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The most John got at one time was 4 units. That was when he was first diagnosed. His HGB was 5.5 and they wanted to get him above 9 before letting him go home. They ususally only do two units because most people get transfused when their HGB drops to around 8 and two units will bring it up enough. So if he's at 6.8 and only gets two units his HGB won't be much past 8.
It's critical to set a transfusion goal with your doc. That means that anytime your HGB drops to that level, you get a transfusion. If you monitor your HGB closely then you can get in for transfusion sooner and not require more than two units.
Part of the problem of getting more than two units, apart from the time it takes, is that it's alot of fluid and can be strain on the body especially for the elderly.
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Marlene, wife to John DX w/SAA April 2002, Stable partial remission; Treated with High Dose Cytoxan, Johns Hopkins, June 2002. Final phlebotomy 11/2016. As of July 2021 HGB 12.0, WBC 4.70/ANC 3.85, Plts 110K.
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