Plasmapheresis

We did the first session ( of 5 ) of the Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) at Northridge Hospital Medical Center last night.

The liquid portion of part of your blood (plasma) is removed and separated from your blood cells.

The blood cells are then put back into your body, which manufactures more plasma to make up for what was removed.

Plasmapheresis may work by ridding plasma of certain antibodies that contribute to the immune system's attack on the peripheral nerves.

What was it like? Entirely painless - but it was 5 hours of being placed in a walk in freezer.

I guess when they pump all your warm blood out of your body through tubes go between you and a machine that is 4 feet away and the room temp is 68 degrees that cools the blood - so, dang, they could not pile enough warm blankets on my to stop me from shivering ( picture was taken at the very beginning of the process. }

4 more to go !