Home         Forums  

Go Back   Marrowforums > Treatments > Transfusions and Iron Overload
Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Transfusions and Iron Overload Blood and platelet transfusions, iron testing and treatments

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old Thu Aug 28, 2008, 09:00 PM
4bcsboys 4bcsboys is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Lincoln, DE
Posts: 29
Lightbulb caution with acute blood loss

I found out the hard way--I had some dysfunctional uterine bleeding (wouldn't stop, very heavy) and became short of breath. My gynecologist recommeded I go to the local emergency room as I was out of town on a trip. There my hemoglobin came back as 9.6--just a little lower than my previous 10.1, not transfusion time. They gave me saline, did an exam for problems, and finding none, discharged me. When I got home I was still extrememely short of breath--cooking pancakes and loading the dishwasher wiped me out for the rest of the day. I called my hematologist's office to let them know what happened. They had me go get my H&H checked that day--my hemoglobin was actually 7.3! I had lost about 3.5 grams of hemoglobin. The initial Hgb was "contracted" in my body's attempt to compensate, but as I was hydrated, the true hgb was reflected. It didn't make since for me to be short of breath at 9.6--because it wasn't a "real" number. I hope this helps someone else. By the way, as a preventative due to my history & family history, I am scheduled for a hysterectomy later this month. I have my three sons, and my hands are joyfully full!
__________________
Wife and mother of three young boys, diagnosed at age 39 with AA 2007; treated with ATG and cyclosporine; progressed to MDS end of 2012; MUD on June 26, 2013.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Fri Aug 29, 2008, 10:37 AM
Marlene Marlene is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 1,406
Thanks for sharing your experience. I would like understand this better just in case . I'm not sure I really understand what "contracted" HGB is. Were you dehydrated and therefore had a false reading? Were your HCT and RWD elevated?

I know that a rapid blood loss will impact you more than a slow blood loss. If your red cell decline slowly, your body has time adjust to it better until gets really low. But if it's rapid, then it's very noticable because your body responds to the threat.

Thanks,
Marlene
__________________
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.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Fri Aug 29, 2008, 05:44 PM
Helen Robinson Helen Robinson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NSW Australia
Posts: 32
Caution withacute blood loss

I was interested to read your comments. David has had a sudden drop in Hb every month recently. Some could be explained by infection but most are a mystery to the docs. He has been tested for bleeding and scanned with no answer. He dropped from 9.5 to 8 in three days last week and he kept saying he felt "strange". Yesterday he used the same words and sure enough he was dropping suddenly. It makes it very hard to organise transfusions but I suppose we should be grateful that they are available. The haematologist thought there may be low grade haemolysis but it is a worry, ot should I say, another worry.

Best wishes to everyone

Helen
__________________
Husband, MDS 5q- 2003. Transfusions,desferal infusions, Revlimid 2007 partial remission. David passed away Nov 2010 with untreatable heart arrythmia probably from iron overload.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Sat Sep 6, 2008, 11:05 PM
4bcsboys 4bcsboys is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Lincoln, DE
Posts: 29
"contracted"

"Contracted" usually means dehydrated--remembering that your body can compensate and not show all the signs of dehydration. Blood vessels can constricted, heart rate can increase to allow "normal" functions. I was loosing blood quickly (and more of it) as compared to a normal menstrual cycle so I did lose blood volume and compensated for a few days. Dehydration does give a false reading of how much hemoglobin is available to carry oxygen. In the absence of bleeding, I have no idea how this might apply to a man. I wish you the best.
__________________
Wife and mother of three young boys, diagnosed at age 39 with AA 2007; treated with ATG and cyclosporine; progressed to MDS end of 2012; MUD on June 26, 2013.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forum sites may contain non-authoritative and unverified information.
Medical decisions should be made in consultation with qualified medical professionals.
Site contents exclusive of member posts Copyright © 2006-2020 Marrowforums.org