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?

I get an infusion of blood products every 4 weeks for a neurological condition. I get intravenous immunoglobulins which are made from plasma and are basically someone else's immune system!

I'll never be able to give blood again but am incredibly grateful to all of you who give blood! It takes 30 donations a month but the treatment gets me up on my feet, allows me to look after my family, helps my numbness and pain and basically gives me my life back!

So thankyou!!!

If you think someone else's blood is weird, poo transfusions are also a thing.

I had to have a transfusion when DD was born otherwise I would have died. I never really thought about the fact that it was someone else's blood. The only thing about it was that I can't give blood now and I'm O negative so in demand.

DD wasn't born in the UK so I'm now wondering if I could actually give blood as the transfusion didn't take place in the UK.

I'm a donor and I absolutely love this. I'm going to do this too the next time I give blood.

It's so lovely to read all the stories of how it's helped people. I get a lovely fuzzy feeling after I've given blood when I think about the fact my blood is off to swirl round someone else's body and give them a helping hand. My friend had a few bags of blood when she gave birth so I started donating to pay back her "blood debt" once I'd achieved that I just sort of carried on. The club biscuits and the fuzzy feeling make it really worth it.

I'm so glad I posted a comment on this thread.
Further glad that the thought of my good thoughts makes you feel a little better.
It's a tiny good deed that goes a long way, and to know that recipients feel this way is lovely for me as a donor.
I'm blessed with good health, for that I am so thankful, and for as long as I am able, every 4 months you can count on a bag from me!
(With added positivity)

Having said I couldn't get an appt till July after mine was cancelled last month I have managed to get one for next Monday now, at a new-to-me venue.

Had a text that reminded me of this thread.

I love hearing that my blood has gone to someone, makes the nerves and discomfort (in needle phobic) worth it.

My blood has been to Southampton General three times @DiveBombingSeagull!

I do enjoy the texts. My favourite might been when my blood went all the way to Surrey in April 2020; it was a lot further than I got to travel for a while :)

I got one a while ago that went to the hospital where I was born which was nice, I live hundreds of miles away and have never set foot there again but there is still a link.

I'm amazed to find out that others think this way also.
I've never had to have a transfusion but was brought up to believe it was wrong and against God's will. As a child I was told that if I was ever in a position that doctors told me I needed blood, I must fight it. That it would be like accepting rape.
Religious lunatics of course.
I have since donated blood and would most definitely accept blood.
But I have always imagined that it would feel the way many of you have described, but I thought that was due to my upbringing.
Clearly not.
I'm normal.

You're more grateful than freaked out when your life is being saved though.

My Mom was a JW when she was giving birth to me. She had a horrendous birth experience and my Grandparents were terrified she might need a transfusion and refuse it. Thankfully she left when I was 4.

I had to have a transfusion after my first DC was born. It felt a bit weird but also amazing in a 'if this had happened 100 years ago I would have died' kind of way!

I donate regularly, my next appt is tomorrow.
I've never had an issue and it's nice to think I'm helping someone.

I would donate plasma but the donation center is a fair old drive away

My dad had 2. He went to the doctors for blood tests and then an ambulance and the doctor turned up at home and bundled him into the ambulance
He had ignored pouring blood from rectal bleeding as "a nuisance"
Two transfusions later and he was a bit more human!

I’ve had over 60 blood transfusions, last one was in 2018 and I still feel off over it. I know it was a case of life and death for me but I regret it. I pick up every virus going since then and I’m pretty sure it changed me. Honestly wouldn’t ever have one again.

Dd was v premature and had a 3 month NICU stay - discharged day before her due date. During that time she needed 3 transfusions - that felt very weird but we had to just go with it as her tiny body couldn't get the oxygen she needed with what she could produce and with severely restricted lung capacity / efficiency, and she was getting worn out trying. I'm very grateful to the wonderful people who made it possible but also very glad that she is now all her, not partially someone else, if that makes sense.

Didn't realise it means she will never, ever in her whole life be able to donate herself.

I had to have a transfusion after losing a baby so late that I had to be induced. I feel like I’ve been different since then and wish I hadn’t had the transfusion. It wasn’t a matter of life and death; they said it would take moths to get my iron levels up if I didn’t have the transfusion.

I'm grateful to the people who gave me I think just over 6/7 transfusions last year. I wouldn't be alive otherwise.

My OH donated blood after this as did his family members and his donation ended up back at the same hospital I was in. He knows this because they send you a little text. Life!

I am so sorry you had to go through that.

I felt compelled to log in and reply to this post. My husband has leukeamia and since diagnosis in 2023, has had probably 100s of transfusions of blood and platelets.

From living a life where we donated to now relying on the blood products for him to survive has been incredibly surreal.

Thank you to anyone who donated blood, platelets etc because it makes an incredible difference to people who have blood cancer.

I had a couple of blood transfusions last year when undergoing chemotherapy. I hated it. I am
Really squeamish and had to get the nurses to cover the blood bag so I couldn't see it.

I don't think about it anymore but just grateful it was possible to have, even though it made me feel nauseous at the time.

Having given over 70 pints, I was upset when I was advised not to give any more.

They used to send out SMS messages when your blood was used - so I know "a pint" can be used in more than one case, which is nice.

When I lived in London I was on a special panel of ) -ve donors who were also CMV -ve. Their blood was reserved for neonatal used.

Much as I would urge anyone to donate, I would also advise it's one of the most admin heavy ballaches in medicine. When I stopped they were refusing to allow people to just walk in, and only ever had one appointment free.

Eh? there is next to no admin. Book using the app or online, fill in the form and donate. It can be tricky finding a suitable appointment admittedly but it only takes a minute to check again a few days later. The actual appointments run SO much more smoothly since they went to appointment only, in and out in less than an hour versus sitting in a queue for an hour plus before even getting started in the old days (60 donations made since 1990).

I can’t donate anymore since my transfusion