Hip-hop anonymous - a PAO journal

At 10 weeks post-op, I've decided to tell my blood donation/transfusion story. I tell it only to make the point that we as individuals have to be proactive and cautious about our medical care. The day of my surgery, I had provided Tacoma General Hospital the paperwork that went along with my autologous blood donation. (I had donated two units of my own blood.) On Day 1 post-op, the nurses came into my room and said I needed a blood transfusion because my hemotocrit numbers were low. "Great," I thought. "Maybe I won't be so tired." They brought me a piece of paper to sign; it was a consent to receive blood. Drugged up and extremely tired, I scrawled my name across the bottom. The first unit of blood went in. As the nurse was hanging up the second unit, she mentioned something about making sure I wasn't having a reaction to the transfusion. My heart hit my gut. "This isn't my blood?" I managed to say. We looked at each other, fear ref...

Thank goodness I'm done blood-letting. The process is quick and simple, but I feel the effects for a few days afterward. Tired, tired. I went in today with my hemotocrit having dropped 3 percent from last week. Which made me anemic going in, and even more anemic coming out. I have 18 days to make more. And I look forward to getting a transfusion after surgery with my own beautiful blood.

Feeling better than I did on Monday, I gave my first unit of blood today. Everything went smoothly, and my hematocrit was 39 percent, 2 percent higher than it was when I gave blood for my last surgery. Which is ironic, cause last time, I was super picky about my diet and taking iron supplements. This time around, I've been careful but not obsessed like last time. It still surprises me though, that my number falls on the low side for women. I've been taking iron supplements since February, so why still low? Guess I'll have to make that trip to my primary care physician once this is all over. My second -- and last -- donation will take place on Friday the 17th. For your entertainment, I'm re-linking the funny video that inspired the title of this blog.

I'm supposed to donate my first unit of blood tomorrow, but I woke up today with the beginning of a sinus infection. Perfect timing. Even if the blood bank were to allow me to donate, I would decline. Don't want those germs to sneak back on me, now do I? One of my biggest fears post-surgery is having a cold. It took more than a month before I could simply blow my nose without pain. It was almost two months before I could sneeze without feeling as if my hip was going to rip open! I cannot have a cold after surgery; I just can't! The sinus infection isn't the only reason for the "blech" title. The past week or so, I've felt down as I start to make arrangements for my RPAO. I'm not ready to do this again. I was having so much fun with my new life, and now I have to backtrack and start over. Lesson: Even though I've already been through one pre-surgery process -- including the emotional rollercoaster -- I'm going through it again. Just because I...

My second, and last, blood donation went well today. I only lost one percentage point in my iron count as compared the three that they thought I might lose because of having my donations so close together. The weird thing is that I'm still anemic. If I weren't taking 99 mg of elemental iron daily (suggested intake for women is 18 mg) and adding lots of spinach and red meat into my diet, and avoiding foods/drinks like dark colas and red wine that inhibit iron absorption, who knows how low my number would be. It's something I'll look into after my surgery if it's still an issue. I was lucky that my insurance said it would pay for my donations because it's really expensive. My costs, per unit: $221.10 donation fee, $50 shipping fee, $62.50 processing fee = $333.60 per unit. Whew! And not that I want to be weak after surgery, but I kinda hope they find a reason to give me my blood back so my time and dollars aren't a waste! I'm feeling better than I was yest...

Oh yes. Yes, it is funny. And quite relevant to today's post. I gave myself a present today that I may get to use once my surgery rolls around. One unit of beautiful, burgundy blood. Everything went well today, with the exception that my iron count wasn't as high as it should be. I really don't know how that's possible with the supplements and extra care I've taken with my diet, so it's a little disconcerting. If a woman wants to donate for other people, her iron count needs to be 38 percent (higher for men). Autologous donations, however, only require 33 percent. My number was 37. When I go back to donate my second unit on the 27th, I can expect to lose about 3 percent, I was told. That's too close for my comfort, so I'm going to increase the supplements a bit and be even more cautious of my diet. I feel really lightheaded today, and if I don't get my numbers up, it will be even worse next time, and I'll still be weak before the surgery, which I...

Am writing this in between the ever-so frequent visits to the restroom tonight. 64 ounces of water equals nearly as many pit stops. But my blood donation tomorrow should go well! As long as I eat that "big breakfast" in the morning ... Hmmm. To me, a "big breakfast" is cereal and a banana. Do you think that's what they mean? Maybe I'll add some bacon and call it good! P.S. I've decided that I don't like the sound fresh spinach makes when the leaves rub together. Blech!

Today, Maryanna called from United Blood Services to schedule my autologous (ah TAH luh gus) blood donations. I need to give two units before my surgery. The first will be March 6 (which puzzles me because they told me blood has a shelf life of 42 days, which makes it older than that by the time I have surgery. Note to self: Double check with nice ladies to make sure they aren't making a mistake. I only have so much to give, people). The second will be March 13th. I was told to drink 64 ounces of water the day before I donate, eat a big breakfast the day of, and bring my driver's license. Alrighty then. I've never given blood before, only plasma, so this will be interesting. I've read the reports questioning the benefit of donating blood before surgery. Some say that giving blood so close to surgery can actually make a person weaker and more likely to need a donation afterward. Some people have relatives donate for them so they don't have to donate themselves but ar...