Question:
Is there anything i can do to minimize the chances of getting a blood clot?
I am having surgery in 12 days and would like to know what do I need to do to minimize the chance of getting a blood clot. Is there anything I can do? And why do we get them? Thanks!!!!! Kathy Molasky — Kathy M. (posted on August 7, 2004)
August 7, 2004
If your a smoker STOP IMMEDIATELY! Smoking causes clots. Start walking now,
as much as you can and immediately after surgery, keep up your
liquids.<P> I see your a VBG. Are you aware of how many failures come
here looking for revisions? I hate to give you bad news, but feel you need
to be aware of its failure rate. My surgeon says its 85% by 5 years. Sadly
our support group is filled with VBG to RNY revisions...
— bob-haller
August 7, 2004
As soon as you can after surgery WALK WALK WALK getting up and moving
reduces your chances alot. Also your doctor will be giving you heprin
shots and you'll have leg pumps.. IF your worried about them, or have a
history or your family has a history of blood clots talk to your doctor
about putting in a Green filter before surgery.
— star .
August 7, 2004
Yep, them boots are made for walkin'.
— mrsmyranow
August 7, 2004
NOT AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, JUST WONDERING...
— gerardlovesjoy
August 7, 2004
NOT AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, JUST WONDERING... What is a VBG?
Joy
— gerardlovesjoy
August 7, 2004
To reduce your chances of forming a clot, stop smoking if you smoke. Next,
when you wake up in the recovery room after surgery, start doing ankle
pumps - or just write the alphabet with your toes! This causes you to use
your leg muscles, which are the best pumps. You may have the thromboguard
legs wraps on that inflate and deflate, but your own muscles are the
ultimate in getting the blood moving. Also, tense and release your thigh
muscles. Most important - ask for a thin blanket to fold up and hold
against your abdomen ("splinting'), and cough! Ask for an incentive
spirometer to use. This helps you take nice deep breaths. Then, get up and
walk as soon as you are allowed. I just had my abdominoplasty this past
Monday, and they said I was the first person who asked for an insentive
spirometer in the recovery room! Coughing really hurts, but you need to
get the mucous out of your lungs and move the blood through. Be aware,
though, that sometimes despite doing everything you can, blood clots may
still occur.
— koogy
August 7, 2004
Joy, the VBG is a older weight loss surgery. Vertical banded gastroplasty.
Theres no intestional bypass like there is with the RNY, and the tight band
often makes it hard to eat good foods like meat, while chips and high
calorie liquids go down fine. The LAP BAND, adjustable band is mostly
making the VBG obsolete. I have some friends who got the VBG, and gained it
all back. Its so sad to go thru surgery twice. I mentioned it because I
noticed it on her profile and wanted to make sure she was aware of the
risks.. As long as she is aware of it its fine.
— bob-haller
August 8, 2004
you need to start walking right now. and when you are in the hospital move
as much as possiable feet, legs ect.Get up and walk even if you don't feel
like it. the sooner you start walking in the hospital the less you are at
risk of blood clots. Good Luck. and welcome to the loseing side!!!!!!!!!
— Kym B.
August 8, 2004
Kathy,
My surgeon put in a filter, a Greenfield Filter to prevent blood clots. As
your doc about it.
Spyder
— SpyderS
August 8, 2004
From the first day . . . move, move, move and don't stop. They suggested
we walk the halls in the hospital, dragging our IVS behind us if we had to,
but the more you move the less likely you are to develop blood clots.
— Cathy S.
August 8, 2004
To those who answered my question, thank you, I appreciate it very
much.What i dont appreciate is being once again questioned on my choice of
surgery on this site. I know all the stats and i'm well aware that there is
a chance of regain. As there is with rny and the other surgeries. If you
have no willpower whatsoever you will fail no matter what surgery you
have!!!This surgery is a TOOL!!! My surgeon is very competent and has a
very high success rate with the vbg and that includes long term postop.You
chose rny and that may be fine for you, but I dont like the idea of
rerouting my insides and being on a ton of vitamins for the rest of my
life. That is YOUR choice but I choose not to make a comment about YOUR
choice and I would appreciate if you would please respect the fact that we
are all individuals and whats right for one person is not right for
another. I asked about blood clots, not if you approved of my choice in
wls. Thank you to those who were kind enough to answer me. I will get my
boots on for walking!!! Kathy
— Kathy M.
