Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Dear Ann, While I donated 4 units each time for each of my three surgeries( one decompression and two revision) I always went beyond those four units in blood loss, and had to have donor blood too. I have had through the years over twenty units of donated blood, and have done fine, all tests are good. I would check with Dr. LaGrones patients, but they got me up within hours of me being awake after each surgery. The first time up was a little scary, I was freaking, but actually it went very well, just truly exhausting. Talk it out with the PT people, they don't want you to be affraid. Tell them your previous experience, aand hopefully they will be understanding and take it slow and easy. Always remember you are in control and if anything doesn't feel right or if you are not being listened to, ask to have other techs deal with you, or ask for a patient advocate, usually things get better real quick if you do that. Also if you can have somebody with you, do, you will get better care I believe, and your not trying to deal with things through the fog of med's and just having surgery. Hope that helps! Colorado Springs [ ] blood dontion I have just read a lot of older messages on autologus blood. I failed to begin iron supplements before I donated. Just a "brain drain". The facility I went to tests your iron levcel before they draw blood. The first time I went my iron level was 33. Apparently it gets ify when the level is below 35. They had to call the medical director and Dr. LaG's office. told them to go ahead. I began taking iron. The following week my iron level was 31. They didn't even call the doctor. Just sent me home. Then today the level was 31 again. They wouldn't draw. Said I was too anemic. I am not concerned about donor blood. I really think it's safe because of all the checks. I have a call in to , but what I am wondering if low iron levels can halt surgery. Has that happened to anyone?I also have a question about getting up the first tine. I was in ICU afterward. I was on morpine and still loopy from the surgical anesthesia. A few hours after I was in ICU, two physical therapists came in and said that I had to stand. It had to do with blood clots, etc. It was horrible. One got on my left and one on my right and pulled me up to a standing postion. I remember yelling, "No! No No!" and crying uncontrolably. Through the mediciel haze it still hurt terribly. I'd like to know what the procedure is with Dr. LaGrone's patients. When are you expected to get up? Thanks, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Ann, I don't know about the blood question (my surgeon doesn't require self-donations). About the standing stuff - my surgery will be on a Monday and my surgeon likes to have his patients sit up and try to walk by either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on how they're doing. I think it's horrible that they had PT up there forcing you to stand up so quickly and against your will. I hope that you will strongly voice your concerns about this to Dr. LaGrone, as well as to the pre- op people, and anyone else you run into. If you're having someone stay with you in the hospital, be sure to let them know as well that you are concerned about that happening. As Sharon so wisely reminded me recently - remember that you have the right to refuse any type of treatment, PT, or test that they want to try on you. I know that it's tough if you're in a narcotic haze, so that's why it's important to have an advocate there to help you with these things. Good luck with it all! > > I have just read a lot of older messages on autologus blood. I > failed to begin iron supplements before I donated. Just a " brain > drain " . The facility I went to tests your iron levcel before they > draw blood. The first time I went my iron level was 33. Apparently > it gets ify when the level is below 35. They had to call the > medical director and Dr. LaG's office. told them to go > ahead. I began taking iron. The following week my iron level was > 31. They didn't even call the doctor. Just sent me home. Then > today the level was 31 again. They wouldn't draw. Said I was too > anemic. I am not concerned about donor blood. I really think it's > safe because of all the checks. I have a call in to , but what > I am wondering if low iron levels can halt surgery. Has that > happened to anyone? > > I also have a question about getting up the first tine. I was in > ICU afterward. I was on morpine and still loopy from the surgical > anesthesia. A few hours after I was in ICU, two physical therapists > came in and said that I had to stand. It had to do with blood > clots, etc. It was horrible. One got on my left and one on my > right and pulled me up to a standing postion. I remember > yelling, " No! No No! " and crying uncontrolably. Through the > mediciel haze it still hurt terribly. I'd like to know what the > procedure is with Dr. LaGrone's patients. When are you expected to > get up? Thanks, Ann > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 My dr didn't want me to self donate blood, said it would make me weak. My