Blood transfusion - anaemia any experience/advice?

[DearDinah]

MIL has stage 4 bowel cancer, she's really weak, blood count is very low, they've tried iron tablets but it's not worked so now talking about a blood transfusion, does anyone know if this is likely to help? She was so looking forward to doing some gentle yoga with me yesterday but her legs just won't work. This is horrible :'(

Blood transfusions make people feel lots better, straightaway. It will get her blood count right up and help her energy etc.

Thank you that's reassuring, hopefully it will lift her spirit

I had 3 units of blood after dc2 was born and I instantly went from unable to walk across the room to feeling more or less normal.

My dad is having a blood transfusion today. He has advanced bowel cancer and is in hospital with infection, high temp and anaemia. Will post more when know more. How is your mum today?

I had a blood transfusion after having a massive post-partum haemorrhage. Went from feeling like shit to feeling a million dollars after 2 units. Hope it will help your MIL feel much better and be able to enjoy her time with you all.

My dad had these and , in fact , had one the day before my Dd was married.
Lovely photos of a pink and energetic grandad at the wedding.
Well worth it .
Thinking of you .

I also had blood transfusions after loosing a lot of blood during child birth. It was the most surreal feeling, literally like someone pouring life into you. I really hope your mil is able to feel a little better from a transfusion.

Each time I've had a blood transfusion it takes a couple of days to notice any improvement. The day after the first blood transfusion I had I felt absolutely awful, more tired than I had felt pre-transfusion (when I was feeling utterly exhausted). The day after that (ie two days after the transfusion) I felt a lot better. I wish someone had told me that there could be a delay in feeling better as I spent the day after the transfusion really worrying.

In terms of transfusion process it depends how many units your MIL needs. Ime it seems to take about 2 hours per unit. After 2 units my blood count went from 8.6 to 11.3 (normal is 11.8 to 15.8) but as red blood cells have a lifespan of 100-120 days the positive effect doesn't last if you aren't able to make sufficient cells to replace them (which may mean repeated transfusions).

Poor mil she must be feeing terrible. My blood transfusion brought colour back to my face almost immediately and I felt like a new person the next day

I had one in theatre (2 units, blood count went from 8 to 13.4) when I had a hysterectomy for fibroids and massive anaemia. It was fabulous, I can't tell you how well I felt the minute I woke up. And I healed really fast too.

But in my case, I was asleep for the transfusion, and the op solved the root cause of the anaemia, so that is a bit different.

I had my transfusion in the evening and into the night (it is quite a slow process), slept afterwards for a few hours - obviously it was hospital so I had to be woken up at 6.30 for some unknown reason - and felt fine when I woke up.

Sorry, should have posted mil not mum.

Yes my dh has them when his blood count gets too low. It makes a huge difference to his energy levels.

Thank you for your replies it's really helpful, the doctor called round today & said her rbc was up slightly so it might not happen now, they will continue to monitor it, however she's still so weak & it's making her very tearful, DH had to carry her upstairs to bed tonight she's so proud it upsets her that we see her like that. Sorry rambling on, it's just gutting. shopgirl58 so sorry about your dad, how's he doing?

I am shopgirl58, very new to MN is chose first nickname hastily. Sticking with this one now. My dad is having a second transfusion today. His body is taking a battering after very tough chemo but he is loving being in hospital as he feels better than he has done in weeks. Eating properly, more alert. He is very poorly though.

bouquet good to hear he is feeling better & able to eat. It's a scary time isn't it, not knowing what's round the corner. Mums eating ok, but is on heavy steroids due to the mets in her liver, they're what's caused the weakness in her legs & the water retention which I assume is from liver failing. Hope you are being looked after, the mac nurses seem to be stepping up their game now, just before Christmas we felt very alone.
My thoughts & best wishes to you xx

Thank you deardinah my thoughts are with you too.