Blood transfusions causing dramatic reactions

[jointpain]

I understand some MPN sufferers have blood transfusions/top-ups from time to time. Do any of you have adverse reactions to having this "new" blood in your body? My wife is back in hospital with another GI bleed and needing blood. In the past when she has blood, normally packed RBC bags. She gets a high fever, very low SPO² and then pneumonia which nearly kills her. Is this a common occurrence and if so what can be done about it?

[jointpain]

Well, she's still in hospital and still not had the endoscopy that according to NICE she should have had within 24hours of admission. In the 44hrs since admission her Hgb has dropped from 64 to 52 last night when she had two bags of Red cells, through the night she has become febrile with a high temperature.

[Jelbea in reply to jointpain]

I am not knowledgeable as other members are but I saw your post and just wanted to say I am thinking of you both and hope you get help soon. The hospital doctors should be explaining how this can happen but nowadays it is difficult to get someone to really listen and take the time to help. Hope things improve quickly.

[jointpain in reply to Jelbea]

Thank you for your thoughts. She had an endoscopy at 11am no cause of bleeding found again. Which is why NICE say within 24 hours!!! Her Hgb is still at 60 so another two bags of RBC today and two more tomorrow, her temperature is back to normal at the moment, so taking a long time for the infusion of the RBCs does help. It's taken four years to get the doctors to adopt this method.

[Jelbea in reply to jointpain]

I am very pleased to hear things are getting better and you are being listened to. Hopefully it wont be too long before your wife gets home again. Good Wishes

[Dodders in reply to jointpain]

Really sorry to hear about the difficult time you're having. I had GI bleeds on several occasions and I know how distressing that can be; haematemesis is scary. I'm not sure I can be of any help but I did sometimes get a fever after blood transfusions. I had to be given piriton l prior to platelet transfusions as I had an adverse reaction on one occasion. I always took paracetamol before transfusions, basic I know but I think it helped. Two nurses always double checked that I was being given matched blood group blood. I hope things improve for you.