I was planning on donating 2 pints of blood for my surgery, as the doc said if I need blood then I could use my own. I gave blood today for my upcoming surgery, and though I didn't pass out I came pretty close (sweaty and pale) - I feel a little whimpy. They did get the 1 pint, but the nurse recommended I don't give the 2nd pint. I do have a pre-op consult next week and I'll ask Dr. B if he thinks I will need it. Did anyone whose had the surgery need both pints? I know I can use the blood bank too.
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Hi Debra,
Lucky for me, in my family we all have the same blood type, so I donated one pint, and so did my husband and teenage son. I was given all 3 pints during the surgery.__________________________________________
Debbe - 50 yrs old
Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
Told by Dr. my curve would never progress
Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees
Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees
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My husband donated a pint for me, which I got and the DR said he also gave some of my own blood back to me. Not sure how as I didn't donate any?
Many people say if you do donate your own, you will need more after surgery.
Janet36 year young cardiac RN
old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital
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My doctor won't let me donate to myself; wants me to go in "fully leaded" so to speak. They are saying I may need 2 pints. I'm going to have to rely on the blood bank. My 2 children both have their father's blood type. I was adopted so I have no family members with my blood type. I'm O neg and none of my friends are O neg and that's the only blood I can take. But I can donate to everyone else! But I know they really screen the blood bank blood well these days.Age 56
Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
Thoracic 68
Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
Dr Bridwell St Louis
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696
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Same with me, went in fully leaded. I did need 2 pints from the blood bank, about 3 or 4 days later.
My offer for donation was rejected.
Ed49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
Pre surgery curves T70,L70
ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada
Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=
My x-rays
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258
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Originally posted by jsully View PostMy husband donated a pint for me, which I got and the DR said he also gave some of my own blood back to me. Not sure how as I didn't donate any?
Many people say if you do donate your own, you will need more after surgery.
JanetBe happy!
We don't know what tomorrow brings,
but we are alive today!
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Originally posted by jsully View PostMy husband donated a pint for me, which I got and the DR said he also gave some of my own blood back to me. Not sure how as I didn't donate any?
Many people say if you do donate your own, you will need more after surgery.
JanetNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation
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Originally posted by Debra JGL View PostI was planning on donating 2 pints of blood for my surgery, as the doc said if I need blood then I could use my own. I gave blood today for my upcoming surgery, and though I didn't pass out I came pretty close (sweaty and pale) - I feel a little whimpy. They did get the 1 pint, but the nurse recommended I don't give the 2nd pint. I do have a pre-op consult next week and I'll ask Dr. B if he thinks I will need it. Did anyone whose had the surgery need both pints? I know I can use the blood bank too.
I saved 8 units prior to my surgery, but only needed 2.
I work in a spine center where there are at least 8-10 major spine surgeries done every week. The surgeons do not encourage patients to have their own blood banked. I think they would actually discourage it in your case.
Blood bank blood is very thoroughly screened, so there is very little chance of getting anything contagious from it. I think that blood donated by friends and relatives is actually less thoroughly screened, so there may be more of a risk with that source.
Either way, do not stress out about it.
Regards,
LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation
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Hi Debra-
Dr. B also recommended donating 2 pints, and I did both. It was the first time I have ever donated in my life and I felt wimpy too. I didn't need the blood during the surgery, but that night, when I was in the PACU, they had to give both pints back to me. I would definately donate both as you may need both, unless you don't mind getting someone else's blood from the blood bank.
WHat levels are you getting fused from? Also, are you getting posterior-only surgery, or A/P surgery?
THanks for the email the other day. WHen I get a chance, I'm definately going to write back. Hard to find time with the kids and still taking long naps during the day!
Take care,
JenMSurgery date: June 8, 2010 with Dr. Boachie
Thoracic curve: 55 degrees, corrected to 25 degrees
Lumbar curve: 58 degrees, corrected to 27 degrees
Posterior-only surgery, Levels T3-L3
31 year old mother of 2 young kids
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I figured it was something like "Cell Saver" I just never heard of that before. I was wondering what if there were bone fragments but as someone mentioned, they filter it first. Neat!36 year young cardiac RN
old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital
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My surgeon also won't allow me to predonate (wants me to be tanked up when I go into surgery), and he told me he quit using cellsaver I think to cut down on risk of infection. He told me I would need blood bank blood.
