Supplements pre and post surgery?

Previvor2008

Supplements pre and post surgery?

Previvor2008

I tested BRCA II positive and at 34-years old am the family matriarch.  All the other women in my family have died from breast cancer before reaching 40 except for my mom.  She made it to 47. I have opted for a bilateral mastectomy and expanders/reconstruction.  I am scheduled for my bilateral mast on June 16th.  I have seen a few things out there about pre and post-surgery supplements for reducing swelling, bruising, and accelerating healing, but they are all from sites trying to sell me something...has anyone tried supplements/vitamins/etc that they can recommend?

Jellydonut

Dear Previvor,

I'm sorry you were dealt this hand in life. 

My advice for pre-surgery supplements:  Talk with your doctor and allow him/her to decide what's best.

Some supplements can act as blood thinners (vitamin E, for one) and have to be stopped a week or two before surgery.

Before my surgery, I received a very long list of "do's and dont's" from the hospital.  Unfortunately, I no longer have it or I would have included it here.

I did not take any supplements before or after surgery, but I am a believer in eating healthy, and that's what I did.  It worked out well for me.

The very best to you in your upcoming surgery and beyond.

Jelly

Held

My doc/hospital asked me for a list of everything I was talking (vitamins/minerals) before my surgery.  I was taking a multi, calcium, vitamin C, and drinking a suppliment.  They did not ask me to stop taking any of them, and continued them during my hospital stay.  After my most recent surgery I added Zinc (with the C) to aid in the wound healing.  I know I don't eat all the right things, so I wanted to use the suppliments. Everyone is different, as are the protocol MD/hospitals use.  I think you should ask your doc what you shouldn't take/do.

Anonymous

You should definitely expect your doctor to provide a list of vitamins/supplements that cause the blood to thin and, thus, increase your chances of excessive bleeding and bruising and, as mentioned above, you should stop taking these 2 weeks prior to surgery. My list included fish oil, vitamin E, aspirin and ibuprofen. What I did do to bolster my strength and immunological system was to eat only highly nutritious foods and workout pretty heavily with weights, focusing on my chest and back muscles, as well as my abs.

I hope that info is at least somewhat helpful. I wish you the very best of luck with your surgery!

~Marin

Previvor2008

Thank you all for your input.  I will definitely ask my doc.  I am a vegetarian, so I have been adding more iron in my diet.  I see the doc tomorrow at 11am, so I guess I'll get the full scoop then.  Maybe I'm putting the cart before the horse so to speak, but as my surgery date approaches, I am getting more anxious.

 Thanks again!

rockwell_girl

After my surgery one of my teammates gave me these tissue rejuvenators from which is one of the hammer nutrition products:   

http://www.hammernutrition.com/

click on quick order supplements if you want any or call 1-800-336-1977

 

this is from there product details:

 If you're injured and can't wait to get back into action, or if you're trying to prevent joint and tissue injuries, add Tissue Rejuvenator to your order list. It's a powerful, dual-purpose product, supplying your body with nutrients that provide the raw materials it needs to promote rapid tissue repair, while also helping to reduce inflammation, soreness, and pain-without requiring you to over-rely on NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Remember, as with all our products, Tissue Rejuvenator, the combined rebuild-relieve joint product is fully guaranteed. If it doesn't work for you, you get a full refund. Period.

usage:

4 capsules once or twice per day, depending on the severity of the injury.

• 1-2 capsules once or twice per day may be used for prevention/maintenance purposes

I have gone though the expansion with the tissue expander and have hardly felt any discomfort.  I'm not sure if this may have helped.  I took 4 a day for the 1st month and now take two a day...

MsSherry

My PS has me on a multi daily, 1000mg extra vit C daily, and Bromelain 500mg between every meal and at bedtime. She also wanted me to take Vit K but I can't due to a clotting disorder.  This all started 2 weeks before and I go on for 4 weeks post surgery.  She also sent a huge list of things to avoind at 4 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 weeks.....

Marian61627

Just a quick note.. all of the above is great info but after surgery my ps said to start putting vit. E on the incision right away and that he (over the course of his career) had seen great improvement with the external Vit E. usage..  Good Luck!!!!

rubytuesday

Arnica and Bromelain....I swear by them!  Took them before and after each of my surgeries and had no bruising and very little swelling and quick healing. I also only had a dull ache, no real pain (don't know if that was 'just me' or if the arnica and bromelain was responsible for that too).   My drains were all pulled at my post-op appointments too.  Things to stay away from:  blood thinners...esp aspirin, vit E and most herbs.  Also melatonin and St. John's Wort both can increase the effects of anesthesia so you definitely don't want to take them either.  Best wishes!

gracejon

Does someone have the recipe for arnica and it's use?  Having surgery again mid June and used it too late for my last breast surgery.  I am having surgery with a brand new doctor to me.  Their recommendation is to stop all supplements 3 weeks prior tosurgery particularly vitamin E, glucosamine chondrotin, nsaids, aspirin, and omega 3's.  With every surgery in the past I have had a bit of bleeding oozing problem.  I was told to stop taking these things for a week prior.  I am interested to see if a longer time of stopping  makes a difference.

rubytuesday

gracejon, Although this website is actually selling a product, they do give you specifics as to the amounts to take. 

http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=13517 

Hope this works for you.  Best wishes 

rubytuesday

While I was in my bookmarks for surgery, I came across this link that I had saved and thought it may help someone:

http://www.implantforum.com/pills.html