Blood Clotting Disorder worries for surgery (thrombocytopenia)

jgpaulson
jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am scared to death about having a lumpectomy because I have a family history of blood clotting. I have been on Coumadin for many years. They have taken me off of Coumadin
for the surgery and made me inject myself with a blood thinner and stop the day before surgery.
What I am really scared about is that they will put me right back on blood thinner after the surgery and told me I will have considerable bruising. I already had a stereotactic biopsy while on a blood thinner and suffered considerable bruising. I am afraid I will throw a clot right after surgery like my family (also on blood thinners experienced after their surgeries).
My doctor said they would send me right home after the surgery (outpatient)and I am worried because no one will be monitoring me while at home and that's when my family throws clots.

Any advice on taking blood thinners before and after surgery?
Did you experience considerable bruising or a clot after surgery because you also have this disorder?
Please share and thank you so much for sharing - it is greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #2
    My dad has had three open
    My dad has had three open heart surgeries and recently had to have a pacemaker replaced. They took him off his oral coumadin and he started shots for a week in the stomach for what sounds like the same thing you have to do. He did bruise on his stomach, and it did get sore, but it all went well. They sent him home the same day of his surgery as well. Im sure you will do just fine, as he did. The hospital should give you warnings to look for and tell you when you should go to the er. I will be praying for you that your surgery goes well.
    Good luck.

    laura
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    #3
    Isn't there anybody to be
    Isn't there anybody to be with you? My instructions were to have someone bring me, take me home and be with me the first 24 hours. I supposedly have a slightly elevated platelet count, but they told me it wasn't all that bad. I also had a lumpectomy this past Thursday.
    I brused some after my biopsy and it's brusied now from the lumpectomy, but only on the side of my breast where I had it done, and where they took the sentinel node, which thank God was clear.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #4
    JG.... I was given the same
    JG.... I was given the same instructions for surgery: have someone bring you, take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours... is there anyone that you could ask to stay with you? Or; my doctor actually gave me the option of staying overnight in the hospital, or going home.. since my husband is such a good care taker, I opted to go home... is staying over night an option? You may want to ask..

    I will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way!

    Gentle hugs to you.

    ~T
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #5
    Hello jg
    Sorry for your fear. I think you may be talking about the Factor 5 liden. This is a genetic trait which is a tendancy towards blood clots. It is in my family as well. However, I have never been affected by this and have had 8 surgeries. Just follow your Doctor's orders and know that not everyone has complications. Do try to walk around to promote circulation. Most of the clots will occur in the leg. You can look for redness and swelling. But walking will help to prevent this.
    Also, when you refer to no one monitoring you, are you refering to a medical professional not being there? You may be able to discuss with them about a visiting nurse for the first week. If Doctor ordered, most insurances will pay for one. They will stop in, check your bandage, and vitals and make sure all is OK. Hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted. (:-) Pammy
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #6
    Akiss4me said:

    Hello jg
    Sorry for your fear. I think you may be talking about the Factor 5 liden. This is a genetic trait which is a tendancy towards blood clots. It is in my family as well. However, I have never been affected by this and have had 8 surgeries. Just follow your Doctor's orders and know that not everyone has complications. Do try to walk around to promote circulation. Most of the clots will occur in the leg. You can look for redness and swelling. But walking will help to prevent this.
    Also, when you refer to no one monitoring you, are you refering to a medical professional not being there? You may be able to discuss with them about a visiting nurse for the first week. If Doctor ordered, most insurances will pay for one. They will stop in, check your bandage, and vitals and make sure all is OK. Hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted. (:-) Pammy

    I spent the night in the
    I spent the night in the hospital after my lumpectomy, and of course was immediately put into those compression thingies on my legs ( great technical jargon, huh?) I imagine you can wear the compression stockings at home, with your Drs knowledge and approval, of course! I had a visiting RN come over as well; and my insurance paid for that as well.

    PLEASE ask! ask! ask! And tell the medical staff any of your concerns; there may be resources you are unaware of which can be of great benefit to you at this time.

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #7
    chenheart said:

    I spent the night in the
    I spent the night in the hospital after my lumpectomy, and of course was immediately put into those compression thingies on my legs ( great technical jargon, huh?) I imagine you can wear the compression stockings at home, with your Drs knowledge and approval, of course! I had a visiting RN come over as well; and my insurance paid for that as well.

    PLEASE ask! ask! ask! And tell the medical staff any of your concerns; there may be resources you are unaware of which can be of great benefit to you at this time.

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    Hi Claudia,
    Yes I'm aware of
    Hi Claudia,

    Yes I'm aware of the leg compression thingy. Good idea, but a nuisance.

    How many days did they take you off your blood thinner befor the surgery?

    And how many days after the surgery did they put you back on the blood thinner?

    How soon did you see your doctor after the surgery for a follow-up visit?

