Question:
Is there anyone else who quit taking blood thinners prior to surgery?

   — sissie S. (posted on July 13, 2003)

July 12, 2003
Do whatever they say! I also work in a major hospital and you can learn a lot. Sometimes it doesn't seem to make sense, but the surgeons have the medical background and experience, we don't. I am not now on any blood thinners, but in the instructions from the dr's office and hospital, it says to stop any and all blood thinners even aspirin 4 weeks prior to surgery. My surgery will be on 7/24/03. Because of my body type and risk of blood clots, my surgeon had me have a Greenfield filter placement (6/30). That was totally painless; it's a device which stays in your vena cava - the main vein to your heart and lungs from your lower extremeties - it catches any clots from there which could kill you. I will also have to have a regimen of heparin (blood thinner) shots in my stomach twice a day for some days after the surgery. I plan to be up and walking ASAP after the surgery, too. Talk to the surgeon. Whatever s/he suggests, do it. The clots are a common cause of death after any kind of surgery, and even no surgery at all - just sitting still for long periods of time, as in long plane and car rides (remember that reporter in the Middle East just few months ago?)Please e-mail me if you want more info. Best of luck!
   — Suzanne M.

July 13, 2003
I was hospitalized with blood clots in January of 2002 (6 months before my WLS). I was on heparin therapy in the hospital and then was discharged on Coumadin. My PCP (who is the one that determines non-surgical issues - the surgeon defers to him) had me stop my Coumadin 5 days before my WLS (which was 7/17/02). I then resumed it a week after my surgery...JR
   — John Rushton

July 13, 2003
Sissie, I was and am still on Plavix before and after my WLS due to having a stroke 2 years ago. I saw a hematologist and neurologist before the surgery for clearance. They decided that I should quit the Plavix 3 days prior to surgery and then begin again the day I got home from the hospital. It is my understanding the main issue w/ Plavix isn't the bleeding--Plavix causes you to ooze, which would be a problem during surgery and healing. My surgeon also used specific staples during my surgery that were smaller and NOT titanium -- this was to limit bleeding. Everything worked out and I have not had any problems! Good luck.
   — Jen D.

July 13, 2003
I am on Coumidin, (blood thinner) because I have a blood clot on the lower left venticle of my heart. I have to go off of the Coumidin one week before my surgery and give myself pre-measured injections twice a day of Lovenox, then I will be given Hephren during surgery and after in the hospital they will give me Lovenox and Coumidin until my numbers are correct, and the I will go home with Coumidin again. I asked the doctor about filters because of my blood clot on my heart, and he told me that since I was already on a blood thinner, my odds of getting a blood clot was very low, better than someone that was not on blood thinners. So I feel good about that, and it makes sense.
   — cindy

July 13, 2003

   — sissie S.

July 13, 2003
I am on coumadin because of blood clot history. I quit that one week prior to surgery and gave my self heperin shots until the morning of surgery(Lovenox is very very expensive, about $1200 for one week compared to $49 for three weeks) I took it after surgery for two weeks until my coumadin levels were back up. I have done very well
   — Carol H.