methylcobalamin, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium and a few other ingredients.
After Effects of IV Hydration
The initial effects for the first hour after the IV were not very noticeable. I did feel a bit tired immediately afterward, but anecdotally consider that a result of slowing down after a mad pace set by the previous 3 days. I relaxed and caught up on a bit of emails and calls in my room with no concerns.
The next 24 hours included more time with colleagues in social settings, adult beverages, a regular night sleep, and a plane ride home. I did feel less tired and a more refreshed than normally at the end of a conference. After a regular morning routine including coffee and a light breakfast, I was focused and ready for a travel day. I enjoyed not having to worry about dehydration, and felt my body nearly recovered and ready for the flight and dealing with airports, delays, and the contaminants often encountered while traveling.
Long Term Results of IV Therapy
For the next several days, I feel happy with the results. I returned from a high-intensity conference with long days and longer nights, contact with many different people for networking, changes in environmental conditions and allergens, and suffered none of the usual exhaustion or illness typically following such a trip.