Freeper Maria Bush Needs Opinions

pepperdog

[pepperdog]

Freeper Maria Bush's husband is in the hospital. He requires tranfusions.

[don-o]

Read the thread. See what Freepers do -

[MindBender26]

Unless he is a woman who plans to get pregnant, there is no problem with + going to -. - would be better, but + is fine.

[pepperdog]

last para: her = your

[TheLion]

An interesting question. I found this little bit of info. There is much more on the link.

A patient should ideally receive their own blood or type-specific blood products to minimize the chance of a transfusion reaction. If time allows, the risk will further be reduced by cross-matching blood, in addition to blood typing both recipient and donor. Cross-matching involves mixing a sample of the recipient's blood with a sample of the donor's blood and checking to see if the mixture agglutinates, or forms clumps. Blood bank technicians usually check for agglutination with a microscope, and if it occurs, that particular donor's blood cannot be transfused to that particular recipient. Blood transfusion is a potentially risky medical procedure and it is vital that all blood specimens are correctly identified, so in cross-matching labeling is standardized using a barcode system known as ISBT 128.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type

[HairOfTheDog]

I know what FReepers do. They search Google, copy paste stuff they find on websites, report what happened to their Aunt Linda who was type O positive, a couple even offered blood, and other offered advice on how to get it there in a cooler.

It's real interesting, but I'm not sure it's good medical advice, and I'm not sure someone showing up with a bottle of blood they drove up from who knows where in a beer cooler is really the right way to go about this, but... as I said...

carry on!

[greatvikingone]

While it is true that those with O- (i.e., Rh negative O blood type) ideally should receive O-, if there is a shortage of O-, women who can't bear children and men will be given O+. There is a small risk of transfusion reaction with the Rh factor, but even if it occurs it is generally a mild one, unlike the life-threatening reactions one might get with ABO incompatibility (i.e., type O receiving A,B, or AB; type B receiving A or AB; or type A receiving B or AB). The reason Rh negative women of childbearing potential are excluded from receiving Rh positive blood is to prevent Rh immune sensitization and difficulties with future pregnancies. Also, please understand that transfusion reactions can still occur even with "compatible" blood types, due to the wide variety of red blood cell antigens know to exist.

Dr. W.

[srmorton]

The O Positive blood will not hurt him in the least the first time he receives it. Humans do not have a naturally occurring antibody to the Rh D antigen on which the positive typing is based. It has to be stimulated by prior contact with the antigen. The only ways to have contact with the antigen is by becoming pregnant with an Rh positive baby (which, of course, your husband has not) or to be transfused with Rh positive blood. This has not happened before or the antibody screen on his serum would show the presence of the antibody and he would not be a candidate for such a transfusion.

I am a registered Medical Technologist and my advice would be to use this option only as a last resort. Even though this initial transfusion will not cause your husband any adverse effects, a transfusion like this can only be done once because afterwards he would make an antibody that would prevent him from being able to receive O Positive blood again. There is a drug (RhoGam) that prevents the formation of the antibody, but I do not know how well it works if an entire unit of O Positive blood has been transfused. If it is necessary to save his life or if he requires so much blood that it would be hard for the hospital to obtain that much O Negative (which is always in short supply), then I would recommend that he go ahead and receive the transfusion. If he needs only a unit or two and it is not an emergency situation, I would recommend that he wait until the hospital can obtain some O Negative blood.

Hope this helps!

Susan R. Morton, MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MA

[pepperdog]

Yes, it helps greatly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[fullchroma]

I'm O positive and CMV negative which is better, they tell me, than regular O postive. I'm in Nashville and a pint is his if it helps.

[pepperdog]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[don-o]

Who peed your Cheerios this morning?

[pepperdog]

Thank you for your offer. I'll tell her about this tomorrow including the CMV negative part. I appreciate all freepers all the time, but tonight more than ever!

[fullchroma]

He is a saint!! By the way, is his cholesterol low? I've heard that regular blood donation keeps ones cholesterol down.

[msnimje]

...and I'm not sure someone showing up with a bottle of blood they drove up from who knows where in a beer cooler is really the right way to go about this, but... as I said...

You are in danger of getting a "FUI" ticket.

[HairOfTheDog]

No one! If everyone else can post whatever information they can google without proving any qualifications, surely a post or two warning that this isn't exactly the best way to get medical advice is not completely off base.

[HairOfTheDog]

Pardon?

[pepperdog]

Everyone, I'm shutting down. I can't contact her any longer tonight, I guess the hospital switchboard turns off or something, I get either a fast busy signal or an "all circuits are busy" recording. I'll look at this thread again in the morning and also post the latest on what the Doctor's are saying. Thanks to everyone.

[msnimje]

He is a saint!! By the way, is his cholesterol low? I've heard that regular blood donation keeps ones cholesterol down.

It is low but he is slim and takes good care of himself.

He actually hasn't donated in a few years for not very good reasons. We live pretty far out in the country, we're busy, etc. I think this is a good reason for us both to get back in the habit of giving regularly.

He started giving 6 times a year in college when he found out his type was rare and needed. It was easy then because he could just do it at school.

[msnimje]

Freeping under the Influence.

Do you really think someone would actually drive a bottle of blood to a person who is in desperate need of some? But we would most assuredly drive to Memphis if need be.

[Paleo Conservative]