Low Hemoglobin and Blood Transfusion

[mymothersdaughter2008]

Hello Everyone.  I've posted here before and was touched with all the thoughtful responses that I thought I would try again...my mother is in week 28 of treatment.  They stopped tx 7 days ago because they couldn't get her hemoglobin levels to quit decreasing.  Since that time, it has continued to decrease from 9.5 to 9.0.  They have scheduled her for a blood transfusion on Monday.  Have any of you had this experience?  I'm just not sure how concerned to be...she has no liver damage thus far, so I don't think the pause in the tx is terrible but I'm really concerned about the hemoglobin.  A blood transfusion seems rather serious...any help?

[jodiebeketov]

Hello,
so I'm 17, and have had severe anemia for a while. I've been threatened by my Dr several times about a blood transfusion.  My iron level has dropped as low as a 4 and i struggle to keep it above an 8. As long as they can get her level up I'm sure she will be fine. Talk to the Dr about your concern. I'm glad you care about your mom so much. I'm sure everything will work out great. Thanks. :)

[indyjo]

Hi. I recently wrote about my Hgb at 7.5 and my reluctance to stop the riba. I didn't realize that this is pretty serious. My doctor took me off the riba for a couple of weeks and am already on Procrit. My Hgb is above 9 which was the goal. People here mentioned transfusion but the doc didn't. I do feel much better. It's funnny how you feel bad so much of the time that you don't even recognize when you feel worse. Good Luck to you and your Mom. Hope she recognizes how fortunate she is to have you!

[mymothersdaughter2008]

It's good to know that someone can sustain a low hemoglobin level for a while - I know she's been just exhausted. You must be feeling the same, and I"m sorry to hear it.  Sounds like a blood transfusion may just be one of several SOPs for low hgb...

Good luck to you, and thanks for the comment!

[smaylea]

Just today I found out my hgb is 8.5 down from 9.5 where it has been for most of my 20 wks of tx. Doc wants me to start procrit on Tues and reduce my riba until it goes back up. Doc did mention transfusion is next step if we can't get my hgb back up.

I had a friend who had to have a transfusion and she said it took about 3 hours of a drip and she felt much better afterwards. Then she got on the procrit.

I hope your mom is okay...I know she can't be feeling well with the low count. Take care.

[rita863]

I am sorry I do not have any experience with that.  I agree that perhaps stopping for a week or so may not change the out come.  Had she been on any of the safety meds?  
I am sure one of the other members will give you more information.

Good luck to you and your Mom

peace
rita