Any experiences of blood transfusions?

[BloodT]

I am due to have a blood transfusion due to severe anaemia. I have never had one and didn't expect it - I assumed it would be an iron infusion. They are looking for the cause of the anaemia separately, but I just wondered if anyone has had experience of transfusions or useful advice? I have been told it will take about 4 hours but I will be able to move about/drink and read etc. I I have shit veins (shy and narrow apparently) and cannulas are difficult to get in and often need re-doing, has anyone else experienced this? I worry it will take forever as they will have to keep redoing it! Obviously I will wear a vest top and make sure it's not white .

I know I can ask any questions tomorrow but MNers are always very knowledgeable and helpful!

PS I also feel a bit guilty having one as I can't donate blood myself due to epilepsy!

Thank you all, and hope other people suffering are feeling better (where has the MN bunch of flowers emoji gone?!)

All went smoothly - I have some impressive bruises and don't feel flowery or pink at the moment, but I have to go back for more blood tests/another transfusion next week, so hopefully will feel better after that!

One thing has really upset me today though (and I know it seems trivial compared to health but..) is that a lot of my hair has just fallen out. I had alopecia areata about five years ago and although my temples/sides haven't grown back, but the top of my head grew back and I have a bright Mohican which I absolutely love, and spend a lot of time nurturing None has fallen out/shedded recently, if it had I would have put it down to iron, but a big clump fell out today so I'm thinking is it related to the transfusion? It was an "alopecia handful of hair" rather than just shedding/hair loss and it's really upset me. I'm worried it will all fall out now and I will be bald (I know that's superficial compared to ill health and I don't want to be insensitive to anyone in the same position).

Has anyone else experienced this post transfusion? If it was related to the iron surely it would just "shed" more than come out in clumps?

Actually I don't worry about being bald so much (and it does sound really insensitive to other people, apologies) it's the loss of my Mohican that is upsetting me - god that sounds so stupid I spent years with professional hairdos (waist length thick curly hair) so my Mohican felt like a symbol of things getting better after I lost my hair/career/health etc. I have piercings/tattoos so it felt like me, and I loved looking after it, DH shaved around it for me each week to keep it in a straight line and it was fun doing it in the shower together thank fuck I name changed for this thread

Hair takes a long time to grow, don’t they say it takes three months or so for problems to show?
I know I had a lot of hair loss three months after a big operation

Never heard of hair loss following transfusion, and I had a few of them - but that was during chemo and I was bald anyway 😩
Do you have a specialist nurse or someone you can ask about it?

Sorry to hear about your hair loss, it can be so traumatic, probably more so when it’s unexpected. Hope it’s just a one -off 💐

@Trulyweird1 I really hope I didn't upset you with my not wanting to be bald comment, I worded it very badly and it sounded so insensitive. I didn't actually mind so much being bald (I had an extensive selection of fabulous hair scarves/70s turbans and DH used to rub my head and call me a velvet headed alien, which I liked ) it's just that I love my current hair so much and hate the thought of losing it. I will ask about it when I go back next week.

Is being over emotional connected to transfusions? I sobbed all over DH in the shower before and now I'm really kicking myself with guilt over my bald comment, it was so insensitive.

Maybe I received blood from an emotional person Seriously though, thank you to all donors. I would be a donor myself if I wasn't epileptic.

Love a blood transfusion! 😁. Had three. Two after severe post partum bleeding where there was low iron count already and the third after a major operation - 14 hours it took!
The difference is phenomenal - going from fainting, lethargic, no energy to even read to thinking you can take on the world.
I used to be a donor but I’m not allowed to donate now

I had a 15 unit infusion one night when I was very, very ill. Blood donors like you saved my life as much as the doctors did that night.

THANK YOU for what you do.

Thank you to those blood donors, literal lifesavers 💐

I had 2 blood transfusions whilst in hospital. I sat on a chair with leg rests, and the blood went through in about 4 or 5 hours -I sat and read whilst I waited. My veins tend to collapse when anyone tries to put a needle in. The needle went into the vein in the crook of my elbow.

@BloodT You absolutely did not upset me. My bald head meant the chemo was circulating, getting where it was needed. My DH told me it was cute, but bless him, he would.
Pre cancer, I was a proud blood donor , so am delighted if others get the benefit.
I think many of your symptoms, including the emotion, are a signal that you have been feeling a bit shit, and I hope that changes soon, and you feel good again.

I hope it helps. I donated my 30th pint this week and I hope to continue donating as long as I can so others can get the benefit. Anyone who can donate but hasn’t, get yourself to a donation place.

I’m well versed in blood transfusions now as I’ve had over 40 sadly due to anemia. Hair loss is connected to anemia I lost more then half my hair during my time having them. I was also an emotional wreck and constantly crying over little things.

I had 2 units after the birth of 2nd child. It felt cold as it started to go in, but my God, I was grateful to those 2 people who helped me. I often thank them in my prayers. I did go on to become a donor. But I can't donate anymore was told a few years ago, as my transfusion was in the mid 1980s and it disqualified me from donating anymore.

Forgot to say with mine they took up to 8/9 hours for 2 bags a time as my body can’t tolerate it any quicker. I used to read and sleep . Oh and eat . Such a relaxing time I forgot I was bloody ill.

I've had blood transfusions twice. Both times I was very ill and don't remember the actual transfusion. I do remember though that I felt like superwoman afterwards - I suffer with chronic anaemia so my Hb is always low. I was meant to be recovering from illness but felt better & stronger than I have for most of my life.

Thank you all for replies - and especially big thank you to donors! I do feel very grateful and a bit guilty that I've not been able to donate blood, but have benefitted from the kindness of people who can. I am going to donate my brain (felt a bit odd, typing that) for epilepsy research so hopefully it will even out

Still feel very tearful today. I think posters are right that it is a build up of things, not just my health but other stuff going on.