Question:
I HAD A PREOP TEST DONE AND IT WAS NOT AT A NORMAL # IT WAS A TEST ON BLOOD CLOTTING

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT.    — elba C. (posted on April 8, 2002)

April 8, 2002
Was the blood test for protime? And if so, was your INR too high or too low? Most people with blood clotting disorders have Protein C or Protien S defficiencies. The blood clots too fast and needs to be thinnned with coumadin to prevent life threatening blood clots from forming. Most of the blood clotting disorders are inherited and are a genetic disorder. However, being morbidly obese can cause a person already predisposed to clotting, to have elevated INR's. Apparently fat likes to store estrogen and estrogen is one of the culprits involved in causing blood to clot abnormally. I have Protein C and I have been on Coumadin for 5 years now. I used to take 10mg a day, but since I had WLS 11/05/01 and have lost 100#, my daily dosage has decreased to 5mg. I did not have any problems with clotting during or after my surgery, but my surgeon called in a pulmonologist for that aspect of my treatment and I was on Heprin (a blood clot dissolver) for 4 days post-op and then self administered shots of Lovanex (another blood thinner) for days 5 thru 9 post-op, while taking my daily dose of coumadin. I had many concerns about this pre-op and I looked into getting a Greenfield Filter as well. But my PCP and my surgeon recommended that I not get the Greenfield Filter, because if you are prone to clots, then in the long run the filter can cause clots. Once that filter goes in, it stays in. I would say that first you have to get your blood regulated, but once that has happened, you should not have any obstacles to having WLS. You need to talk to your PCP about your abnormal blood test and get some questions answered first though before you can proceed. There are several very good web stites that can give you plenty of info about blood clotting disorders. E-mail me if you have more questions. Good Luck.
   — Susan M.

April 8, 2002
My answer and the one above are contrasting. I have a history of blood clots in leg and my vascular dr. required I have a greenfield filter put in before surgery. My surgeon thought this was necessary as well. The filter is to trap any clot from moving toward your heart or lungs. I had the greenfield filter put in and two months later had rny surgery. I would ask your surgeon and see a specialist (a vascular surgeon) about this test result. I had the factor 5 test performed to see if I had the genetic predisposition for blood clots. Mine came back negative. So you have two very different answers.
   — pattyw

April 9, 2002
Hi Elba, Was this a test on the inside of your arm to see if the blood clots within 15 minutes? If so, I had the same one. My blood wouldn't clot on the left arm so they had a different technician do it on the right arm. There it took seven minutes to clot. Did they try on both arms? I was told they are to have a different person redo the test in case it is something the first one is doing. I THINK the first one put the slice too deep and that's why it wouldn't stop bleeding. (I have a scar from that one) The second girl was much more experienced and I had no problem. If they didn't try both arms with two different people, ask for it to be done again. They will most likely repeat it in case whatever you had been eating (or taking aspirin) had thinned your blood. My husband has the protime tests done monthly, and that is different.
   — grammie5