[Helen Robinson]

Hi Chirley

David has been through these issues. some nurses think blood is like milk and just "goes off" on the due date. His haem said that as the red cells deteriorate they give off cytokines ,similar to those which white cells produce when you are fighting a cold etc. It is these which make you feel yuck after some transfusions particularly with old bleed. The city hospital always gives the freshest best match to the haem patients and this might be the issues. Perhaps that day it was even harder to match you with the fresh donations. His dr said to refuse anything over 5 weeks or only have one bag as it will only be a ferritin tx.

The tx he had in Brisbane was old but must have been a perfect match because it lasted well. Perhaps the donor had a very high HB! There are too many variables in the mix but ask your Dr to contact the blood bank you use and perhaps you could show the CBS news link to the nurses to help others as well.

We told the pathologist at our local blood bank and she was interested enough to talk to the haemotologist and we get fresh blood there now.

I hope things improve.

Helen