Antibodies...

Hi DippyHippy 

I’m not sure if my situation is the same as yours, but I’ll tell you what mine is. I’ve not had blood transfusions during my treatment, but in my gynae surgery I was given 2 units of blood during the operation.

Later, when I had a blood test, they identified some kind of antibodies-I was told this was nothing to be worried about. I have to carry a card with me at all times (size of a credit card) in case I need a blood transfusion at any point in the future. It’s just to make sure that I would receive blood which is correctly matched to mine. 

I have antibodies called Anti-Cw, which I understand is rare, but this has no effect on my life at all in any way. Hope it’s something as straightforward as this for you too.

Sarah xx

In 2017/2018 I lost a lot of blood as a result of bladder cancer. I had to have 22 units of blood transfusions during that time to bring my haemoglobin levels back into the normal range. I had many blood tests during that period and many more to the present date but I've not seen a mention of antibodies in the summarised analyses. My two TURBT operations in 2018 were performed as emergency procedures following excessive bleeding. I did wonder whether having so much blood from transfusions had any biological effects but presumably as it's such a common medical procedure the subsequent tests and precautions required before further surgery are equally well understood. Your team are just taking best care of you. It would be nice to know about the significance of antibodies after receiving blood. Let us know if you find some answers. Best wishes for a successful outcome to your treatment.  Ray x    

I think you sound similar, something to do with matching correctly, didn't quite get what it actually was all about, but the anaesthetist wouldn't give the go ahead until the second blood test could confirm whatever it was they were after.

I wondered, they say it's not detrimental to your health and well being but they needed a further blood test so should I need more blood or anything else they could be prepared.️️

I understood it was important to get the matching correct as if not, there could be a bad reaction to the “wrong type” of blood being used. This could lead to your own immune system attacking the red blood cells in your body. So, it’s just important to know that the right blood would be available if it were needed in an operation.

I have had another surgery since my issue was identified but didn’t need a blood transfusion, so I haven’t had anything else to deal with as regards the antibodies I have.

Sarah xx

From my limited understanding of blood compatibility, some blood groups (types) are more tolerant than others when it comes to matching for transfusions. The cross checks performed in duplicate or triplicate before giving a patient a transfusion ensure that the blood group is fully compatible but maybe there are additional factors which result in a mild response from the body's systems which release non-detrimental antibodies. These, so long as they are understood prior to further surgery, can be adequately managed. I suppose there are similar mild conflicts if taking different drugs for one or more medical conditions. The effects are well documented, enabling the medics to take necessary precautions and achieve a lowest possible risk balance for effective treatment.   Ray x