Question:
has anyone had problems with their primary doctor re: factor V Lieden?

I want to have weight loss surgery but my primary care doctor is refusing to sign any medical forms saying that I would be ok with the surgery until I get my hemotologist to sign off first. Has anyone with factor V had the surgery? And if so were there any complications? Right now my doctor won't agree to the "open" RNY. Can anyone offer me any hope?    — connie G. (posted on February 28, 2005)

February 28, 2005
This is the link to a support group and forum. Maybe she can give you some ideas on what can help you. Best of luck http://www.fvleiden.org/
   — Tiny Pixie

February 28, 2005
Hi...please check out my profile. I have a history of PEs and blood clots and then discovered I have Leiden. I had a very difficult time after the surgery BUT not because of the surgery. If I had to do it all over again I would. I would suggest getting a greenfilter for one thing. I also would have my blood checked every day. I was told that after any surgery your liver may change the thinness/thickness of your blood. Mine did. Three weeks after surgery and after given the ok to go a few weeks without blood work, my inr went above 13 and I was bleeding internally and my hemoglobin was below 4. Frankly,if I hadn't gone to the hospital that night (11:00pm) two doctors said I would have never woke up. I did have 5 pints of blood and plasma and now I am fine. I was able to get my iron back up to a normal level by iron supplements and eating well. You may think I was dumb, but I was throwing up blood and I thought it was red because of sf cherry popscicles or raspberry crystal lite. I also had surgery six months later to have my gall bladder removed and had no problems until a week later, my inr went thru the roof and I had all kinds of hemotomas. One was about 15 inches long and 6 inches wide. I had a soft ball coming out of the middle of my stomach. A couple lodged between my muscles and the at hurt so bad. I am going to the doctor next week because I now have a hernia I am pretty sure. I hope to have a TT with the hernia repair. Am I scared to have surgery again. You bet! I am going to have my blood work done daily. Both times I took lovanox before the surgery. At least I never had a blood clot. I now take more coumadin that when I weight over 200 lbs more. Please feel free to email me with any questions. Please, please I am not trying to discourage you at all....just know all the facts! God bless!
   — Gail R.

February 28, 2005
I don't have factor V but I have had DVT's in my legs 4 on 4 different ocassions. I am on Coumadin & will be forever. My surgeon & primary care doc agreed that I would be ok for open WLS. I went off of Coumadin 5 days before surgery was scheduled, used Lovenox the day before surgery. They checked my PT & INR...Good shape so surgery was on! I did great & started Lovenox again right after surgery until we could get my Coumadin levels back up again. No problems what so ever. I do understand your doctor wanting your hematologist to sign off- especially if he's not comfortable. I did check with my hematologist regarding this issue before my surgery, told him what we were planning. He said it sounded good to him & I ran with it! Feel free to e-mail me with any questions! Best of luck! Kathleen
   — Kathleen R.