The Dreaded “T (Transfusion) Day” Has Arrived

Wednesday is known as hump day, yet I don’t feel I have quite overcome the obstacle I face in my daily battle with latest bout of chronic illness. We got good news yesterday as blood tests from Monday showed an improved reticulocyte (new red blood cell) count. Unfortunately, I am still very lethargic and my gums continue to exude a pallor that would make Michael Jackson envious. In my third occurrence of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), my clinical manifestation of disease is not as severe as my previous two. What started as left front limb lameness and jaw pain has certainly become much more significant when my immune system started to destroy my red blood cells (RBCs). Fortunately, I have not had a sudden, massive hemolytic crisis. The onset of my anemia has been much more gradual and I have not been hospitalized, as I have been during my previous two IMHA episodes. I am hovering right at the threshold of really needing the help of blood products to improve the oxygenation of my body tissues. I even have a mild physiologic heart murmur due to the fact that my heart is working harder to pump a lower number of oxygen transporting cells around my body. These facts, prompted my dad, who is also my veterinarian, to make today “T day” (transfusion day). I am so grateful to Cynthia, a veterinary technician who did the crossmatch between my blood and a sample from the blood donor. The crossmatch makes it more likely that my body will accept the new RBCs instead of rejecting them. Cynthia even walked my dad through the steps of doing an in house crossmatch, which is helpful to my dad should the need arise for me to receive another batch of blood during this IMHA occurrence. After spending the all evening in the hospital getting my transfusion, my dad finally removed my intravenous (IV) catheter to take me home for a good night’s rest in my own bed. My dad is going to closely monitor my vitals over the next 24 hours to watch for a transfusion reaction, which can still occur despite the positive crossmatch.