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Blood infusion..

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/12/2013 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone else have to get a blood infusion? My blood is 8.0 and I'm gonna be receiving a pint of blood.. I'm at the ER right now and they say my blood is low due to inflammation in my system.. I wanna know what to expect
Posted 2/12/2013 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had several infusions. It's not so bad and you'll feel better in the long run. It will take some time for each pint, hang in there!
Posted 2/12/2013 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
i've had 3 in the past few months- my last one was a few days ago. it feels fine. the first one i had was a little painful because i was super dehydrated, too, and wasn't on fluids very long before the transfusion. the one i just had didn't hurt at all because my nurse dripped it VERY slowly and i was also getting fluids. the slower the blood drips, the less is hurts.

each transfusion usually drips for about 4 hours at the longest depending on how you feel. the first two i had were done in 6 hours combined, but i liked the slow dripping 4 hours one much better.

the worst my blood was this past week was 6.8 and now it's at 9.9 after one bag of blood. it definitely helps your hemoglobin levels go up.
Posted 2/12/2013 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I wish you will get better.

Good Luck!
Posted 2/12/2013 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Well the bloods being dripped in, it's been about 15 minutes, no side effects or anything so far, so.. So far so good.. Does anyone know how much better you usually feel after your blood goes from a 8.0 to putting a pint in? What changes should you notice?
Posted 2/12/2013 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, I'm surprised that a lot of people get/are recommended transfusions at 8.0 levels. I went down to around a 4.0 before I felt any of the effects and needed a transfusion. I suppose that is because I'm normally an 8.0 and never anything higher?

It depends on the size of your veins. If you have tiny veins, the slower the better, as was for me. Also, make sure that the bag of blood isn't too cold because that also caused me some pain. Remember to keep your arm straight and have something to keep you entertained! Mine took 2 hrs to infuse (or somewhere around there).

Good luck and I hope you feel better! :)
Posted 2/12/2013 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I'm only getting the infusion because I have to get a procedure done that requires a higher blood number, with mine being 8.0 they want me at least up to a 9.0 for this procedure.. I lost a lot of blood due to my colitis which brought me to this low number but right now I'm treating a heart condition that is yet unknown due to a possible side effect of asacol.. I haven't lost any blood in my stool lately, my body is slowly rebuilding the blood cells, but they need to get this count up quick for this procedure so the infusion is necessary.. Does this new blood stay in you for life unless you lose it? Or is this a more temporary thing?
Posted 2/12/2013 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
kataryzna, 8.0 is a low hemoglobin level for a man. since women can get away with that amount (we have less blood in our bodies), we wouldn't need a transfusion at that level. normal hemoglobin for men is 13.8-17.2 while for a woman it's 12.1-15.1

you-see, the blood is yours now! it mixes with your own so it's not like if you bled out your colon, it would be all of someone else's. obviously, it's not good to need blood tranfusions since it means you are bleeding somewhere in your body. you have to figure out the cause of that to avoid future transfusions. it's great that transfusions are available when you need them, but definitely don't rely on them.
Posted 2/13/2013 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
ok... just found your new thread. yes. i also had to have a blood infusion at this time... in the hospital with the pericarditis, newly diagnosed, and in a severe flare. The blood infusion makes you feel better bc you are weak from losing so much blood in the stool.

how are you feeling? what is the procedure?

Thoughts and prayers.
Posted 2/13/2013 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
yes the blood was cold for me as well -that was agony, why the hell can't they warm it up?
I spent 12 creepy hours thinking about some bum's cold blood slowling going into my veins -brrrrrr
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