During my second round of BEACOPP chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma I found out I would need to have a blood transfusion. Before I started treatment I was told this could happen, however it was still a shock. It's weird to think I used to donate blood when I was younger, but never thought I'd ever be on the receiving end.
If you're going through chemo and find yourself in a similar situation then hopefully this blood transfusion guide will give you an idea of what to expect.
What is a blood transfusion?
A blood transfusion is when you are given blood from someone else (a donor).
Chemotherapy drugs can prevent your bone marrow from producing enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. While having treatment you therefore have regular blood tests to check how your body is coping.
One thing they measure is your haemoglobin (HB) levels. HB is contained in your red blood cells and carries oxygen around your body. A shortage of red blood cells is called anaemia. If your HB count drops too low you can start to feel extremely tired and/or find you get out of breath easily. This is when you may need a blood transfusion.
The normal HB level for a woman is 115–165 grams per litre of blood (g/L). My HB had been dropping gradually throughout treatment, but at its lowest (when they decided I would need the transfusion) it was 77. I was struggling to walk upstairs or stand up without feeling dizzy. My skin also looked grey and pasty. I naturally have pale skin, so when someone says I look very pale it's always worrying!
Before your blood transfusion
A few days before my transfusion I visited my local hospital to be cross-matched. They took a sample of my blood which was then closely matched to donor blood. The main reasons they do this is to reduce possible side effects and make sure you get the best match possible.
Because I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma I need to have irradiated blood. This means the donor blood has been treated with X-rays to prevent any remaining white blood cells from dividing. From what I understand, irradiated blood is common practice in the UK anyway. However, if I ever need to have a blood transfusion abroad then this is something I need to remember for the rest of my life.
What to expect during your blood transfusion
My appointment was booked for just after 9am, at the day ward where I usually have chemo. When I arrived the nurses took me through to one of the comfy armchairs, then explained the procedure. After making sure I was happy, I was asked to sign a consent form.
Each unit of blood can take up to four hours. My consultant had prescribed two units of blood; the first over 2 hours and the second over 3 hours. I have a PICC line so the nurses were able to connect my blood bags directly to that. If you don't have a central line then you'll be cannulated so the blood can be administered through a needle in your arm.
My observations (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate etc.) were checked before we got started. They repeated this process after the first 15 minutes and regularly throughout the transfusion. Complications from blood transfusions are extremely rare, but these checks ensure any problems are picked up straight away.
It was a long and boring day. I bought a stack of magazines with me to help pass the time, otherwise I slept or chatted to the other patients on the ward.
After your blood transfusion
By 5pm I was home and resting on the sofa. When my mum picked me up from the hospital she commented straight away on how much better I looked. It can take up to 24 hours to feel your symptoms improve after a blood transfusion, but by the following morning I felt so better.
Three days later I had another blood test to recheck my levels, and thankfully everything came back looking good. My consultant advised me that for my next round of chemo they would slightly reduce the dosage so hopefully it'll be easier for me to handle.
Thinking about giving blood?
If you're eligible to give blood then please consider doing so. In the UK we need approximately 135,000 new donors a year to replace those who can no longer donate. Visit blood.co.uk to find out more.
Thanks for reading. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Or you can reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram.
Image credits:
- Red blood cells - Arek Socha from Pixabay
Sending you LOTS of positive vibes and warm wishes during your journey. It is so important that people donate blood when they can. Your post gave me an informative insight about the process. I am glad that you felt better later on after the transfusion. Glad everything came back OK from this process.
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Thank you so much ❤️ I started donating blood when I was 17 and now I've experienced a blood transfusion myself (and can no longer donate) I've been trying even harder to encourage people to sign up!