Question:
Filters to prevent bloodcots

I have to get a filter put in before the surgery to help stop any blood clots did anyone else have this done?    — Dawn M. (posted on February 25, 2005)

February 25, 2005
I havent had mine put in but I will be getting one preop as well. Just wanted to show some support for you because I know I am dreading the extra surgery for the filter as well. Some have mentioned that they have more pain where the insertion site is than they have with their wls incisions. ouchie!! I'm a weenie when it comes to certain types of pain. Hope your surgery goes by uneventfully and you have a speedy recovery =)
   — ImANewDee

February 25, 2005
Do a search on Greenfield filter in the library. You will find posts of people who have had it done. I did not, but if I was prone to clots I sure would have had it. No sense taking a chance if you don't need to. I assume you or your family has a history of clots and that is why they are doing the filter. Normally it is not done for the average person with no history of clots. I've had 14 major surgeries since 1994 and never had any clot issues. But it only take one to kill a person, so better safe than sorry.
   — zoedogcbr

February 25, 2005
Very important little device. My husband had one put in because he had had a blood clot in early '00 and also he had one because of the risk of the surgery due to his bmi, well over 55. It was a temporary filter and was put in the day before his RNY and when they went to take it out there were clots in it and it could not be taken out due to the danger of the clots traveling. It is very important to go along with your doctor if he/she wants you to have one. Not all patients have them but many high risk patients will get them. The filters are temporary now and the doctor will have it removed by a medical professional within 3 weeks of it being placed. You are sedated for the insertion and removal.
   — ChristineB

February 25, 2005
I had the Greenfield filter put in a week before WLS. Mine is a permanent filter, not temporary. I think my doctor has almost all his patients have one put in. I had a bloodclot about 5 years ago. Having this put in is not painful at all. Mine was put in the artery in my neck and pushed down into my abdomen. It's just a tiny spot on your neck that's sore for a couple of days.
   — kkubinski99

February 26, 2005
Dawn, I had a history of blood clots, I had had them back in 95 after having my son. They don't know what caused them. So that was one of the things I was most worried about having surgery and I discussed it with my surgeon. We were thinking of ways to deal with my risk. We were going to do a heparin drip during surgery, but then the risk of a bleed out vs the protection it would afford just wasnt worth it. We had talked about placing a filter in, but he decided against it when I had a dopler done the morning of my surgery and it showed that I had no clots in my legs. I received a shot of heparin and had my surgery. But I did develop clots within 2 days of my surgery. they had me on a low level of heparin after I told them I thought i had a clot. Then they gave me a cat scan and the clots had broken off and I had bilateral pulmonary embolisms. Needless to say I had to have a filter placed like 2 days later. It is so much easier to avoid all of the difficulties and have the filter placed first. My neck wasn't that sore after having the filter placed (the site of insertion). And now you can't even see the scar. They give you stuff so that you cannot really feel the filter being put in and it is not painful having it in place. Mine is a permanent filter so i won't have it removed. If you want to read up on the filter they have a website, www.greenfieldfilter.com. If you need to talk, you can email me. Lisa lap/rny 10-23-03 340/173/??? -167lbs
   — Lisa H.

February 26, 2005
My doctor said I was high risk for clots. I had filter put in minutes before my RNY surgery. I was out, and didn't feel a thing, till I woke after surger. My neck was sore, but nothing compared to my tummy. Three weeks out, I developed blood clots behind both knees. They were clear to my groin area! I was in bed for 3 weeks, only using a bed pan and NO walking. Then I was put in physcial therapy to strengthen my leg muscles and "learn" to walk again. It was a painful and scarey process. BUT, I had 3 different doctors, that had nothing to do with RNY or bariatrics, tell me the filter saved my life!! Here's one who would have been on the memorial page without one. I don't want to scare you, just sharing my story. I personally thank GOD, that my surgeon had the foresite to order a Greenfield Filter prior to surgery.
   — Phiddy B.