Bill's hemoglobin and hematocrit (what the daylights are those? I'm going to google as soon as I finish writing this and find out) and potassium are so low that, as much as they wanted to avoid the risks, they have to go ahead and give him transfusions all day today.
I just found this out about 15 minutes ago and wanted to let you know so you're as up to date as I am.
He is still yellow and gray and completely exhausted. All he does is sleep. When he is awake, he is so sweet, but he looks awful pitiful. Big gray circles around his eyes and all sunken in and just so tired looking.
In fact, while I was writing this, the nurse just came in and looked at him and said, "I'm going to page the IV team right now."
The only "good" news to come out of this bad news ("good" from my cowboy's perspective) is that the physical therapist just stepped in and said he is too weak to even get out of bed today, so he doesn't have to do his walk. He hates his walk. hahah Of course, we know that walking is urgently essential, but he just can't do it right now.
More later. Love and cluster bombs of thanks to all who are reading this!
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I'm sure you've googled it by now, but quick answer is that hemoglobin is the protein on the red blood cells that carries oxygen in you blood (with iron as the chelating agent)and when that count gets too low (or if you have insufficient iron to bind the oxygen) you get anemic.
ReplyDeleteHematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the volume of blood. When that gets too low, you again get anemia issues. You also worry about hemhorraging if the hematocrit gets too low.
Hypokalemia (low potassium count) is a concern because it's involved in muscle contraction -- including the heart. If your potassium count is too low, your heart can't contract regularly which messes up your blood pressure regulation as well as issues endemic to the muscle not contracting. Taking too much potassium in your diet as a supplement can eff up your kidneys though since it's the kidneys that control potassium balance in the body.
*hugs* Trust the doctors on this one.