Blood Loss during surgery

Hi,
I'm curious.......did anyone have any issues with blood loss during their Lower Body Lift??
It's such a big operation - I'm wondering how many folks had to receive blood during/after their procedure.

Thanks for sharing!!!
Ruth

I did not have to Ruth.  I know my doctor said if its much over 6 hours sometimes a transfusion is necessary, but he doesn't look to do to many surgeries over 6 hours for that reason.

Unfortunately I was one of the unlucky ones that needed a blood transfusion.  I needed 2 units.  No big deal - I didn't even feel different.  Doctor said that my labs were off, not by much - but enough that he felt better that I should have a transfusion.

I didn't need one

Nope, didn't need one in fact my PS told the anthesia guy his numbers had to be off cause there was so little blood loss!

I donated my own blood before my scheduled surgery.  I have iron infusions on a regular basis and the surgeon thought it was best to have it available should I need it. 

My surgeon told me he could not remember the last time he did a transfusion on a patient.  I know it happens but I don't think it's common.

Hi Ruth,

My surgery went for 7.5 hrs.  I had donated 2 units of my own blood just in case.  I didn't lose blood during surgery, but I guess my labs showed I was low on day 2, so my DR ordered me to get the two units of my own blood transfused.  I didn't feel any different,...... HOWEVER,  I didn't for the life of me understand why the nurse didn't give me oral pain meds while I was given the transfusion.  She said she didn't think it was a good idea that I receive the blood and the morphine at the same time.  So she replaced my morphine drip with me getting my blood.  She told me if i felt pain to let her know.  Well, after 3.5 hrs of no morphine I was like "give me my drugs back." 

Anyway to make a long story short, if the nurse says something that doesn't make sense, CALL THE DOCTOR.  I am way to nice and didn't know what to expect.  I certainly learned in the hospital, unfortunately, that I had to retrain each staff change on the routine, what the dr wanted them to do, call them to remind them...... blah, blah, blah. I think I had a rough time because it wasn't the usual nursing staff being over the holidays and all.  Kathy S said her experience with the hospital staff was great. 





 

I was under for just over 6 hrs and lost 4 pints of blood. My numbers were in the grey zone where I could have needed blood but didnt' HAVE to have it. Because I lived so far from the surgery suite I didnt donate my own blood. Mostly because of my preference not wanting someone elses blood or taking that chance, I didn't have a transfusion even though my numbers were low. They started me on a higher iron supplement and I am on a much stronger "bed rest, you're week and need to rebuild red blood cell count" order...

I'm sure if I got a transfusion I'd feel much better, but to me i'd rather let my body recover on it's own than take a chance with the transfusions (since I'm in germany, although I know they screen their blood even more than the states - lol... i'm still paranoid).

I'm with you, I'll do anything to avoid taking blood.

What are you doing to increase your blood count?  I'm just starting to research what I can do to build my levels pre-surgery.
Thanks!