My surgery is expected to be about 8 hours posterior, fusion T10 to sacrum with pelvic fixation. There is also a large amount of arthritis, severe spinal stenosis, spondlyloisthesis at L4, lateral listhesis at several levels, as well as an unstable 47+ degree lumbar curve that will all be fixed. This is a revision as I had an uninstrumented fusion 25 years ago L4-S1 with non-union of L4-5. My surgeon told me I would be intubated and on the vent overnight "as a safety issue." I am so worried about this part of it, although he reassured me I would be heavily sedated. Still, I am terrified at the prospect.
Has anyone else been told this or experienced this? I know I have asked here before, but am hoping for a few more replies.
DebraJGL,
good luck with your surgery in September. I will look forward to hearing about your recovery.
GayleGayle, age 50
Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1
mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
2017 curves stable/skeletely mature
also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable
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My surgeon asked for three units, but i could only give two as my haemoglobin fell below the benchmark. They cross matched my third and i also had Cell Saver. I did not require my blood in an 'emergency' type way and therefore had it returned to me over the next 24 hours after surgery as a sort of 'pick me up'.Vali
44 years young! now 45
Surgery - June 1st, 2009
Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
Post -op - 5 degrees
T11 - S1 Posterior
L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion
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My situation was sort of an exception to the rule so don't let it scare you. I donated 1 pint about 2 weeks pre-op (probably shouldn't have) and then had totally unexpected, severe bleeding during surgery which required 8 units to be transfused. All the blood testing before and after showed no indication why this occurred. I have had surgery in the past and never had a problem like this. The complication was managed extremely well, and I had no other problems post-op other than swelling/fluid retention. According to my Dr., this was a bizarre complication and most importantly, they knew how to handle it. Despite this, I have had a great recovery.
Good luck with everything--you'll do just fine.
Anne in PA
Age 58
Diagnosed at age 14, untreated, no problem until age 50
T4 to sacrum fusion
63 thoracic now 35, 92 lumbar now 53
Dr. Baron Lonner, 2/2/10
Am pain-free, balanced, happy & an inch taller !
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I gave one unit but decided on my own not to give anymore after I felt totally wiped out afterwards. (I'd never given blood before, as I'm too small to qualify for regular donations.) I just let the secretary know that I was stopping at one unit and it was fine. Dr. B used the cell saver on me and as it turned out I didn't need any additional blood after my surgeries anyway.Chris
A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
Post-op curve: 12 degrees
Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York
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Well, like everything it seems about this surgery, this isn't black or white either. Thanks so much for your responses, I really feel more prepared to understand what Dr. B recommends. I'm very willing to try to give another pint and would really love to have it on tap, but maybe it's not the best thing for me weeks before surgery. Like you, Chris, I felt wiped out afterwards, but i do feel fine today. Jen - I'm having posterior only, but i still don't know how long the fusion will be. This wed. I'm having an mri of my lumbar to see in what condition the disks are and a pre op visit with Dr. B. Hopefully I'll know then how long my fusion will be. There is arthritis in L1 &L2 and maybe L3, so Dr. B doesn't want to end the fusion for sure in L1 or 2. I am a candidate for selective fusion as well because my lumbar curve corrected to below 25 on bending xrays. So, my 2 possibilities are t3 - t11, saving my lumbar disks, but with less of a correction (probably to 35 or 40 deg.) & with the possibility of needing an extension in the future, OR t3 to L3 or 4 with a poss. correction 25 - 30. There are pros and cons to both, so I'm just going to see what Dr. B thinks is the best option for me. Also, Linda - WOW 8 pints - I'm impressed.Debra
Age 45
Pre - surgery Thoracic 69, Lumbar 48
Post-surgery Thoracic 37, Lumbar 39 (unfused)
Fused T4-T12
Milwaukee braced, 11 years old to 15 yo
Surgery Sept. 1st, 2010 Dr. Boachie
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