rufus the wonderdog Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 I rang to book an appointment to take Max in for a blood transfusion either today or tomorrow, but the receptionist spoke to Bruce who said I would need to take Max in for a blood test to be typed, so that they could then order the blood. I said he has had blood taken yesterday, but they said that was for different tests so they needed more. Given that he has already had a blood transfusion with them, I would have thought they would have typed him then I could understand if it was an emergency and they had to give him blood from a universal donor, but they had already had him in for four nights by then and he'd had so many blood tests I'd lost count. If it's like humans you have to be typed and cross matched at each different transfusion session - blood is very complex stuff and subtle changes can make a difference to the typing and matching. for you and for the gorgeous Max The one good thing about it all is that Max seems relatively unaware of what is happening - be thankful for that and enjoy your lad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Continuing to keep your special boy in my thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greys mum Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Don't know what to say. Feel so flipping useless as I don't have any useful advice. But I am thinking of you and Max. Sending as many positive thoughts as I can muster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Thanks Whizzie - I will mention Bristol Uni to Bruce as well. The blood transfusions aren't difficult for Max at all - he loves being at the vets and getting fusses of all the vets and nurses It's just that Bruce (vet) says that there are ethics involved in giving blood transfusions to keep him alive indefinitely. All I care about personally is that he is happy and lively. If he was suffering in any way from the transfusions that would be another matter, but it's quite the opposite. I rang to book an appointment to take Max in for a blood transfusion either today or tomorrow, but the receptionist spoke to Bruce who said I would need to take Max in for a blood test to be typed, so that they could then order the blood. I said he has had blood taken yesterday, but they said that was for different tests so they needed more. Given that he has already had a blood transfusion with them, I would have thought they would have typed him then I could understand if it was an emergency and they had to give him blood from a universal donor, but they had already had him in for four nights by then and he'd had so many blood tests I'd lost count. The only appointment they have got is at 3.40 pm today so I will have to slope off early again This site explains why crossmatching is necessary http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=114 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kats inc Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Alex.I'm sorry Max is a porly boy again. Can your vet not speed up his referral to a specialist? Maybe I've missed something but it seems you've been hanging for a bit now.A horrible situation to be in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Thanks for the info re blood matching We have been to the vet and Max has his blood test. He is provisionally booked in for his transfusion tomorrow, but the vet I saw said that it would depend if the blood they have in would be a match. If not then it could take a week to get the blood in. He said he would ring me later this evening to let me know. Can your vet not speed up his referral to a specialist? Maybe I've missed something but it seems you've been hanging for a bit now.A horrible situation to be in I had a chat with the vet tonight and he says referral is certainly a possibility, but he would need to speak to Bruce about it and even if they referred him, they would most probably only conduct the tests we've already conducted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Can you speak to Bruce tomorrow and ask him who he has spoken to about this? Vets don't know what specialists can do for our dogs. He really needs to push this. I hope he has at least attempted to speak to specialists about this. Meanwhile Max is just left in limbo. I really hope they are working on this for you Alex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Sorry you dont seem to be any further on with whats wrong with max. Did your vet have any opinion on the various specialists Jules and Michelle posted a few pages back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 So sorry, things are so slow for you Alex I'm thinking about Max every day, just willing for something to get sorted for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Oh Alex, I hope Max gets his transfusion tomorrow and you finally are able to see a specialist. What seems so strange is that they talked about referral to a specialist and now say that he'll only preform the same tests - what's that all about. Big hugs for Max and you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Oh bloody hell Alex How frustrating. I may be misunderstanding, but has your own vet not referred Max anywhere yet? One of the huge things I was thankful with my own vets when Dolly was poorly was that early on, he said that he didn't know what was wrong and was going to ask for advice from other vets and specialists. I know that sadly the end result wasn't the one I wanted, but at least before surgery we had all the tests and images etc possible done. Also, without telling you what to do, I'd not be happy with being referred and told that the same tests would be repeated. When Bumpy saw the oncology specialist, I made a point of saying that I specifically did not want tests repeated that had already been done. He did accept this but said that normally he would conduct his own tests, starting at the beginning but in our case, my vets had emailed over the results they already had. Hoping you get some more positive news very soon for you and your very special boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 What I can't understand is why it's all taking so long to get some progress, it must be maddening for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 So frustrating not knowing, lots of for you and all the merledogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maria Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Sending more healing thoughts to Max and hoping you can get to the bottom of his problem soon Alex :GroupHug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemstone Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hope you can get to the bottom of this soon Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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