surgery was on friday & they got me up on Monday, once my brace was available. My dr ( Hamill in Buffalo NY) is very strict about not getting up w/o my brace on, even now 5 wks after surgery. The hospital staff put this foot pump on my feet along with extremely tight stockings to my knees to help prevent blood clots. The foot pump was like having a foot massage, I loved it!!! > > > > I have just read a lot of older messages on autologus blood. I > > failed to begin iron supplements before I donated. Just a " brain > > drain " . The facility I went to tests your iron levcel before > they > > draw blood. The first time I went my iron level was 33. > Apparently > > it gets ify when the level is below 35. They had to call the > > medical director and Dr. LaG's office. told them to go > > ahead. I began taking iron. The following week my iron level was > > 31. They didn't even call the doctor. Just sent me home. Then > > today the level was 31 again. They wouldn't draw. Said I was too > > anemic. I am not concerned about donor blood. I really think > it's > > safe because of all the checks. I have a call in to , but > what > > I am wondering if low iron levels can halt surgery. Has that > > happened to anyone? > > > > I also have a question about getting up the first tine. I was in > > ICU afterward. I was on morpine and still loopy from the surgical > > anesthesia. A few hours after I was in ICU, two physical > therapists > > came in and said that I had to stand. It had to do with blood > > clots, etc. It was horrible. One got on my left and one on my > > right and pulled me up to a standing postion. I remember > > yelling, " No! No No! " and crying uncontrolably. Through the > > mediciel haze it still hurt terribly. I'd like to know what the > > procedure is with Dr. LaGrone's patients. When are you expected > to > > get up? Thanks, Ann > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 I don't know how Dr LaGrone does it, but Dr Bridwell got me up himself the morning after surgery. I did a lot of cussing and didn't want to get up, but he told me I could say all the words I wanted but he was going to get me up. > > I also have a question about getting up the first tine. I was in > ICU afterward. I was on morpine and still loopy from the surgical > anesthesia. A few hours after I was in ICU, two physical therapists > came in and said that I had to stand. It had to do with blood > clots, etc. It was horrible. One got on my left and one on my > right and pulled me up to a standing postion. I remember > yelling, " No! No No! " and crying uncontrolably. Through the > mediciel haze it still hurt terribly. I'd like to know what the > procedure is with Dr. LaGrone's patients. When are you expected to > get up? Thanks, Ann > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Ann, I didn't get up until I was on the regular floor, 7th floor. For me surgery was on Monday and I got to the 7th floor on Thursday. I don't remember if I stood up that day or the next, but it was one of them. Theresa > > I have just read a lot of older messages on autologus blood. I > failed to begin iron supplements before I donated. Just a " brain > drain " . The facility I went to tests your iron levcel before they > draw blood. The first time I went my iron level was 33. Apparently > it gets ify when the level is below 35. They had to call the > medical director and Dr. LaG's office. told them to go > ahead. I began taking iron. The following week my iron level was > 31. They didn't even call the doctor. Just sent me home. Then > today the level was 31 again. They wouldn't draw. Said I was too > anemic. I am not concerned about donor blood. I really think it's > safe because of all the checks. I have a call in to , but what > I am wondering if low iron levels can halt surgery. Has that > happened to anyone? > > I also have a question about getting up the first tine. I was in > ICU afterward. I was on morpine and still loopy from the surgical > anesthesia. A few hours after I was in ICU, two physical therapists > came in and said that I had to stand. It had to do with blood > clots, etc. It was horrible. One got on my left and one on my > right and pulled me up to a standing postion. I remember > yelling, " No! No No! " and crying uncontrolably. Through the > mediciel haze it still hurt terribly. I'd like to know what the > procedure is with Dr. LaGrone's patients. When are you expected to > get up? Thanks, Ann > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 & Ann, I forgot to mention, I'll have those leg squeezing things too for blot clots, as well as a temporary blood filter put into one of the veins that leads into the lungs. The leg squeezers (what are they called??) will hopefully prevent any clots from forming, and the blood filter will catch any that may form and start to travel. The filter will be taken out in " a simple office procedure " (I hate that phrase) a couple of weeks after my surgeries. > > > > Ann, > > > > I don't know about the blood question (my surgeon doesn't require Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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