August 8, 2004
Kathy, I am very sorry if my comments upset you. If you look at my first
one, I said I wanted to make sure you were aware of the risks. Apparently
you are, and as I said thats fine. Its good you realize all thats involved.
My second comment answered another posters question about what VBG means.
They arent real common today, and its good if people know the abbreviations
for all this. I wish you only the best for a great surgery and long term
success.
— bob-haller
August 8, 2004
Along with what every one else said, starting TODAY, you can do ankle
wiggles, 10 per hour. Pull your toes up, then down, then roundy, roundy.
Up, down some more, roundy roundy now and then. 10 per hour, every hour.
While you're at it, take 10 slow deep breaths, exhale slowly. Blow the
clouds out of your brain. I swear you can feel it. This one is for
pneumonia. Increasing capacity. There is not one person reading this that
would not benefit from it.
— vitalady
August 8, 2004
Kathy,
<p>
I am a former VBG revised to RNY. Bob was right, there is a high failure
rate. In my case it was mechanical failure, my staples came apart. You are
right that all types of WLS are tools (I hate that phrase), BUT, it's kinda
hard to get the job done when the tool is broken. Good luck, I really do
hope you have a successful journey without having to go thru surgery twice.
— Ali M
August 9, 2004
I guess my post is not an answer but my experience. I developed the blot
clots you are writing about. They developed in my lungs (they hung down
from my neck) and almost killed me. Make sure the IV that is placed in
your neck is closely monitored and cleaned. I did all of the suggestions,
but sometimes clots happen and they are not our fault or because we didn't
do something right. Good luck on your surgery. I'm a miracle and you will
be too!
— lindabaptiste619
August 9, 2004
Ali I was concerned about staple line disruption and had spoke to several
patients of my surgeon and not one has had a problem because he transects
the stomach therefore the scar tissue grows over the staples and it doesnt
break down. Something like that anyway. I never understand the lingo to
well but that is the gist of it. Thank you for all your concern, but I'm
not worried and if i was to gain it all back I still wouldnt have an rny.
That is just my personal choice. No offense taken Bob!!!!!!
— Kathy M.
August 9, 2004
Kathy thanks for understanding. I am a unpaid Q&A moderator who cares
for this board, and try to go out of my way to not upset anyone, while I
work to see people are fully informed. Its encouraging your surgeon
transects, and if you can please bookmark this discussion and come back in
6 months with a update on your progress. I want everyone to have the
success I have no matter how they go about it!
— bob-haller
August 9, 2004
I had a problem with blood clots which turned into pulmonary emboli with a
previous surgery. First of all, being aware of the possibility and
seriousness of them is a good first step. I had no idea when I had mine(I
had 3 in my lungs) just how serious they were. There is some excellent
advice offered here. If you smoke, stop. If your doctors feel you are high
risk for them, a greenfield filter is an option. It functions to keep any
clots from coming above your waist and turning into an embolism. I am
wheelchair bound due to my previous surgery, so I have been taking blood
thinners since my surgery. Since you should be ambulatory shortly after
surgery, you will want to get up on your feet and walk. A return to normal
activity levels will help prevent any blood clot issues.
I would also add, know the signs of a pulmonary embolism; this is what a
blood clot becomes when it moves into the lungs. Shortness of breath,
increased heart rate, decreased energy level. Ask your doctor for
specifics.
Best Wishes,
Fitz
— Biggestfitz
August 17, 2004
Kathy...This post is late, but hopefully it will be helpful. Start doing
the ankle flexing/extensions, contract and release your thigh muscles as
soon as you are awake after surgery. Do 10 every hour. Get up walking as
soon as possible. You don't have to go very far--just get up and moving. Be
sure you get plenty of fluids. Dehydration will make your blood
"thick" and more likely to clot.Don't forget deep breathing every
hour.Good luck. See you on the thin side.
— dianne E.
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