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Will I need blood?
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12-27-2010, 12:37 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 18
Hysterectomy: January 19th, 2011
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
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Will I need blood?
Hi everybody,
This is sort of a stupid question, but...
I live in South Africa, and I'm scheduled to have an abdominal hysterectomy on Jan. 12th. I asked my doctor if I might need blood and was prepared to give my own ahead of time. I'm kind of paranoid about this.
My dr. said I won't need it, and wrote a prescription for some iron pills for me to take, which I've started.
When I spoke to my mom tonight on the phone, she said I should insist on going to give my own blood, just in case.
Will I need to?
Thank you to anyone who might know!
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12-27-2010, 01:02 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 509
Hysterectomy: January 19th, 2009
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Will I need blood?
Sounds like a good idea on the off chance that you need it. Not everyone needs a blood transfusion. I did because I had bled so much prior to surgery and then I bled a lot during the surgery. I ended up getting 4 units.
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12-27-2010, 01:36 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 74
Hysterectomy: December 14th, 2010
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Will I need blood?
i was supposed to have a LAVH but the doctor ended up cutting the artery to my leg and had to open me up from belly to pubic bone to repair it....I had to have 4 units of blood to replace what I lost....
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12-27-2010, 01:36 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 269
Hysterectomy: November 29th, 2010
Surgery Type: TLH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Will I need blood?
I had to sign a release 30 minutes before going in for my hysterectomy to authorize a transfusion "just in case". That was the first I had heard of this or considered it even possible. I was never offered the opportunity to donate in advance. Fortunately, no blood was needed at my hysterectomy.
If it helps, I hemorrhaged very badly 21 days post op. I lost a LOT of blood before they got me to surgery and repaired the artery in my cervix that had blown. Even then, the doctors did not want to do a transfusion unless my vitals dipped any lower than they had. They DID insert a total of three IV's in preparation for the transfusion, and took blood for compatibility issues/tests.
Luckily, my vitals held at their minimum (barely) so it wasn't an issue then either. Then again....as weak as I have been feeling this week following that blood loss....maybe I should have had it? It takes "5 to 6 weeks" to replace a pint of blood. I was told I lost much more than that. My post ER blood stats are in the gutter. Because of the blood loss, my recovery from the second surgery will now be harder and longer than the original surgery was. I never felt this bad post-hysterectomy.
If I had known the hemorrhage/second surgery were coming and how I would feel a week later (dizzy, weak, tired, foggy), I would have donated my own blood in advance and requested it be put back in.
Wishing you a smooth, happy and uneventful surgery and recovery. ((hugs))
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12-27-2010, 01:47 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,093
Hysterectomy: December 7th, 2010
Ovaries: Undecided
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Re: Will I need blood?
Hi Singing heart.
I would say that if you can set aside some of your own blood it would be good. Can you tell your Dr. you feel strongly about this and make it clear you want to take the next step?
I took prescription iron for 6 months before surgery-kept bleeding so much.
I was able to get levels up, but never to normal. During surgery(TAH, adhesion removal, and bowel resection) I lost alot of blood. My Dr. opted not to tansfuse me because she felt I would be able with time, to get the levels back up on my own. Before she let me leave the hospital she let me decide for myself if I wanted to have a transfusion. It would have helped me now during recovery, but I said no. Thought I would try on my own first and if I was too weak, I would just drive to the hospital and get it done.
Good luck, and this is not a silly question-be firm about what you want.
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12-27-2010, 03:08 PM
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Posts: 12,392
Hysterectomy: October 15th, 2009
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Will I need blood?
You do need to have at least a minimum blood count to donate so that's one thing. Next, you can only donate one unit, and in an emergency you may require more. You will need a crossmatch test even for your own blood, to confirm it, so don't let that alarm you. You probably won't need blood but emergencies do happen so you could pursue the matter again with your Dr, if your counts are high enough to donate. It's a reasonable request.
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12-28-2010, 02:05 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 18
Hysterectomy: January 19th, 2011
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
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Re: Will I need blood?
Thank you so much, girls, for taking the time to answer my question. Sending each of you hugs and appreciation - Shena09, Shand, Leia L, Seas and Greyown.
Debbie (singingheart)
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12-28-2010, 05:05 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 159
Hysterectomy: December 21st, 2010
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Will I need blood?
considering where you live and the myriad of possibilities, if you are able, it wouldn't hurt to put some blood aside and donate it at the point you won't be needing it.
I had a TVH last week and my blood pressure dropped and they had to give me a lot of fluid and were observing me closely for the need for blood and needing to go back in and fix internal bleeding. I ended up with iron tabs in the end but you never know. yaknow? follow your instincts!~
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