    Thanks for your help and kindness.
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #8
    taleena said:

    JG.... I was given the same
    JG.... I was given the same instructions for surgery: have someone bring you, take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours... is there anyone that you could ask to stay with you? Or; my doctor actually gave me the option of staying overnight in the hospital, or going home.. since my husband is such a good care taker, I opted to go home... is staying over night an option? You may want to ask..

    I will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way!

    Gentle hugs to you.

    ~T

    Thank you for replying. How
    Thank you for replying. How soon after the surgery did you resume the blood thinner?

    I'm worried about throwing a clot. How soon before surgery were you taken off of blood thinners? How soon after surgery did you resume taking blood thinners? How soon did yourfloow-up visit take place after the surgery with the doctor?

    Thanks again,
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #9
    lolad said:

    My dad has had three open
    My dad has had three open heart surgeries and recently had to have a pacemaker replaced. They took him off his oral coumadin and he started shots for a week in the stomach for what sounds like the same thing you have to do. He did bruise on his stomach, and it did get sore, but it all went well. They sent him home the same day of his surgery as well. Im sure you will do just fine, as he did. The hospital should give you warnings to look for and tell you when you should go to the er. I will be praying for you that your surgery goes well.
    Good luck.

    laura

    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless You.

    How soon did the doctor take you off of the blood thinner before surgery?

    How soon did the doctor put you back on the blood thinner after surgery?

    How soon was yourfollow-up doctor bisit after the surgery?

    Thanks again.
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #10
    Akiss4me said:

    Hello jg
    Sorry for your fear. I think you may be talking about the Factor 5 liden. This is a genetic trait which is a tendancy towards blood clots. It is in my family as well. However, I have never been affected by this and have had 8 surgeries. Just follow your Doctor's orders and know that not everyone has complications. Do try to walk around to promote circulation. Most of the clots will occur in the leg. You can look for redness and swelling. But walking will help to prevent this.
    Also, when you refer to no one monitoring you, are you refering to a medical professional not being there? You may be able to discuss with them about a visiting nurse for the first week. If Doctor ordered, most insurances will pay for one. They will stop in, check your bandage, and vitals and make sure all is OK. Hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted. (:-) Pammy

    blood clots
    Thanks for your help. Good suggestion - a visiting nurse.

    How many days did they take you off your blood thinner befor the surgery?

    And how many days after the surgery did they put you back on the blood thinner?

    How soon did you see your doctor after the surgery for a follow-up visit?

    Thanks for your help and kindness.


    God Bless You.
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #11
    chenheart said:

    I spent the night in the
    I spent the night in the hospital after my lumpectomy, and of course was immediately put into those compression thingies on my legs ( great technical jargon, huh?) I imagine you can wear the compression stockings at home, with your Drs knowledge and approval, of course! I had a visiting RN come over as well; and my insurance paid for that as well.

    PLEASE ask! ask! ask! And tell the medical staff any of your concerns; there may be resources you are unaware of which can be of great benefit to you at this time.

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    blood clots
    Thank you so much. It really helps.

    How many days did they take you off your blood thinner befor the surgery?

    And how many days after the surgery did they put you back on the blood thinner?

    How soon did you see your doctor after the surgery for a follow-up visit?

    Thanks for your help and kindness.
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #12
    lanie940 said:

    Isn't there anybody to be
    Isn't there anybody to be with you? My instructions were to have someone bring me, take me home and be with me the first 24 hours. I supposedly have a slightly elevated platelet count, but they told me it wasn't all that bad. I also had a lumpectomy this past Thursday.
    I brused some after my biopsy and it's brusied now from the lumpectomy, but only on the side of my breast where I had it done, and where they took the sentinel node, which thank God was clear.

    Thank you so much. It really
    Thank you so much. It really helps.

    How many days did they take you off your blood thinner before the surgery?

    And how many days after the surgery did they put you back on the blood thinner?

    How soon did you see your doctor after the surgery for a follow-up visit?

    Thanks for your help and kindness.
  • jgpaulson
    jgpaulson Member Posts: 32
    #13
    lanie940 said:

    Isn't there anybody to be
    Isn't there anybody to be with you? My instructions were to have someone bring me, take me home and be with me the first 24 hours. I supposedly have a slightly elevated platelet count, but they told me it wasn't all that bad. I also had a lumpectomy this past Thursday.
    I brused some after my biopsy and it's brusied now from the lumpectomy, but only on the side of my breast where I had it done, and where they took the sentinel node, which thank God was clear.

    Thank you so much. It really
    Thank you so much. It really helps.

    How many days did they take you off your blood thinner before the surgery?

    And how many days after the surgery did they put you back on the blood thinner?

    How soon did you see your doctor after the surgery for a follow-up visit?

    Thanks for your help and kindness.

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