Why do people with Crohn's Disease need blood transfusions

[fateful_one]

I am wondering why some people w/ crohns need/get blood transfusions? How does one know that they need one? Is it because of opensings/ulcer?

Any insight appreciated

 

[katiesue1506]

Due to anemia, if you get too low you have to transfuse before you die. Transfusion area is when your hemoglobin is around 6 or 7. Any lower than 8 and you're playing with fire.

The anemia can be due to poor absorption, malnutrition, or occult bleeding from ulcers.

 

[Dallies]

We were told if Meg's anemia kept getting lower, they would give her a blood transfusion lower it was at 9, it went from 12 to 11 to 9. It's now stabilised at 10. Hopefully after her surgery her anemia will be sorted out.

 

[belle1999]

Well, sounds like Dallies and KatieSue got ya covered. I have anemia and had to have blood transfusions while in the hospital. My hemoglobin was low around 8 (can't remember exactly now). Took several bags of blood to get me back up to 10.

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

When I was first admitted to the hospital my hemoglobin count was 13 and within 5 hours dropped to 8 since I was having a bloody B.M. every 10 minutes. I was transferred to the I.C.U. and was given blood transfusions for 13 hours until finally they decided to do surgery.

So yea, there's quite a few reasons why it would be needed for crohn's sufferers.

 

[CrohnsHobo]

Had Crohn's 15 years and never had a transfusion . . .

 

[fateful_one]

wow, i didn't know Crohn's could cause such excessive anemia. i can understand the blood lose situations. i had an near total lose of white blood cells a few years back...it sucked. i didn't need plasma, but the doc's had to give me something that stimulated my WBC asap.

 

[Silvermoon]

lol Yes I think everyone here has basically covered it.... not everyone has to have transfusions, such is the case with CrohnsHobo!

I think, especially if there is bleeding involved, in a majority of cases, anemia happens more so with women. We tend to loose enough blood as it is (ie menstral periods), so if something else starts bleeding, well our iron stores and hemoglobin levels can drop quite drastically.

There is also the other side, where women in general tend to take in less iron (ie red meats - of course, this is not the case in MY particular situaltion...lol) ... and a faster rate of loss of calcium to help absord the iron we do take in.

this is not to say that these situations DON'T happen in men either... but women over all seem to be at a higher risk for anemia when something does go wrong....

Hope we have shed some light on your question!!

 

[D Bergy]

I would avoid any blood transfusion unless it is a matter of life or death, which it usually is. There are likely thousands of unknown pathogens, and known pathogens that cannot be reliably detected in the blood.

A blood transfusion is a crap shoot at best, as you can pick up any number of infections, which may not be tolerated well by someone who already has an immune system problem.

If you are likely to need blood for a surgical procedure, have your own blood stored in case. We do not need any more problems than we already have.

Dan

 

[Sue]

I am wondering why some people w/ crohns need/get blood transfusions? How does one know that they need one? Is it because of opensings/ulcer?

Any insight appreciated

I had one because lots of my small bowel missing and don't absorb food properly plus had op in March, also some people do bleed a lot with Crohn's. I did however get some unwanted antibobies in my blood and now have to carry a card with me incase of emergency, so not all went well.

Sue x