Firstly let me explain why people with cancer need blood transfusions, or at least one of the reasons. A lot of the treatments given basically make the patient anaemic and no amount of iron tablets will combat it. Hence the need for the transfusion.
The ambulatory care unit in the hospital is the place where transfusions are given.
I arrive just before my appointment at 9am and am told to expect to be in the unit for the day. This is helpful as the disabled parking at the hospital only allows 6 hours with no return within 4 hours. Good job my lovely, lovely husband came with me, so he could move the car at the appointed time.
First the joy of having the cannula fitted. Sadly, the only vein the excellent technician can find is at the side of my wrist, near the base of my thumb. My least favourite spot. On the plus side he did find it first time. Then several vials of blood for much cross matching and the like. This will take at least 90 minutes. About 2 and half hours later the results come back and then we have to wait for the powers that be to authorise the transfusion, another 30 minutes or so. I am asked whether I would like 1 or 2 units. I opt for 2 as I don't really want to go through this again any time soon.
3 hours after we arrived the transfusion begins, after much checking of me, the blood and everything else. I thought that they were thorough in the chemo unit, but the ambulatory care unit are extremely thorough.
The transfusion is given over 3 hours and my temperature and blood pressure are checked a lot. This is in case I have a reaction to the blood. So in spite of the fact it is cross matched and the correct blood group there is still a risk that something could go wrong. During the 3 hours I snooze on and off. Reading the paper proves too problematic with my right hand wrist being pretty much incapacitated,
At one point I open my eyes and everything in the ward seems brighter and more in focus, clearly being anaemic affects more than just one's ability to breath.
After the 3 hours are up, the next unit arrives and we then begin the negotiation to have this unit put through in less than 3 hours. After the first hour or so and no reaction the time is reduced by about 40 minutes.
My transfusion finishes and I pop to the loo which is about 10 yards away. No puffing or panting. Result! Whilst I do feel full of beans, relatively, spending the day laying around is actually quite tiring. I sleep really well that night. However, I wake to find that the cold that has been lurking in the background now appears in the forefront with a vengeance, but I still feel considerably less shattered than I had the previous morning. I am hopeful that I won't have to have another transfusion for quite a while yet and am also aware that iron tablets are a complete waste of money when dealing with chemotherapy induced anaemia.
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