Anemic....would have never known....

if I hadn't inquired about banking my own blood. I began to wonder about a tranfusion and wanted to find out if I had the option of banking my own blood. Long story short, the option is there, but not if you are anemic.

I will be receiving iron by IV(twice before my surgery).....was told this would not determine whether or not I would get a transfusion, but I should bounce back much better if my iron levels are at least closer to normal. The doc(anetheis.....oligist) said "all your iron must have drained into your boots, you must have no energy, no ambition to do anything". He was a pretty funny guy!

Most women who have heavy bleeding are anemic. I had a friend willing to donate, same blood time, if needed, but it wasn't.
I've heard the iron injections can be painful, you might want to inqure and be prepared with some tylenol just in case.
Good luck to you

Oh no, more pain!!!!!! GRRRRRR! No one mentioned that to me!

Will be traveling one hour to get to the hosiptal, and they said I could drive home myself.

They did tell me if they give me enough in one visit to bring my levels to normal I would be very sick with serious flu like symptoms, that is why they suggested 2-3 visits. It is a very slow process......takes 6 hours.

Interesting......I inquired to the Canadian Blood Services and was told you can not donate from one person to another with the exception of a parent to a minor child.

Having someone in my family was the perfect plan.....but not through the Canadian Blood Services in Alberta.

Hi ymotceretsyh,

Just wanted to let you know that I had a IV sucrose iron infusion in January for my anemia. Other than the small discomfort of having the IV inserted (I made sure I was well hydrated the morning I went in to ensure easy insertion!) I did not have any discomfort at all from it. It only took about 1 1/2 hours for the IV bag to empty.

I'm not sure if this is the type you are having, but just wanted to ease your mind a bit, if it is. I was impressed with how effective it was, without the horrible side effects of the high dose oral iron I'd been on for more than a year.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Hi,
I think you must mean you'll be having an iron infusion. My doctor was going to give them to me but with all the drugs and how sick I'd been he decided against it as some people can have reactions to them. Instead I had my 20th iron injection today and yes they do hurt a little but I no longer care so long as my iron finally gets to its right level. I started at 5 and was last tested at 7. I'm hoping that now I'm 10 weeks post op and the extra injections things will be ok with next blood test.

Hope it all goes well for you..........Karen