Surgery when you have to take blood thinners

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Angtee15
Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
edited January 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello!

I am awaiting discharge from the hospital after being fairly miraculously cured of bilateral pulmonary embolisms. I am seven weeks into neoadjuvant chemo. I will now be on lovenox injections for the foreseeable future.

I should be having a lumpectomy or mastectomy after chemo. I am wondering how this blood thinner situation affects surgery. Anyone else on blood thinners before their surgery? How did you do? How did your surgeon approach your case?

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2016

    I had the same situation with PE discovered right before a big debulking surgery for ovarian cancer-hysterectomy, appendectomy & omentectomy. They just stopped my bloodthinner the day before the surgery. They also had me stop the Lovenox a couple of days before they removed my IvC Filter & my colonoscopy

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2016

    I was in hospital for 3 days several years ago for PEs and DVTs. Im anover achiever. Anyway, I was released with Lovenox for 8 days at home, with nurse coming to home daily. Then I went to Coumadin/warfarin. Still on that, will be for life. Your surgeon will tell you when to stop taking/injecting the thinners. For this last one, was 5 days prior.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2016

    Spookie, I wonder how they determine limited term vs. lifetime treatment? I only had to do six months, but they did all kinds of clotting studies on me & decided mine was just from being so sick/immobile & dehydrated

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2016

    Nobody ordered any tests of that type. I guess because there were multiple clots in my leg and lungs, my blood could/would do it again. They did insert a vena cava filter in my groin the first night in hospital.

    I had recently retired, sort of looking for work, and was my normal slug self. I have no idea how they formed.

    The lovenox shots hurt and left yucky bruises. I go for blood poke monthly and pop the pill. Not a biggie.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2016

    They threaded my filter down my neck/jugular vein. I didn't mind the Lovemox until I ran out of belly spots that weren't bruised. Hated it when a shot would start me bleeding watery blood all over the place

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2016

    Thanks ladies for responding. I had two giant PEs and am lucky to be here to resume chemo on Friday. Feeling lucky to get back to chemo. Ugh who woulda thought.

    I figured it might be as "simple" as stopping the blood thinners before surgery. But it's good to get some feedback. I will be on lovenox through cancer treatment and then will be switched to one of the newer pills after.

    Thanks again and stay well!

    Angie

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2016

    I had two pharmacist friends tell me not to take the newer pills. Honestly they scare me more than Coumadin. Bleeding from a bad cut on Coumadin can be stopped with a shot of vitamin K. The new stuff, no.

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2016

    Oh good to know! I will be seeing a hematologist and will make sure I bring it up.

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