I wonder if any of this winderful group of people could offer some advice/support. I am very anxious because I am due to have an operation in a week’s time to remove my gall bladder and will have to stop taking my apocaban. I am worried about increased risk of stroke. Have any of you had to stop anti coagulants for a procedure? How was it and do you think I should go ahead?
Thank you for your time.
Yes. Mine(Apixaban) was stopped for a couple of days 2 years ago when I fell over backwards and broke my hip and then had to have my hip replaced.If you needs the op. the docs. decide the time of stopping the meds.Whether to go ahead is your decision.What are your choices?
Thank you very much, that is very helpful. 😄
Hi. Yes I had my gall bladder out in February last year and had to stop my anticoagulant. I take rivaoxaban one of the DOACs like yours. I have also had to stop for various tests and procedures. I understand your anxiety but can reassure you that if your medic thinks you need the op or procedure then the benefits are assessed to outweigh the risks.
I was anxious the first time I had to stop anticoagulation when it was required in advance of an EP study but I was reassured by my EP cardiologist that it was safe to do so. I have stressed less the more I have had to do so.
After your op if you have the same experience as me you will be given injections in the tummy area as a sustitute for your usual anticoagulant. Please look forward to relief after your op and hopefully your gall bladder issues leading to its removal are resolved. Best wishes.
yes re. tummy injections .....this happened to me too meadfoot.......and comforting morphine!
The injections mentioned by meadfoot and 10gingercats are, I think, of subcutaneous heparin (an injected anticoagulant) which is sometimes used when oral anticoagulants are stopped for procedures or surgery. There does not seem to be a consensus on the need to do this with doacs.
academic.oup.com/eurheartj/...
Thank you. I am so grateful for your response and those of others - it really does ease my anxiety. Very best wishes.
Not gall bladder but partial knee replacement. I am on Warfarin and had to stop it a week before surgery. After surgery of several hours and once back in my room I was given 2 injections around the stomach area of Fragmin, a bridging anticoagulant, then in the evening I resumed my regular dose of Warfarin. No problems. From the day I stopped Warfarin to the day I returned to my normal INR was 30 days.
John
Thank you John very reassuring and I am grateful for your response. All the best
I hit a home run last september. I was scheduled for a breast lumpectomy when my gall bladder threw a fit so ended up having both surgeries. Over all I was off my anticoagulant( xarelto) 3 weeks due to timing of surgeries. I was fine but was anxious about it all. Gallbladder was done with laproscope, very easy recovery. Hope yours is over and done easily and your heart doesnt even notice!
Having my gallbladder removed after 9 months of not being able to eat was an easy decision and stopping warfarin for a few days before was a small risk to be normal again
Bonus was I woke from surgery with no a/fib for many weeks
Don't give it a second thought
I am due to have a hysterectomy on March 8th and will have to stop Apixaban the day before. Although I am a little concerned, I know it is necessary. Good luck!
It is normal to get anticoagulant jabs after any major operation. Stopping for 24 hours given the half life of Apixaban should not cause problems. Good luck with the hysterectomy. I had one 18 years ago and I recovered quite quickly.
I went to my local library which is run by volunteers to do a Saturday morning shift. I'd had a sleepless night due to a grumbling ache below my right ribs. I didn't look well and another volunteer took my place. Later in the morning I saw an out of hours doctor who told me to present myself at a specific ward of the hospital, as he was sure I had appendicitis. I take Warfarin as I have asymptotic permanent AF, and my INR was tested and found to be at 2.6.
For 12 hours I was recoagulated with Vitamin K and at 2.30am on a Sunday the operation started. It went well but my heart rate shot up and when after 4 hours they woke me up my heart rate was still fast. I was kept in hospital, uncoagulated for 2.5 days until my heart rate was down to 90 bpm and then discharged.
Back to Basics
AT AND BLADDER CANCER
Follow to my aborted ablation
First operation
Reducing Bisoprolol 
