Last Tuesday, May 19th, Bernat visited the hospital to receive another blood transfusion. Since we visit the hospital every three weeks, we want to tell you what happens during these special treatments.
Today, we would like to explain what these visits consist of, and what to expect.
Today it started at home, when at first light just before leaving to go to the hospital we have to get bernats port a cath ready with antiseptic cream and until he gets his injection in the hospital its covered up the cream takes 30 mins to go into effect and last for 2 hrs
It always starts at home, as soon as the sun rises. Before we go to the Saint Joan of the Arc Hospital, we have to prepare Bernat’s Port-a-Cath with antiseptic cream. We wait to perform the needle prick until we are at the hospital. The needle is covered with film. The cream takes 30 minutes to go into effect and lasts for two hours.
Once we get to the hospital, around 8am, we go directly to the Day Hospital. There, they introduce the needle into Bernat’s Port-a-Cath, and extract blood in order to analyze it. The needle cannot be taken out until the treatment is finalized, so that after, when they need to transfer the blood, they don’t have to return to pinch the area.
The level of red blood cells was less than the level of red blood cells that Bernat had in his blood on the day of the initial test. If in the time that has passed since the latest transfusion, if during this period there has been any alteration (fever, gastroenteritis, etc.), the level can vary, since blood cells can destroy themselves quickly each month. This March, for example Bernat was at 7’1. Before the transfusion his level was up to 9-11 approximately. This means that as a rule, his level went down 3-4 in just three weeks.
So that we have an idea, the normal level of erythrocytes in a healthy person is around 13-15. It is for this reason that Bernat has chronic anemia, which his body is already accustomed to. This does not mean that he does not have to be monitored, since it is dangerous for metabolism for his level to drop below 7, and it produces changes in the heart, general tiredness, etc.
After the visit, and following the results of the analysis, it is necessary to do the transfusion. In Bernat’s case, it’s always necessary. So we went to the Day Hospital, where they receive the bag of blood and prepare everything necessary to do the transfusion (check the blood type, the blood dosage, etc.) The transfusion, due to the amount of blood and body weight, has to be carried out in an hour and a half. One must add the transfusion to previous and future treatments. Once the transfusion has been carried out, they extract the needle and clean the Port-a-Cath zone. In total, it has been 7-8 hours, and little Bernat has behaved like a true hero.
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