RE: Thanks and question about blood donation

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I was asked to give one unit of blood per

surgery. Normally they have you do it a few weeks before hand so that you can

rebuild your blood supply. With my first one he didn’t need to give me

any at all, the second one he didn’t but gave me some shot before hand

that over did the blood flow lol, I have NO idea what the name of it was but I

do know that the gave them to me every other day, for a week before hand and

one the day of.

Tiffinee

From: Kathy

[mailto:k_miller_2000@...]

Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004

7:09 AM

Joint Replacement

Subject:

Thanks and question about blood donation

I would first like to say thanks to everyone for posting such helpful

advice and for telling of their experiences. I am

getting ready for

my hip replacement and this has really helped me

prepare a little

more mentally for it. Thanks so much!

I have a question about blood. I was told I may

need a tranfusion

during surgery I read one posting about someone

needing blood,is this

common should I just expect that. My husband is a

universal donor and

is willing to give his blood for my surgery. Did

anyone autodonate

their blood or have someone give directly for you?

My doctor is

discouraging me from giving my own because it will

put me in an

anemic (sp) state. Anyone with experience in this

let me know!

Thank you

KAthy

[Guest guest]

No, it's not unusual to need blood. I couldn't autodonate the

necessary 2 units before my 1st hip surgery (too anemic for the 2nd

unit) so I just used donor blood. I had no one that I knew with the

correct type of blood to donate for me. They actually transfused the

blood (2 units - 1 mine, 1 someone else) the evening of surgery day,

not during the surgery itself. On anemic persons or those whose

religion precludes their receiving someone else's blood, the drug

Procrit is sometimes used to beef things up pre surgery. It was

suggested for me but insurance wouldn't pay unless there was a

diagnosis of anemia. It's a very expensive drug. I made do for my

second surgery by taking iron supplements for 2 weeks before first

donation and barely managed to keep the Ht up to the minimum level

required. Lots of beef and spinach and vit C and Total cereal.

[Guest guest]

I got 5 pints of blood: 3 during surgery and 2 on two days after. I

autodonated 2 pints ahead of time which is the most they would let me

do. I thought my hemoglobin was on the low side but my doc OKed it.

If I had known I would need so much I might have tried to have people

I know donate for me. My surgeon told me my blood loss was much more

than normal. I've heard 2 pints is not that unusual. It is nothing

to worry about however. Oh, and I took iron and Vitamin B12 for a

month before and am still taking it.

Janet

> I would first like to say thanks to everyone for posting such

helpful

> advice and for telling of their experiences. I am getting ready for

> my hip replacement and this has really helped me prepare a little

> more mentally for it. Thanks so much!

>

> I have a question about blood. I was told I may need a tranfusion

> during surgery I read one posting about someone needing blood,is

this

> common should I just expect that. My husband is a universal donor

and

> is willing to give his blood for my surgery. Did anyone autodonate

> their blood or have someone give directly for you? My doctor is

> discouraging me from giving my own because it will put me in an

> anemic (sp) state. Anyone with experience in this let me know!

>

> Thank you

> KAthy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

I went anaemic during my THR last year, and needed 2 pints.. This slowed

down my recovery and they wouldnt let me out of bed for 3 days after the

op.. I had asked if I should donate prior to this, but they recommended

against it.. Will have to trade my partner in for someone with a more useful

blood type in case i have to go through it again!

Caroline

>From: " Kathy " <k_miller_2000@...>

>Reply-Joint Replacement

>Joint Replacement

>Subject: Thanks and question about blood donation

>Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 15:08:56 -0000

>

>I would first like to say thanks to everyone for posting such helpful

>advice and for telling of their experiences. I am getting ready for

>my hip replacement and this has really helped me prepare a little

>more mentally for it. Thanks so much!

>

>I have a question about blood. I was told I may need a tranfusion

>during surgery I read one posting about someone needing blood,is this

>common should I just expect that. My husband is a universal donor and

>is willing to give his blood for my surgery. Did anyone autodonate

>their blood or have someone give directly for you? My doctor is

>discouraging me from giving my own because it will put me in an

>anemic (sp) state. Anyone with experience in this let me know!

>

>Thank you

>KAthy

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi! My name is Barbara and I am scheduled for a TJR on February 19th. I

have just had the class and done all the pre-op tests or procedures this

week. Monday, I am giving blood. I'm a nurse and know that bone

procedures can have more blood loss than normal abdominal surgery. I am

choosing to do it myself because I know what's in my blood which is the

lowest risk blood for me to take. I would happily take my spouse's blood

and in an emergency would take whatever they have. My husband's old boss

just died of hepatitis C at age 50 which he got from a transfusion 20 years

ago during jock surgery. Current blood products are supposed to be

screened for Hep C and HIV but who knows if there is any breakdown

procedures or what other nasty thing can be given to the donee from that

supposedly safe blood.

Regards, Barbara