Blood

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 22, 2008

depends on the volume. WAY TOO MUCH will overload the system and may cause the BP to rise and the heart to race. But no two people have the same ability to compensate so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The blood goes thru the kidneys for filtration. The water part of it is made into urine. Some other things come out with the urine as waste.

ukstudent · Apr 22, 2008

I am not sure why you are asking this question. If it is because of someone you know has received blood, they need to ask their doctor these questions. We can not give medical advice as per our TOS.

There are multiple reasons for blood to be given, not just bleeding. Multiple factors can effect the amount of blood given and the rate at which is given.

Without knowing all the factors involved, no one can say if too much was given.

Katie82, RN · Apr 22, 2008

Without knowing all the factors involved, no one can say if too much was given.

There are different forms of blood - whole blood, packed cells, platelets. the impact varies. Not all transfusions are performed to replace volume (bleeding). Just as often, reduced-volume, packed cells may be given to raise a low Hct. The volume/type varies with the reason for administration.

Nidawi · Apr 22, 2008

no, it's not for medical advice or anything. perhaps i should have explained why i was asking. at work today, we passed by a really bad accident. (we go to people's houses, so we're out driving around all day) this brought on the conversation of emergencies. we discussed if we have any "emergency" type information we carry with us or not, and somehow we ended up getting on the topic of if we would accept blood if we needed it or not. i guess needing blood for something other than bleeding isn't something us "non-medical" people think about. anyway, somehow we began talking about the blood thing, and my friend was talking about how her mom needed blood before, but she wasn't bleeding or anything, and she was saying how they gave her several bags of it. (her mother passed away a few years ago). anyway, then we were talking about blood in general, and if someone could ever have too much blood in their bodies, and if they were not bleeding but received it, where the "extra" blood goes to. i figure there are many reasons why a person could need blood given to them, you know. so these questions have just been bugging me all day. i'm the type of person who tends to think a lot, sometimes i think too much about things...lol.

[color=#483d8b]so there you have it. just a random question from me. i'll just stop there, i don't want to ramble on, making you guys think i'm just weird or something. :rolleyes:

czyja, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

i have a question. i'm not sure if you guys can answer it or not.
[color=#483d8b]i'm just wondering, if somebody who is not bleeding has to get blood given to them, can they get too much blood in their bodies? is that possible? where does the extra blood go? i don't know if this seems like an odd question or not, but i hope someone can answer it for me!!! thanks!!![color=#483d8b]~n

read your last post - i don't think you are "weird" for being curious. curiosity is good!

whole blood - the stuff we bleed - is useful combination of water, blood cells (the red one do the job of moving oxygen and the white ones fight infection), proteins, and salts. the body is in a state of balance or homeostasis. too little blood and the organs and tissues dont get enough oxygen. too much and a host of other problems develop (increased blood pressure amongst other things). there is some"play" in the system in that the body can tolerate some loss, and some gain.

where does the extra blood "go"? if the body is otherwise working normally, it would get rid of the extra water and salt in the urine quite quickly. the extra protein and blood cells pose slightly less of a problem, they will be degraded by the body over time.

if you are interested in this sort of thing, i would suggest going to your local library and looking a basic books :up: on human physiology - this is the study of this sort of thing.

TazziRN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

at work today, we passed by a really bad accident. (we go to people's houses, so we're out driving around all day) this brought on the conversation of emergencies. we discussed if we have any "emergency" type information we carry with us or not, and somehow we ended up getting on the topic of if we would accept blood if we needed it or not. i guess needing blood for something other than bleeding isn't something us "non-medical" people think about.

"non-medical"? what do you do?

zamboni · Apr 23, 2008

Wow. This reminded me of something that I hadn't thought of for a long time. Many moons ago, I worked a gig as a phlebotomist in a hospital. We had a patient that routinely came in to have a unit of blood taken from her. (It also brings up the repressed memory of the lab tech that would take that unit home to feed to her roses. No, her name wasn't Seymour...but you can't help but picture Audrey II!) Anyway, I'm sure I was told why at the time, but damned if I can remember now. I'm also trying to recall some vauge lecture in school, but it's not happening.

Can someone stop my brainache? Overproduction of RBCs? But why?

TazziRN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

Wow. This reminded me of something that I hadn't thought of for a long time. Many moons ago, I worked a gig as a phlebotomist in a hospital. We had a patient that routinely came in to have a unit of blood taken from her. (It also brings up the repressed memory of the lab tech that would take that unit home to feed to her roses. No, her name wasn't Seymour...but you can't help but picture Audrey II!) Anyway, I'm sure I was told why at the time, but damned if I can remember now. I'm also trying to recall some vauge lecture in school, but it's not happening.
Can someone stop my brainache? Overproduction of RBCs? But why?

Polycythemia

zamboni · Apr 23, 2008

That sounds familiar. Thanks hon!

czyja, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

(It also brings up the repressed memory of the lab tech that would take that unit home to feed to her roses.

Tell me it ain't true!

Feeding plants WITH HUMAN TISSUE!!!!!!

Wow.