Blood transfusions

[Idideridest]

I needed a blood transfusion two weeks ago, I got out of hospital on Good Friday and have just started thinking about the treatment I had but having 2 units of other people in my veins is making me feel weird. In a psychological, not medical way.

I’ve always been a blood donor and proud of my O neg blood but never even contemplated being a recipient.

Anyway, thanks for the O neg RhD pos whoever you are. Made me feel like a different woman.

Anyone else had this feeling?

Well done to all the blood donors on this thread!

I work for a blood service in one of the labs and try to donate as often as I can which I appreciate is easier for me due to my work place. When we used to get the donations in from sessions and they were still warm, that would freak me out so I can definitely understand feeling weird about it after a transfusion!

I give blood regularly. I am O positive.

My first Dh died of leukaemia just before his 29th birthday.
He had loads of blood over his 5 year battle and I am always grateful for the time that gave us.
I feel like if after all that if I don't give blood who will.

I love when I get the message saying where my donation has gone.
Makes it so real.

I received transfused blood and it made such a difference to how well I felt that all I could think about afterwards was the wonderfully healthy people whose blood I’d received. I found myself imagining all these strong gorgeous vital people who had donated (I received a lot of blood so I was imagining multiple people). It was kind of weird, looking back on it.

Just recently they changed the rules in the US so I can now donate blood again despite having lived in the UK, and it gives me such pleasure. They send you a message afterwards telling you which area and (I think?) hospital it went to.

I also donated a kidney to someone and never found out who it went to - it’s quite weird knowing a part of my body is now living inside someone else.

Yes this is still the case.

@ForestBather

So glad to see this thread. I had a large transfusion 8 years ago after a very bad miscarriage, I collapsed hours after a d&c and was close to cardiac arrest. I felt very odd mentally for weeks afterwards. So grateful for the donated blood but also kind of horrified to have it inside me. It still bothers me that I can no longer give blood, though in my mind I’ve given more than I’ve taken in donations so there’s no ‘debt’ to be paid. My husband also started giving blood after my transfusion so that’s a positive, I could never convince him before. I’m glad to see the way I felt isn’t abnormal. OP try to take it easy, I had no appreciation just how weak I’d be for a really long time after my transfusion. It probably took me the best part of 6 months to get my strength back and pushing too hard too quickly really set me back.

I’ve had a lot of units over the years after bowel surgeries and there was just the one where it felt ‘wrong’.

I’d had one unit the night before no issues but needed another. The second unit actually felt sticky going in, and we had a number of issues with the cannula.

The following day I had a massive internal haematoma. I threw up blood everywhere and my wound was leaking blood for hours which they were constantly packing.

In my head it was the ‘sticky blood’ that caused it (highly unlikely but still).

I have a disease called HHT and one of the main symptoms is nose bleeds - I’ve had one blood transfusion through that and very grateful. A lot of HHT patients will need blood transfusions- my cousin’s are potentially life threatening.

Also part of the same disease had a brain AV malformation luckily discovered before bleed. @Duckinglunacy I was treated by surgery and they would not do the surgery at all unless there was blood on standby so thanks for donating even if it doesn’t get used your blood on standby can still be life changing. BTW the nhs also contracts out for certain surgery to NHS to try to speed up the waiting list so your blood may have been for nhs or private patients.

(My only squeamishness was shaking hands with my brain surgeon which is/was weird)

I made my 60th donation a few months ago, it is heartwarming to read all the stories of recipients. Annoyingly my last appointment was cancelled a couple of weeks ago and I now can't get one till July, this has happened a few times now, but this has reminded me to keep checking the app for cancellations.

My young adult DS and I are both on the DKMS register too. DS got called up for that last year and went through further matching and assessment but was not eventually required to donate. I'm proud of him for being prepared to though. Must suggest blood donation to him!

I've had 3 separate occasions where I've had blood transfusions in the past month - like the op I was severely anaemic and they it took a while until they discovered the cause. I'd have died without the transfusions.

I am so grateful for those donating blood. Thank you thank you thank you.

