Blood Transfusions

cookn biker

Can anyone tell me about this. Process, painful....I know nothing about this.
Thanks.

Gator Bait

Hey Molly,

I can only comment on the half of the process that I am familiar with, the blood donation. Now a days different blood components are used for transfusions, depending on what is needed. In the early days whole blood was used. That is why when I donate blood about every 56 days three or four people (can't remember exact figure) may benefit from it. It is a simple process of filling out a questionnaire, having my blood pressure and hemoglobin levels tested, laying on a couch and having a needle stuck in my arm. Five minutes later, it varies with people, the needle is removed and a temporary pressure bandage is applied for a couple hours. The level of pain all depends on how good the nurse is with the needle and a degree of luck. Even the best nurse may hit a nerve and cause brief pain. The pain never last long, it's no different then any other needle stick. I find it a very minor discomfort for the amount of good it does and how good it makes me feel for having done it. Mad Max is my Hero, he has a rare blood type and has been donating it for many, many years. I believe it is one of the only types that can be universally used with very young infants. I got a whole lot of respect for the dude.
I can only imagine the process of receiving blood is very similar, it just flows in reverse.

Also, if you donate at a local hospital your blood probably stays locally. If you donate to the Red Cross it can go where ever it is needed. It's up to you.

Oh ya, they give you juice/soda and cookies. I always have Orange Juice, it is the only time I can justify having it with my diabetes.

I think they figure only 5% of the people that can donate blood do. Pretty sad!

From the time I drive into the hospital till the time I drive out can't be much more then 30 minutes.

Hope this helps,

Blair

mad max beyond eggdome

molly, everything gator said....i'm a religous donor. ..do it every 56 days.. .my blood type is the most common "o+", but i am also CMV negative, which means i'm free of a virus that is common to 95% of americans so they love my blood for premie infants and those with auto immune issues..they take me right to the front of the line .. .i think fidel is also CMV negative and he's also a regular donor as well ...

anyway, it really is painless except for a little 'burn' or 'pinch' when they first insert the needle ...i would imagine, that if you need an infusion of bloood, its actually a smaller needle, like for an IV, cause the infusion would be over a longer period of time, and therefor a less painful 'stick'. ...and with today's more rigorous testing, there is almost no risk at all of any sort of contamination of the blood you are going to receive ...

also, if you know in advance that you are going to need a transfusion (or someone you know needs a transfusion), you can make a donation for that person specifically . . .i.e., a couple of years ago, my mom need major heart surgery...she didn't necessarily require a transfusion, but a couple of days before her surgery, i went to the hospital where she was going to have the surgery, and donated a pint specifically for her, and it was available in the surgery suite in case she needed it. ...when she didn't need it, it went back into the blood bank for the general population ....

so if you are thinking about donating, GO DO IT, its the greatest gift you can give!!!!

if you need a transfusion, don't be scared to get one, its very very safe these days!!!

any questions, give a holler

Misippi Egger

From a medical perspective, great advice, Max !

Thank you for being such a religious donor - lives are saved ! :woohoo:

Fidel

I am CMV neg, but am A+ so they don't want my whole blood.

What they do want is my platelets, since I am a universal platelet donor. I give a triple dose of platelets every two weeks. Platelets are used mainly for leukemia patients and those undergoing chemotherapy, in addition to a few other applications. The donation process is just like getting a transfusion, so I'll explain the process.

The prep and needle stick are just like everyone else explained. They clean your arm with a couple swabs of iodine, then stick you in a vein right in the crook of your elbow.

For apheresis they take your blood out, spin it in a large centrifuge machine to remove the platelets, then pump all the remaining blood stuff right back in through the same needle. These "returns" are just like getting a blood transfusion - though it is my own blood getting pumped back in and not someone else's. My whole process from sign in to the time I leave is about 90 minutes, two hours tops. A transfusion should only take 30 minutes or so, depending on how many units they would need to push.

