Transfusion

[Chaco]

I'm curious how many required blood transfusion in the days following their surgery. On the second day, a nurse was helping me into the bathroom when I blacked out. I ended up getting 2 units of blood.

The told me that I had lost quite a bit via the hemovac (sp?) rather than from the surgery itself. I did feel noticebly stronger after receiving the blood. I had not banked my own blood, so thank you Red Cross. (Not given opportunity to bank it.)

Anyhow, I did receive a CBC the second week and was within normal range...but now, at six weeks, I have a debilitating fatigue. I am going to see my PCP this week to ask for further testing, but was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

 

[Texas]

I may have only seen 1-2. wow. I am glad you are doing better...That must have been a scare....Please let us know what hes says, how you are doing....

 

[JudyS]

Hi
I required a transfusion after my hip replacement. I had banked my own blood so that's what I got. I was still in the anemic catergory after but am seeing a hematologist every 3 months anyway.
You are very wise to keep track of it yourself and get it checked.
My doc had watched my levels so he decided to give it to me versus the drama you had to endure!!!!
judy

 

[Josephine]

After my TKR, they recycled the blood out of the drains into me. I ended up having around 1 litre. But generally (in the UK anyway) it's prefered not to give blood unless absolutely necessary for reasons of the risk of reactions and for stock problems. Keeping the blood bank supplied is currently becoming something of a problem. And there are alternatives like volume expanders which increase the overall blood volume without adding any blood cells. Sometimes that's all a patient needs and sometimes they need more!

 

[backbay38]

I had my own blood from the drain in my knee after the operation dripped back into my vein. Don't know the amount but the nurses ultimately filled 3 regular drip bags. That stopped of course on the 3rd day when I went home. I also had to take iron pills for 2 weeks before the operation and for 3 months after. A lot of people on this forum have had to take them. Constipation city!!! But I never felt particularly weak and I;'m a semi vegitarian -- never eat red meat -- only a little chicken, fish now and then.

 

[lakelover]

I had my blood recycled back into me from my drain. I think they did two containers full but I am not sure how big they were. I was still a little low on red cells when I went home but they said not to take iron pills, rather eat a good diet.

 

[Josephine]

The drainage bottles usually have a maximum capacity of 500mls but staff often put them up before they reach capacity.

 

[Simon]

I had banked 2 units before surgery. Like others, I received what they had saved from surgery but ended up needing to have both the units I had banked reinfused.

It is very good to followup. You should also make sure that in addition to the regular CBC they also check Iron, Iron binding capacity and Transferrin. I have a tendency for anemia but the CBC does not always show abnormal results while the iron tests come back low.

Simon

 

[FrogFeathers]

I had an underlying problem that caused me to need two units of blood about five days after my surgery. I didn't bank any of my own blood because I didn't know I could or that I'd even need to.

They checked my hemo-what-ever-its-called and it was at an 8 (normal is around 15). That afternoon, I was lying in bed and the occupational therapist came in to do some upper body exercises and used the bed control to sit me up. I almost blacked out from that motion. The doctor was standing right there when it happened (he was telling me about the transfusion process). So, yeah, I needed it! I asked for "radioactive blood" so I could have super-powers after it was done, but they told me they were all out. ;)

I did make everyone who said the word "blood" say it in Bela Lugosi's voice (and shockingly enough, they did!).

***Anyone grossed out by female reproductive issues should stop reading now*** You've been warned!

My underlying condition was caused by the Mirena IUD. I've been having peri-menopause symptoms since I was 34 years old (I'm 39 now). The VA hospital sort of strung me along for a few years and finally, I demanded they put me on birth control pills or SOMETHING to help with the symptoms I was having. They denied the BC pills, but approved the Mirena IUD (which is a plastic, hormone-laced intra-uterine device). It slowly releases hormones over 5 years. They put it in on New Year's Eve and I spotted EVERY single day... I also had two really disgusting periods that lasted almost two weeks each. When that wasn't happening, I kept spotting. It doesn't sound like much, except for the fact I had been doing it every day for more than three months. So, when I had my knee surgery, I was already low on blood.

I had an appointment about a month after my surgery at the VA hospital. I griped at them about it happening and they agreed it "could have been" the cause. (I was angry, because I lost two days of PT because of it).

 

[JudyS]

I also had the recycled blood drainage device and took some really heavy duty iron for the weeks before surgery. Still needed my blood transfused though.
judy

 

[Judles]

I banked and needed my 2 units of blood during my surgery!

 

[Linda2]

I banked two units for my first surgery and didn't need a drop. This time I'm going to take my chances. I have never been anemic in my life--just lucky.

 

[Judles]

Nothing wrong with THAT, Linda!!!