I was recently hospitalized with a 3.1 hemoglobian. My doctors say I am a surprise case to even be alive and without a transfusion. Now I know I posted and earlier post, and I am just curious if anyone else has gone through anything like this or even had a transfusion because there is still a chance in the near future of one for me. I am also going to be attending college in a few weeks. Any tips on how to avoid catching some of those nasty germs that go around the dorms? Also since I have had so many Iv;s done I have a problem eating due to such large doses of metholpredisone. Any suggestions of soft foods to eat besides soup and jello? thanks!

Our child had many transfusions throughout chemo and bone marrow transplant, and I've been a whole blood and platelet donor for years. Here's an information link to the American Association of Blood Banks's 'All About Blood' article. The recipient information is about a quarter to a third of the way down the 'page':
http://www.aabb.org/All_About_Blood/FAQs/aabb_faqs.htm

Transfusion reactions can and do occur even after the umpteenth time, so you will be monitored while you are receiving any blood products. Some are just normal/ expected reactions to the compound used to 'treat' the blood, others signal an 'immune' response and should be acted on quickly. Below is an article on transfusion reactions.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001303.htm

Aside from low hemoglobin, do you also have low white counts. This is what will determine your risk of infection. Anything below a particular level [1.0] is considered severely neutropenic and requires prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals in addition to dietary and environmental restrictions.

If you're neutropenic, you'll have to be a clean freak in terms of your room/apartment, esp. in the kitchen and bathroom. Avoid salad bars, buffets and left-overs where bacteria are likelier to proliferate. Eat only thoroughly cooked meat, eggs, fish [no sushi] and be extra careful with all fresh produce. Take-out esp. Chinese food may also present a problem because of cooking method [stir-fried] or standing-time.

Another major concern is avoiding contact with people with any communicable diseases such as colds, flu, chicken pox, cold sores, etc. Your doctor should advise you about flu shots.

Public washrooms, multi-user computer keyboards, public telephones and door knobs are the worst hard surface areas to deal with as they tend to acquire the largest collections of microbes.

Avoid touching your face/head too because this is usually how the germs get transferred to your body.