There is an bit of an odd tingling feeling, and you get cold. They combat this with a heating pad either on top of or under your arm. This is because the blood going in is far below body temperature. No real concerns about it though. Other than that there are no side effects and very minimal danger. The biggest danger, and I have experienced this once, is if they happen to put the needle in too far and it sticks partially or completely through the vein. In this case you will get a lump in your arm that will dissipate in a few hours, and you will have what looks like a bad bruise, but it is only the blood under your skin. This is very uncommon and there is little discomfort when it happens.

If I can clear this up or little or be of more help I will try.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

i would think you are right about the returns being just like a transfusion... the only issue i have (i am O-neg and give double reds) is a slight metallic taste in my mouth or nose from the saline. the chill is sometime uncomfortable, because at most i get a blanket (i'm usually donating at a blood drive, with a bare-bones set-up).

got to imagine a transfusion would be the same, only longer, and that the only real apprehension you might have would be for the needle stick.

to be honest, i hate the finger-prick iron test. the arm stick is relatively comfortable unless you get an inexperienced person. and with double reds, the needle is (i understand) smaller. transfusion must be similar, in a more controlled environment (than donation at a drive), and with more experienced technicians running the needle

mad max beyond eggdome

i agree with you SS, when i do the double red donation, i get a weird lip tingling at the end of the plasma return. . .something you don't get with a standard single pint donation ....and i agree with you, i hate the finger stick more than anything....pretty silly when you think about it. ..for a while, they used to do the iron test with a stick in your ear lobe which didn't hurt at all, but they stopped that a few years back from some reason...tiny needle in your finger vs, the larger gauage needle in your arm, which i don't mind at all (i have a great big vein in my arm that a blind man could hit from 50 feet with no problem!). ..

Mainegg

Hay Max, add me to your list I just started donating again this winter after many years of not... I know my bad big time. But when I went in the second time this winter they told me my blood is able to be used on infants and preemies and to really try to find a place up here in Maine to give. Down there is easy, the Big red bus comes right to the park once a month. Here I have to go about 40 minutes and I know it is not that far but with one day off a week... It is a good feeling no matter what anyways

mad max beyond eggdome

good on ya julie!!!! i'm proud of you...you should see if your place up there does 'double red cell' donations, that way you only have to donate ever 112 days. ..makes that 40 minute drive more worthwhile and you only have to do it half as often for the same amount of donations!!!! . ...

Mainegg

LOL I am with you guys on the finger stick. I wince and tense up like a baby!! for as big a girl as I am I have dainty veins :( the only freaking small thing on me. they have an awful time getting the needle in and part of why I did stop donating. I worked at a hospital for 6 years in the late 70's early 80's and donating blood is kind of an unwritten must do so just got into the habit. had one nurse tell me one time I was more bother than it was worth to get it out of me LOL if I have to have any thing done at the hospital now they use the back of my hand. We have the same crew on the big red bus that comes into the park each time and The same girl does me each time. she is good and now they just have me wait till she can do me. But for anyone that is thinking about donating try it at least once! you will be surprised at how easy and fast it is and the great feeling you give of helping some one is so worth the little time out of your day. who knows it could be an friend or family that you help or even another egger

Mainegg

I will check on that Max. there must be someplace around me that does. and if it is 112 days then I would only be donating once till we go back to Fl the way the timing will fall. I just donated before we came home so I would be 56 days out then the double then 112 would put me back in Fl or close to it.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

for years i wanted to go but didn't because i assumed (from some stories i'd heard) that you got light-headed and couldn't drive home by yourself. i wished i'd known...

i think the red cross frankly does a poor job coordinating their donors, reminding folks about upcoming drives, etc.

sure, much of the desperate need for blood is due to the fact (oft quoted) that only 5% give of those who would qualify. but they don't exactly have a handle on cultivating return visits or habitual donation.

the drives are great. but what about a 12-foot wide shop in a mall, where passers by might just wander in. again, attack on all fronts i ay. and then when a person signs up, send them an email, let them log on to check upcoming drives, and contact them more regularly. thee is a website, but it's not well done.

