Recovery after blood transfusion

[Purplepansies54]

Hello lovely people. I have a question. After a blood transfusion for low platelets and HB did you feel better straight away or did it take a few days? I am still breathless and light headed two days later? I have had repeat blood tests to show levels are higher but not back to normal yet.

[Lyndy2]

Hello Purplepansies54, I love your name!

Just remembering back to the transfusions I have had…the first one made me feel like the duracell bunny!

But subsequent ones took longer to work. So I don’t think there’s a way it should be but hopefully you will feel the benefit soon xx

[Purplepansies54 in reply to Lyndy2]

Thank you Lyndy. I am starting to feel more like my old self today which is two days post transfusion. I am having another blood test tomorrow to see how platelets and HB are doing.

[Trickysite]

it seemed to take a few days for my main symptoms to improve. No magic wand for me. X

[Purplepansies54 in reply to Trickysite]

Thank you Trickysite. I am gradually feeling better. Like you say no magic wand.

[SEckett]

Hi Purplepansies54

I had a blood transfusion on Thursday and I felt a bit light headed afterwards. I’m feeling a bit better but I have another blood transfusion booked in for Friday.

[Purplepansies54 in reply to SEckett]

Hi SEckett, yes I still feel a bit light headed. Don’t know whether it’s the transfusion or that my bloods are still too low. Just trecked to regional hospital to get more blood tests done on a Sunday morning 🙄. No one was expecting me but they are done now. 🤞 hoping they are near normal so I can restart medication.

[SEckett in reply to Purplepansies54]

Hi Purplepansies54

I have a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. They say I need another blood transfusion on Friday and have a CT scan next Sunday. Did you have a biopsy and scan?

[Purplepansies54 in reply to SEckett]

no I haven’t had a biopsy or a scan. I expect they will wait to see whether my levels return to normal over the next few days.

[delia2]

I had two units the first time and felt better the next day but subsequently I had one unit and it took a couple of days. Xx

[Purplepansies54 in reply to delia2]

Thanks Delia2. I am realising that it is a bit different for everyone and probably depends on how low platelets are. I am feeling OK now but not quite my old self yet.

[Riverflo]

Hi,Yes I had 2 bags recently for the same reason and I did feel more energised but it took maybe 4-5 days to notice the improvement. Good luck with yoursx

[Purplepansies54 in reply to Riverflo]

Thank you Riverflo. I think you are right. It might be another few days yet before I am back on track.

[Summergold2]

Was it blood transfusion or platelet transfusion.............if your platelets are low takes a while for your blood to catch up .......mine were as low as 34 for platelets...........recoverd to 160 after 5 days weird.......no blood transfusion but I drank beet juice 12 oz day and wheat grass 1 oz a day (awful stuff). Who knows if it helped as was told chemo does it to you bone marrow and needs time to recover! Everybody is different so tough when we cant control how our body reacts isn't it!!!!

STAY STRONG TEAL SISTER!!!

[Smileeveryday2021]

hello purple pansies. I had a unit on Friday and did notice a slight difference. They told me to give it a couple of days for the full effect. I think a unit takes you up by about 10 … I was 83 hb so am thinking that makes me 93 ish—- still significantly anaemic so I guess we shouldn’t expect to feel normal unless we have several units… just a bit perkier.. which I do…

[Purplepansies54]

Thanks Smileeveryday! Hopefully my levels will start climbing. I am off Niraparib until my platelets are over a 100. Might need another transfusion. Will see.