Blood transfusions in the UK - safe or scary?

[Tinker]

?

[suzywong]

Hello
I was chatting with a group of mums today here in Australia and we were swapping labour stories and I mentioned that I had had a 4 unit transfusion after I had ds2 in London.

They looked at me in horror and told me that in Australia you are not accepted as a blood donor if you have lived in the UK for more than 12 months.

Naturally I am now chewing my arm off with worry. I lost 1.5 litres with ds2 so I really didn't have much of a choice but to accept the transfusion. Should I have been more cautious? Is the blood stock in the UK unsafe? Have I got mad cow disease? (don't answer that)

What do you reckon?

[SoupDragon]

The blood stock is not as unsafe as being dead!

[suzywong]

good point, soupy

Does anyone work in the field? How thorough are the screenings?

[CountessDracula]

Oh god I had litres of the stuff! I agree you are better off with a transfusion than dead (which I most defo would be!)

I do hate it though, am always waiting for the next mad cow disease...

[suzywong]

you and me in the same ward then when the outbreak happens, CD

[CountessDracula]

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[luckymum]

I'll be there too ( and dd for that matter)!

[SoupDragon]

On a sensible note, I do know you are not allowed to donate blood if you've had a transfusion in the UK since (?) 1986,

[Marina]

With me in the next bed, ladies. About three months after I had two units the story broke about NvCJD being spread by transfusions.
I did have a choice, it wasn't deemed essential . I felt much better the next day and have felt bad ever since. Can't be a donor any more either.

[CountessDracula]

how much is a unit?

[SoupDragon]

Roughly a pint

[CountessDracula]

Oh right

I had 10 litres + 3 of clotting stuff whatever that is apparantly. So that would have come for 20+ different people right? Oh yuck.

Oh a lighter note dd's godfather did ask me when I was in HDU whether they had given me a transfusion from Keith Richards as I was so out of it on the morphine LOL!

[SantaFio2]

i agree with soupy, better off than being dead

[GeorginaA]

I had a blood product (the chickenpox antibodies injection) six months ago ish, and it worries me a bit too. Does anyone know if blood products are imported now?

[SoupDragon]

I had a cup and a half as a newborn but I don't think that counts anymore

[suzywong]

right so we are officially a club
CD you are president on account of your vast intake of lord knows what.

Bloody scary isn't it?

[spacemonkey]

weirdly our australian friend also recoiled in horror when another friend had to have a transfusion after a MC recently

v worrying

[CountessDracula]

What shall we call ourselves?

[suzywong]

Ticking Timebomb Transfusionees?

[JJ]

Soup, ewww, that makes it sound like you were given it to drink! blergh.

How about 'the madnetters'?

[CountessDracula]

LOL!!!

[CountessDracula]

mad cow mums?

[suzywong]

And I would like to head up the Rhesus B Neg wing of the club, that's a human product too I believe.

Gor blimey I think there is not much hope for that section

[CountessDracula]

which section? What is Rhesus B (I vaguely remember something about it when pg but can't remember any specifics)

[SantaFio2]

i think what is more worrying in when they dont give you one and send you home with an iron count of 4.5!