I’ve had two blood transfusions in the last two weeks, and I thought it might be interesting to describe them and their effects. On both occasions I was given two units of red blood cells to counteract a low blood count, whose effects were mostly that I had no energy at all and was constantly tired.
Before the transfusion started I was asked whether I had had one before, and on the second occasion I was then asked if I’d had any adverse reaction to it. In fact I had no bad reactions either time, which is a relief. I was told to let the nursing staff know if I had any sort of reaction at all, including, but not limited to shortness of breath or tingling fingers or scalp. It was a little worrying at the time, but I think they were being very careful indeed.
Each unit was delivered through a pumped drip, over a period of between one and a half and two hours. I was surprised that it would take so long to deliver such a relatively small amount, i.e. 280 ml or about half a pint, but it seems that this is normal. Occasionally they’ll deliver a unit in one hour, but longer is more normal.
During the first transfusion I did find that the fingers on my left hand swelled quite a lot, but I had been on a saline drip overnight that had delivered 2 litres of liquid into my bloodstream, so it really wasn’t surprising that I was a little bloated at the end of all that. The second transusion caused no such problems.
Afterwards I felt better almost immediately. I was a lot more alert, and felt much more like getting up and doing things. Gillian said that my colour had also improved. In fact, after the first transfusion my colour was really quite high for about a day. The effects of the first transfusion lasted about a week and were probably countered somewhat by the rough time I had during the last week. I’m still feeling the positive effects of the second transfusion, although perhaps not as strongly as I did yesterday, which was such a productive day. If you’re feeling low and without energy, then a transfusion is highly to be recommended. It did me a power of good.
{ 15 } Comments
This post made me smile. I’m a regular blood donor, but to the extent I think about where it goes at all, I suppose I kind of imagine blood mostly being used for transfusions after accidents or for operations, where the recipient is unconscious of its effect at the time (however grateful they may afterwards be for the knowledge that they had it).
It’s great that someone’s trip to the local church hall for a brief lie down followed by a free cup of tea and biscuit was able to give you such a boost! Maybe I’ve been lucky enough to do that for someone too…
So glad to hear you are back at home and relatively pain-free. It’s a great relief
rd, I used to give blood too, and it felt a little as though I was being repaid for my past donations. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give blood again, so I hope I don’t go into blood debt. 🙂
Alan, it certainly is a relief. For many reasons.
Hi Chris 🙂
Very happy to hear you are feeling better at the moment. So unlike a certain French, err I mean, Belgium detective you are now talking about your little red cells 🙂
Its an odd question but: do they warm it up a bit first?
Your reply post 3 above made me smile, it was the reference to a blood debt – like Tony Hancock’s last lines in the blood donor: they’re just like any other bank really…
Dont know if you’ve noticed but in the past year I have taken to wearing my blood donation pin on my jacket lapel – forgive me if we have discussed this but remembering things isn’t my forte. I wear it because I feel that it highlights a social responsibility to others. Like rd above I imagine blood ends up in people in an emergency esp. as I am O- Its silly really but its nice to hear about when someone you care about receives some.
Yours,
N
N, I wasn’t aware that they warmed it first. In fact, I can distinctly recall them talking about getting it out of the fridge just before putting the bag up on the drip stand.
And I did notice the blood donation pin. Fortunately I managed to give blood ten times before they stopped me, so I have one too, which I wear proudly and hope that people will see, too. But my blood group is a very boring A+.
It’s good to hear you’re back out. I too used to donate blood but have stopped because of an unfortunate fainting episode (at the Clinique counter in Debenhams!) Have been wary ever since. Hasn’t stopped me buying Clinique though
Lots of love
Soph xxx
Sophie, if you’re going to come over all faint, I suppose that somewhere with medical expertise like a clinique is probably the best place 🙂
As another friend and a blood donor, lets also have my say. Chris, are all your friends blood donors? Is that a requirement? Agree with others its nice to know of the benefits. Amused by the comment re the little red cells.
And that the only famous Belgian I can name is fictional!
All the best
Q
Q, I think that quite a few of my friends are blood donors, but certainly not all of them.
And surely you’ve heard of Hergé, who wrote the Tintin books?
I have also given blood and received some (following childbirth, which it is not uncommon I was then told). I remember being worried about lots of bubbles in the blood injected but apparently they are safe!
I noticed the odd bubble or two in some of the drips and injections I was given, and was told the same thing, so I guess it must be true. After all, we’re both still here 🙂
Hergé (not his real name – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hergé) is one famous real Belgian. Jean-Claude Van Damme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Van_Damme) is another… for any more you’ll have to refer to http://www.famousbelgians.net/ 😉
Thanks, David, I didn’t know about that site. Is it quite a small site? 🙂
Re – Belgians – Plastic Bertrand. Beat that! All without the help of a website mind. I am unrecognised genius.
Soph
No longer unrecognized, oh genius! You’ll be famous as a result of posting on my illustrious and widely read blog. Maybe 🙂