Hemochromatosis Support Group

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. It is the main iron overload disorder. Hemochromatosis is notorious for having symptoms that are often initially misattributed to other diseases.

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Gastrointestinal System
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phlebotomy bag

GidgetD
GidgetD
I just had a phleb on friday and the phlebotomist had a new bag that they received from blood banks, They now only hold 450ml which is just about one pint. The old bag held 550ml. Just thought you all should know so you can check if your bag has changed also because I think they are universal.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good to know Gidget. I have mine on Wednesday. I'll be a little upset if I can't give a 600 ml bag.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wow ,interesting ,I will have to ask how much the bottles hold ,thats what they use on me ,my bad memory wants to say 500 ml ,I even convinced them to take a little extra ,all depended on who was doing it that day .
deleted_user
deleted_user
Mine always ask what I want to do. I always tell them fill the bag which is 600 ml. The bag is designed for a pint - 500 ml but there's extra room for more. Where I go it's all computerized. The machine beeps when I reach 500 and the phlebotomist will push something on the computer which will allow me to fill the bag. Takes me anywhere from 6 to 7 minutes to fill the bag.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Today was a very slow run. My blood kept clotting and it took 15 minutes. Usually, I flow fast and takes anywhere from 6 to 7 minutes.

I did ask about the bags. It's the same bag (pint) they have always used, they just switched to metric measurements. 500 ml is the same as 450 whatever the metric measurement is. Sorry, I never did learn the metric system.
GidgetD
GidgetD
ML is the metric measurement. It is a different bag, because I fill it full now and I didn't before and it is all done with a mini computer. It says it right on the bag. Everyone should check into this if they are concerned they are not going to be able to give as much.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oh, he told me what the little letters behind the 450 were but since I don't know the system, I didn't remember them. Our bags are still the same ones. And today, due to slow flow and me getting aggrivated about it, I only went to 550 ml.

Funny thing today. When I finished - the blood had to be manually pushed through the tube. Usually gravity will pull it down and the tube is empty. I do get to go back in two weeks. I am not drinking anything but water for three days prior to see if that makes a difference. I will admit, I was not as well hydrated as I usually am.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Gidget I am probably brain dead and got it turned around.
GidgetD
GidgetD
Sandy, I have heard some people take an aspirin before they go to help with flow.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I might try that on the 9th. I really think maybe I was not hydrated enough. I got busy this morning running errands and forgot my water bottle.

Usually I am a fast bleeder, but usually I am very hydrated.