A blood transfusion is definitely not a pleasant thing, but as most procedures go, they aren’t that bad either. Why you are getting a blood transfusion can be a determining factor as to how easily the procedure will go.
I personally just had a blood transfusion because my hemoglobin was at 79 and my iron was at 2. Symptoms I personally felt from the anemia was tiredness, weakness, shaky legs and hands, heavy heart palpitations, a whooshing sound in my head that included my heartbeat and dizziness. I also had started to slur, my tongue felt like it was cut up and my lips had started to crack. I was very pale with deep dark circles under my eyes. These symptoms may not appear in all people, and you may need a blood transfusion for a reason other than severe anemia.
If going to the emergency department for severe anemia, expect that they will want to do blood tests. For those who are severely anemic, this may prove to be a problem. Severe anemia comes with the downfall of often having small, rolling and/or collapsing veins making blood tests a bit of a challenge. If they have to “dig” for the vein, this can be pretty painful and will leave awful bruising. Applying ice immediately to the area that the needle was inserted can significantly reduce bruising and swelling. Another hint I recently got from my doctor was to press down firmly on the area for a full five minutes once the needle has been removed, it may be painful but will reduce the bruising in the long run.
Once the blood tests are collected it takes approximately an hour for the lab to deliver results. From there the doctor will decide how much blood you need, what your blood type is and the match will be made for you. At this point, if it hasn’t already been done, an intravenous needle will be inserted most likely into your hand. The doctor may or may not start you on a saline drip. The previously mentioned issues with needles applies to the IV as well.
It can take several hours for the donor blood to arrive to your room. When it does arrive, two nurses will double check to make sure the blood matches the information on the work-order and your wrist band. This is to ensure you get the right blood.
Once the blood is hooked up to your IV, you are looking at approximately 2 hours per pint. If you have a heart condition this could take much longer. Because the blood is refrigerated, you may get a cool feeling in your hand and arm when it starts. A nurse will keep a close eye on you, especially during the first 15 minutes. He/she will be watching for a fever, a significant change in blood pressure and/or pulse. You will be asked questions about how you are feeling, any itching or shortness of breath amongst other things. The fever is usually tested with a normal thermometer under the tongue, a blood pressure cuff is used to check your blood pressure. The blood pressure cuff is uncomfortable as it squeezes the upper arm and then releases, but is not unbearable. Your pulse is taken by a little clamp loosely attached to your finger, it is not uncomfortable in the least. After the first 15 minutes the nurse will continue checking on you periodically.
If you are getting more than one pint of blood, expect it to take between 10 and 30 minutes between switching the bags. With every new bag of blood, the two nurses will again double check the codes and you will be monitored closely again for the first 15 minutes, then periodically afterward.
When all the pints of blood have been emptied, the tube going from the blood bag to your IV will be flushed with saline, which takes about 30 minutes if you are going through a bag every 2 hours. Once the tube is flushed, the nurse will remove the IV, and this is where you want to press hard on the area for 5 minutes. Now you can go home! You can drive yourself, there should be no after effects unless of course, like me you were severely anemic, at which point the only side effect is that you will feel much better.
I hope this basic rundown of a typical blood transfusion helps you understand what to expect in this situation and that you are now equipped with the knowledge to handle the situation with ease.