Urgent surgery needed - what happened because I was on anticoagulant

[cassie46]

On Tuesday 5th April I awoke in the early hours of the morning with severe stomach pains and feeling sick. Things got worse and at 8.30 my hubby rang for an ambulance. He was told that it would be a 2 to 2 1/2 hour wait and ambulance arrived after 2 hours. Pain was terrible and my heart rate was taking off (I have permanent AF), blue lighted into A & E but had to wait 3 hours in the ambulance outside of A & E as no beds.

Once in A & E, chest xray taken, ECG and then a CT scan, result of scan was serious infection and inflamed appendix. Consultant came to see me and said ideally they would operate immediately but because I was on anticoagulant they would have to wait for a few days for it to leave my system. In the meantime I would be closely monitored, put on antibiotics, pain relief, sickness medication and fluid drip. So for 3 days I was given 3 different antibiotics daily by IV, pain relief and morphine by IV and what seemed to be a permanent fluid drip, plus sickness medication. Unfortunately I reacted to the heavy doses of antibiotics, reacted by feeling more nauseus than before and frequently vomiting. Could not sleep, just a few cat naps so felt exhausted as well and not eating since Monday evening (had no appetite at all) did not help, I donn't think I have ever felt so bad. To cap it all on the Friday morning a doctor from the surgical team came to take blood, I had over the days had 5 double cannulas inserted in my left arm ( right arm cannot be used for blood pressure, taking blood or cannulas because of breast cancer and lymph node removal) she found a vein in my hand but must have gone through the vein as my hand suddenly began to swell up with blood. Fortunately a Staff nurse was passing and saw what was happening applied pressure and a put a pressure bandage on it. So my hand and wrist looked as if I had been in bare knuckle fight. The doctor still had to take the blood samples, she looked terrified as she tried to find another vein and insert the needle. Eventually got the all clear to have op on the Friday, so had keyhole surgery to remove the appendix on Friday afternoon.

Op successful, had a very sore stomach 4 puncture wounds and still in some pain but at least the sickness had gone. Was able to come home on the Sunday. Had problems on Sunday evening my heart rate was going to low (kept dipping into the 30's) normally it wanders around the 70's and 80's, I just put it down to all that had gone on that week, my GP rang on the Monday to see how I was, told her and my beta blocker was dropped 2.5 from 5. It took my heart rate 5 days to settle back to what I call normal.

Unfortunately the CT scan revealed another problem in my bladder, while I was under for the appendix op urology did a camera scan and they have found a small mass in my bladder, so another keyhole surgery is booked for 25th May.

I feel pretty drained by it all, but I am still here alive and kicking and getting back to my normal. My left hand and arm are still black and blue but gradually fading.

My hospital experience was a bit mixed some wonderful staff and some not so good, but I still am very grateful that we have the NHS.

Take care all.

Cassie

[jeanjeannie50]

Oh Cassie, what an experience you've had! I really feel for you. It's so horrible to be in pain isn't it. As for those darned anticoagulants preventing your operation going ahead - Grrrr.

Wishing you well now, please let us know how your bladder op goes.

Sending you a big healing hug.

Jean

[cassie46 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean, I hope you are doing well after your recent keyhole surgery - we could compare puncture wounds lol

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to cassie46]

I've been really brave today and just had a shower, the first since coming home. Goodness knows when I'll be able to wear a bra again as main puncture wound is right where it would go. I couldn't fault any of the staff that looked after me. The one that booked me in was small and elderly but the sweetest kindest person you could wish to meet. I did a really daft thing though, when she asked for my full name I said my maiden name. Now I haven't had, or used that name for over 50 years. goodness knows why that popped into my head (losing the plot I think).

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Jean

[bassets in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Good for you Jean. Glad the op went well and you've managed to shower - it makes you feel so much better doesn't it?

[sassy59]

What an ordeal Cassie. That’s the problem with anticoagulants, ok if you’re having a planned op so you can stop them in time but otherwise a real palaver. I take Rivaroxaban 20mg and had to stop it for two days just to have my ingrown toenail removed. Wishing you a really good recovery. Xx

[MummyLuv]

Oh Cassie what a horrible ordeal, sending you lots of positive thoughts and hope the next stage of surgery goes without incident

It’a worth reading up on left appendage clamping/stapling, it’s more surgery though but for most people it stops the need for anticoagulants.

[CDreamer]

Sorry to hear about you experiences, how horrible and I imagine very scary but thankfully you came through. Wishing you a speedy recovery and best wishes for the second op. I imagine it will take quite a while for things to settle. Best wishes

[nikonBlue]

Oh how awful for you. I hope you are feeling better every day and as for the other thing going on I have everything crossed for you that all is well.I have to admit going into hospital these days totally terrifies me with stories such as this. Such long delays even to get an ambulance in an emergency then being left in an ambulance or in a corridor for hours. Sounds horrible so fingers crossed it's never needed. Feel better soon.

Blue x

[meadfoot]

Bless you. What a journey. Good luck with your next surgery.

[rothwell]

The whole experience sounds so awful and I'm pleased that you have come through it successfully. It does,however, raise a question for me....why cant they use an antidote to stop any bleeding caused by an operation? I am taking Apixaban and was under the impression that there is now an antidote for this. Does anyone have any information on this?

[Singwell]

EEK that's a tale of woe!! I'm so sorry and just relieved that you're through this first part. Doctors are crap at taking bloods - give me a nurse any day! Thank you for being upfront about the issues with anticoagulants- useful for any of us to know. Hope all remains stable till your next procedure.

