Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all,
   I was wondering if anyone had to get a transfusion from blood loss during GCS surgery.
Monica

I think it must be very rare as I've never heard of it, and I've read a huge number of posts about GCS.

I have never heard of anybody receiving blood but I have seen post by a few people who had after surgery bleeding that was very serious. Strange as it may seem, my lawyer has a doctor client with a MTF child. The child almost lost her life undergoing surgery and had her mother not been there, the bleeding would have cost her life. This is another reason to be sure that you have a skilled surgeon and the surgeon has sufficient after surgery support.

My roommate at Brassard's needed a blood transfusion while she was in the recovery room (so about an hour post-op), but not precisely during the surgery. She ended up having to get two units of blood and almost needed to go back into the operating room to have the bleeding site cauterized. I have definitely heard of other friends of friends who had serious blood loss within hours or days - it's one of the reasons I really wanted Brassard's recovery residence with nurses on duty.

I just remembered, there's a British surgeon who patients seem to be rather prone to serious bleeding incidents.

AnonyMs: Yeah, he was involved in the majority of stories I heard, too. (I *think* he's the one who's not working with the NHS anymore, at least.)

If I required a transfusion they never told me - but I suspect I didn't require one. :)

I was warned of the possibility as part of the general warning.

I am aware of the UK surgeon and an ex-members partner had her surgery in the middle of last year with him and bleeding was an issue and required a few transfusions. I have no idea why his technique is any different and he is extremely experienced in the surgery.

I had several transfusions while I was ill, they are not noticeable, just a drip line like the saline line.

I lost a lot of blood during mine with Brassard and was held is the recovery room quite longer than others (much to the worry of my wife, who was waiting for me).  After I was taken back to my room I had a couple episodes where my bleeding saturated the dressing, and they would come in a pack it to get it to stop.  I was very weak, and when they made me get up to do the first walk, I nearly passed out --saw stars, was not coherent, and told my wife "I don't feel right" which was a phrase she was very familiar with from my cancer surgery recovery 6 years prior.  My wife got the nurse who put me in the trendelenburg position (supine, head down, feet raised) and that got the blood (that I had left lol) to my head and I 'woke up' so to speak.  Another girl in my group (as they do in Montreal) did have to stay at the hospital an extra 2 days because she was in my situation and did not recover as I did, and she ended up getting a transfusion.

It should be unusual for this type of surgery but everyone heals differently and your post reminds me to consider banking some blood this winter for possible autotransfusuion in April.

I had one a couple hours after coming out of surgery, thought nothing of it except a bruised hand from where the IV was.

I was told by Dr. McGinn I bleed very little during the operation. I did not need blood but I needed IV potassium, 2 bags and some yucky large mineral pills.