and every time i have signed up for "the 2:30 spot", i sit around for an hour anyway as a few walk-ins go ahead of me.

could be better run....

mad max beyond eggdome

geez, the red cross down here starts calling me on the 52nd day and won't stop nagging me until i show up at the door.....and for those of us that are 'champions for life' they open up the doors at 6am even though the sign on the door says 7am, so that we beat the rush ...but you are right, you can make an appointment for a certain time, but they never get you in the chair at that time!! . . .

i usually just show up when i feel like it and they take me....what are they gonna do, send me home??

Gator Bait

 
The office at the hospital here is like a ghost town. Many times I am the only one there. That may be one of the reasons I keep going back, they are always glad to see me and are very thankful.

Gator

 

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

my wife and i used to give together when we could, but we got off schedule and soon had different eligibility. they always tracked us separately of course, since it's a privacy issue. that's fine. except they suddenly consolidated all their data, and because they had both of us under one phone number, dropped my name, and kept hers. so the calls came in only on her schedule. i never got a call, and thought perhaps it wasn't my time (112 days). eventually i just walked in at a drive and signed up.

real smart. how many husbands and wives probably gave together, and they decide to sh!tcan half the people's names off the contact list simply because both were associated with the same telephone number

Gator Bait

 
Congratulations on starting to donate again Julie. I am the only person in my family that donates and I have heard all the dumb excuses. It's great to hear that you don't have one.

I agree on the good feeling, it makes me feel like I have done something really worth while. I do have to laugh at myself, every time they are just getting ready to put the needle in I have to ask myself "I volunteered for this?" LOL, then a few seconds latter I can remember the right reasons for being there. I'm no more fond of needles then the next person, I just can't find a logical reason not to give blood.

Gator

 

Fidel

My center sounds like yours...often times I am the only donor there.

The techs know me and always have my drink ready (wish I could say it was bourbon or scotch). The platelet center we actually sit in overstuffed leather recliners. It's quite comfy.

RE: the finger stick, ask them to hit you in the side of the finger instead of in the pad of your fingertip. Far fewer nerve endings there. I rarely even feel the stick. I also ask them to hit the ring finger, seems to work for me.

Minx

I've donated bone marrow in Canada and blood in Cambodia. Both were really easy (the nurse in Cambodia was awesome).

The way you react will be somewhat specific to you. I have very few reactions while it sounds like stripstike has a fairly strong reaction to giving blood. I was once invited to an awards ceremony for giving bone marrow and I got to converse with other bone marrow donors. Some were bed-ridden for weeks and not back to normal for months. Me, on the other hand, was back to 100% in a matter of days. I suppose I just have a good constitution.

To summarise, likely easy, but your reaction will be specific to you.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

i don't really have any reaction at all. just the saline can result in a faint taste in the mouth momentarily, which is common. and the only reason it's cold is because the saline is cold. they once had a drive in february in the cold basement of a church. the bags of saline were kept in a truck outside. cold as hell.
hahaha

ranger ray

i'd like to know why the red cross wants your social security number and a copy of your driver's license to give blood?( my passport was unacceptable) at least here in PA... (unless the "nurse" was an ID thief ?( how would i know the computer she's entering my info is the red cross' or her own personal computer?) ..... i have no problem with questions such as are you gay? have you been in a country with funky infections ? etc. ( i understand the need to be safe but assuming the blood is tested for pathogens prior to administration to a new person.... the questions are a moot point).... i have no problem with giving my name address etc...but in these day of identity theft.... why the red cross worker would need my ssn and oln( operators lis. number) is beyond me?.... they never required it years ago.... i have been giving blood to the red cross for 35 years.... until this need for personal info..
hey ! i'd even be willing to give a thumb print.... just not my personal info.... the gov't has my prints on file ..... if they need to track me as the source of bubonic plague.... they will know where to find me...rr