[Auriculaire in reply to Singwell]

Here in France blood taking in hospitals is done by phlebotomists - that is all they do , go round the rooms and take blood when it is needed. As a result they are usually top notch at finding veins and making the procedure as painless as possible. I have particularly difficult veins so I appreciate their experience. The same is true for blood tests outside hospital. The doc gives you a prescription and you go to your local lab where again the personnel are taking blood all day long . Also at my local lab they know my crap veins and always use a baby's needle on me.

[Ppiman]

What an experience. Poor you. I learned a few months back that I shall eventually have to have surgery to improve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate ("BPH"); the doctor took a small intake of breath when he learned I was on rivaroxaban. It seems I shall have to stop the drug for a day or two before any operation, then resume a day or two later. I presume this increases the risk of thromboembolism, too. It's one extra complication for arrhythmia sufferers.

Let's hope your bladder op goes smoothly. You'll be feeling pretty tense before it, no doubt. Life, eh?

Steve

[Auriculaire in reply to Ppiman]

After the op you should get bridging jabs.

[BobD Volunteer]

So sorry to read all that Cassie but wow do I admire your spirit! Cyber hugs from me (((( ))))

[MoyB]

Well, you have really been through the mill, haven't you?! I was horrified to read how long you had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital, as if the wait for it to come wasn't bad enough. And then to have to wait so long because of the anti-coagulants. It must have been really awful for you. Thank goodness they were able to do the op eventually. I hope everything heals well and you soon feel much better.

So, you have another op to look forward to as well. What a good job they found the mass in your bladder, though. Hopefully, they will operate successfully on that before it becomes a major problem. It is sometimes the case that something else is found. My husband had an MRI for his prostate and it showed up fluid in his lungs. As a result, he had a new heart valve! We consider it a lucky find and no doubt you feel the same about your bladder.

I wish you well with your recovery and for the next op. xx Moy

[Barb1]

What an awful experience. I dread having a canula. I've had so many problems with them. Hope your next op is successful.

[Thomas45]

You appeared to have had a rough time, Cassie. My experience of appendix problems was different from yours. It only took 12 hours to re-coagulate me. I only had a grumbling pain which came on on a Friday afternoon. I didn't get much sleep and rang the out of hours doctor the next morning. I saw him at 11.30. After examining me he rang a hospital to arrange for me to be admitted. He told me to drive home, get the medication, etc I needed for a short stay in hospital, and to go, by taxi, straight to a numbered ward.I arrived at 2.30pm. I take Warfarin, my INR was 2.5. I have permanent though asymptomatic AF . Fortunately I still had a grumbling pain, not the excruciating pain you had. A nil by mouth notice was attached to my bed, and I was given antibiotics and vitamin k via a cannula. In the late evening an anaesthetist told me if be having the operation in the morning. I didn't think they meant 2.30am, but that's when my bed was wheeled to the operating theatre.

Another anaesthetist told me that the operation would take about an hour but if anything went wrong I'd be kept asleep while they fixed it. And so it was, 3 hours after my appendix had been removed that they woke me up. At that point by heart was beating over 190 beats per minute. After 2½ days my heart rate had dropped to 80 and I was discharged.

I suspect your 3 day delay before your operation was due to infection rather than anticoagulation.

[SuziElley]

I’m so sorry to read this Cassie. You really have been through the mill. I hope all goes well for your next surgery and I’m sure, after your last experience, they’ll be super careful with you. Take care, rest up and build your strength in readiness. Maybe try some mindfulness. It’s surprising how this can help. Take some gentle music to the hospital with you and keep yourself plugged into it. Lots of hugs xx

[stoneyrosed]

Big hugs from me Cassie, life sure does throws some curve balls. Wish you luck for the future.

[irene75359]

Your experience sounds horrendous - sending you all good wishes for a complete recovery from the op and the one planned.

[cassie46]

Thank you all for your best wishes. I am trying to get back to normal, even been pottering about in the garden the last few days. Not able to do much but, must not lift or bend too much. Next op should be just a one night stay if all goes well and will have to come off Rivaroxaban again. Just to add I was given a holding dose injection (used to be heperin not sure what they use now) the following evening of the op and then back on rivaroxaban the following day.Cassie

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to cassie46]

Post REMOVED by Admin

[RoyMacDonald]

Why not get swapped to Apixaban? There is an reversal for that.

All the best.

Roy

[Auriculaire]

Wishing you a speedy recovery from your horrible experience. Hope all goes well with the next op.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Whow.You have been through the mill.

But things can only get better.

I thought my experience wasbad - Stroke and showing like you rapid persistent AF and 4 days later the carotid artery scan showed a shadow on my thyroid.

4 months papillary cancer out.

2 years scans all clear.

Mine was slow motion but yours at rapid pace beats me.

PRADAXA consider - has an anti drug. For emergency - accident or operation.

Ask.

cheri JOY

[bassets]

so sorry you have been goinfg through the mill. Hope all goes well with your second op x

[DawnTX]

Oh honey how sorry I am to hear about what a nightmare you had. Any procedure when we have a fib could be a headache. I was very surprised my recent procedure I did not get told to stop my blood thinners. Normally it’s 2 to 3 days after them. I did have some bleeding issue from my carotid and thermal where they would start to clot then bleed again which kept me overnight. Nothing earth shaking but they kept me to make sure it remained that way. I also had a new procedure for closing the groin area I’ve had it once before where they put something in there it does not have to come out it does it’s own thing in time and I had no pain from it. Of course the carotid you can’t just plug up. The fact that you sound a bit annoyed is a good thing when we get like that I like to think we were getting back to ourselves again lol hopefully the worst is behind you now that’s what I’m hoping for myself and it was not that bad when I think of what they did for me. Cheers here’s hoping everyone who has a procedure is successful