Dad wrote this yesterday.... xZ.
How particular is our blood? Mine is very fussy about whose blood it will share it's veins with.
Yesterday I recieved a bag of platelets (clotting agents). As soon as they hooked me up, my body went into shock. My temperature spiked up to 39.9 degrees Celsius.
My body went into rigor - with a combination of teeth-chattering shivers, locked jaw, and shallow gaspy breathing.
My mind went delirious. Four hours later I regained consciousness.
Had I fainted? Where did that truck come from? (The one which seemed had run me over).
Obviously during this process the nurses were flat out, dropping my temperature, calming the spasms. Shame I do not remember it, really, just the statistical record, and the hung-over feeling of having missed a significant "life event".
Today my platelets count was still dangerously low, and another transfusion was ordered. This time, however, I was pre-dosed with an anti-histamine "Phanergan". No problems at all.
Our bodies are amazingly sensitive. We ought continuously be in awe and wonder of them. I am learning to love my body, from a new perspective.
Denis
4th May 2006