This is a bit gross though - the last bag I had, the canula wasn't in the right position, and for a very short while the blood just went into my tissue. I noticed something wasn't right and the nurses rushed to sort it out, had to put canula in the other side and do it very fast!

This was the Monday before last, and I still have a really gross haematoma, which isn't a bruise really because it's not my blood. It looked like a black armband to start with. That makes me feel a bit weird when I look at it, but obviously I'm more grateful than anything. I'd post a pic but it'd probably be one for Sporners Corner really!

Thank you for this. I had a relative who was fortunate to have a family member able to donate but would otherwise may have needed you kindness.

For anyone that doesn’t know this is one of the blood stem cell/bone marrow donor registers

My femoral artery burst after a whipples procedure.

Was rushed to resus and received about 6 bags.

They topped me up with another bag on the ward a few days later - I thought it was crazy how I was just sitting there having someone's blood pumped into me.

Saved my life, though - forever grateful and wish I could pay it forward.

I've had two blood transfusions now , and never thought about it like that. But I am ever so glad that someone took the time out of their lives to give blood , I am ever so grateful 💋.You're all champs .

This is lovely, and my eyes filled a bit. It's made me look at my bruise / haemotoma on my arm and see it as reminder of someone's generosity. Nobody gives blood out of any motive but altruism. Thank you.

I think you’ll find the god their biscuits play a small part… I’m joking of course,I think the pure altruism is what makes it so special.

Thanks to @Anotherillnes and @BresciaBike for reminding me of all of the reasons why a unit of O Neg needs to be on standby. Of course, I know this but it’s good to be reminded.

every other donation I’ve had a message to say ‘hey the blood has been used for a patient at named hospital’ but that time it was just assigned to a hospital. I have no way of knowing if it sat on the shelf or got used so pleased to be able to think that if it didn’t get used it still enabled someone’s care.

I have had one transfusion and got the most horrific acne straight afterwards for about 2 months.

very very strange

Is in the UK

https://www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/can-i-give-blood/

Can I give blood if I have had a blood transfusion, or received blood products?
If you have had a blood transfusion or blood products anytime since 01 January 1980, you are not able to give blood.

i had a blood transfusion following a car accident, I couldn’t get out of bed I felt sick and dizzy constantly. Once I’d had the transfusion I felt like a new person. Unfortunately I cannot give blood now but having been in hospital a few times I decided to give back by becoming a nurse 😁

Nice to read all the positive stories. I used to be a donor - O-ve - and I also felt so pleased with myself afterwards.

Had to stop after diagnosis of Blood Cancer , and became a recipient. Must have had 6-8 units over my treatment, to overcome the neutropenia.

I agree it felt a little strange thinking about it as I was transfused, but it meant I could be discharged between chemo cycles, so I am truly grateful.

I miss the chat, and the Tunnocks biscuits though.

Yes I can. Please don't worry. A large study found no association between transfusion and leukaemia risk.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7573206/

I’ve had three platelet transfusions which saved my life. I can’t give blood as I have a blood clotting disorder but I’m so grateful for whoever donates.

I wrote a note to my little 2 year old to give to her when she was older as I thought I might die. My friend wrote it out at my bedside.

OP I had to have three as my body attacked the first two lots. It definitely is a weird feeling I know what you mean, but so grateful.

Thank you to whoever donates!

So lovely.

When I received my transfusions I sat and thought about each donor and sent them my gratitude.
I asked the nurse and she said when the blood is used the donor receive a text letting them know, made me feel quite connected to them.

Thank you to all donors x

I was so ill I was just glad of 3 units of blood and one unit of iron infusion. I could stand without falling over and walk without fainting. Didn’t feel freaked out by it just said a silent thank you to kind blood donors. You’re all bloody wonderful.

I had 4 pints during / after an operation when I was 14. So have obviously never been able to donate, which is disappointing as I'd love to give back. It's never crossed my mind to feel squeamish and didn't realise until this thread that anyone did!

My son received a blood transfusion when he suffered meningitis as a baby, and that's why I started to donate. I also enjoyed getting a couple of hours peace with a book while I waited to donate! Now that my local centre uses an appointments system it only takes around an hour.

Loved to hear someone say they thought good thoughts on the day of their donation, that's so lovely.