Yesterday, I went to the Fremont Oncology Infusion Clinic at 4pm. They had to do more blood tests before I could get the transfusion. However, by 4:30 the platelets had not arrived. The nurse said they were coming on a taxi from Hayward blood center. I waited another hour and the nurse called the taxi who explained that the platelets were coming from San Jose and there was major traffic. Finally by 6:30pm, the platelets had arrived.

Unfortunately, the infusion clinic had closed at 5pm so I was escorted to the Urgent Care Department by a sweet nurse working overtime to handle my transfusion. Platelet transfusions normally take about 15-30 minutes, but they always take longer for me. At the Walnut Creek and Martinez clinics they do not use a machine to control the flow of the platelets into my body. They explained that platelets are too fragile to run through a machine. Instead they just hang the bag of platelets up really high (practically touching the ceiling) and use force of gravity to make the plateles flow into my body. It typically takes about 50 minutes for me to complete a platelet transfusion. Luckily, at Fremont they have a special machine that can be used for platelets and they can set the time so that the platelets transfusion takes exactly 30 minutes. I thought to myself, “Great! I took my Benadryl and Tylenol to prevent an allergic reaction and the platelets are only going to take 30 minutes. I’ll be out of here in no time.”

I spoke too soon. About 3 minutes before the end of the transfusion, I started feeling itchy on my thigh and my ears. Uh oh – I knew this was a bad sign. I could feel a small bump on my thigh…the beginning of a hive break out. I tried to close my eyes, breathe deeply and medidate to get rid of the fire hot itchy sensation that was slowly spreading all over my body. No such luck! By the time the nurse came back to stop the machine, I was turning bright red. In a matter of minutes, my right eye was swollen with a gigantic hive that looked like a bee sting and my entire body was covered in tiny red bumps. (I wish I had a camera to show everyone, it was quite a comical spectacle) I told the nurse that this had already happened 3 out of the 6 times I have received platelet transfusions. Luckily there was a doctor at the Urgent Care who was able to prescribe IV Benedryl right away. This medicine took away some of the itchiness, but by 8:15pm I was really red and swollen. The doctor was concerned that my throat would swell and would block my air passageway. To be on the safe side, they also gave me an injection of Cortisone. By 8:30pm, the redness had turned from flaming bright red to a more dull red so they decided I was okay to go home.

I was still pretty itchy by the time I got home. I had a quick dinner and fell fast asleep. When I woke up this morning I was happy to see that the red bumps and swelling had disappeared. What great a way to start the day! Cheers to my last bag of platelets (hopefully for the rest of my life). Good bye and good riddance!!!