Question:
How long after WLS should we be concerned about blood clots?

i was reading the memorial page when i seen a few people listed died a few months after surgery from a blood clot..one was even longer.. Question i have is ..HOW long till you can set your mind at ease as to not getting a clot?    — brandy H. (posted on August 2, 2002)

August 1, 2002
Theres NO exact answer since people who never had surgery still get clots. Long cross country airplane flights cause this. Its a concern immediately after surgery and the risk drops off by a month post op to about normal. The GOOD news is they are preventible! Decide pre op to walk walk and walk some more. They are caused by inactivity right after surgery. I was so afraid of them I walked immediately after getting out of recovery and 3 times that first day. They also give blood thiners for this. If you hhave a history of cloting they can install a greenfield filter. I know its scary but they are preventible.
   — bob-haller

August 2, 2002
I agree with Bob fully. I was so scared about blod clots and had heaviness in my chest for 2 weeks after surgery that i even went to the emergency room b/c I thought i was having a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) Notice, I am also only 22 yrs old and have no history of clots in my family. I checked out fine! I saw your profile and you look very young as well. My surgeon said a few weeks after surgery you are pretty much in the clear, but he also knew I was getting up and walking 5 minutes every hour and I had age on my side and good family history. Blood clots are rare, but yes, they do happen. The memorial scared me, too. But think about it, that was maybe 10 people of tens of thousands of members of this site? You can look up symptoms of clots on this site if you want. Goodluck to you!! :)
   — Lezlie Y.

August 2, 2002
Take it from someone who has Factor V (blood clotting disorder)and who has had multiple PE's (clots in the lungs) it is scary. But there are a lot of signs. Swelling, shortness of breath, pains in back or side. But they are right.... walking is the key. I have not had the surgery yet but will in a couple of months. I have the greenfield filter and monitored regularly. AS long as you pay attention to the signs and are walking you should be fine. Most of the ones that had PE's and did not live generally it is due to inactivity..... Just pay close attention to your body and do not stress.......
   — Lisa B.

August 6, 2002
Shortly after surgery, I was extremely concerned w/blood clots because due to the excruciating pain in my feet & legs, I couldn't "walk, walk, walk" as everyone kept advising. It hurt to walk. I talked to my doctor and told him my concerns and he gave me a prescription for blood thinners - to be taken until 3 weeks after surgery. I had to give it to me in shot form 3 times a day and I looked like a spotted tiger or something due to all the bruises but it helped me to feel more at ease with the threat of blood clots. I also brought home from the hospital TED hose and I bought another pair at a medical supply company (they're kind of spendy) but again, I felt more comfortable with trying to do something since walking wasn't an option for me at that point. My doctor said that after 6-weeks, people who have to worry about blood clots after surgery are usually out of the woods. I did everything "wrong" according to the book of walk, walk, walk but I made it through. I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers as well in hopes that all works out well, with no complications, for you too. Bright Blessings !
   — Lisa J.