Way back in April I saw the consultant in Liverpool Heart and Chest and agreed to have ICD. I was provisionally listed for 19th August 2019.
I been waiting patiently ever since for the letter to arrive saying that the "provisionally" is no longer the case and that I am attending on the 19th August. Well, today the letter has finally arrived saying I'm having the procedure as scheduled. I've got to go on Monday 12th to outpatients to discuss and have the usual tests ensure I am fit for the procedure.
Before I was discharged after my heart attack they spotted a blemish/spot on my chest which they identified as a basal cell carcinoma which was removed as an outpatient 2 weeks after .I'm on 2 lots of blood thinners, aspirin and ticagrelor, and as my heart attack was only 2 weeks prior they said they wouldn't change my meds but would manage any problems as regards the wound bleeding - and boy did it bleed! I really don't want to go through that again!
I assume when I see the nurse on 12th August they will tell me to discontinue ticagrelor to reduce the chance of wound bleeding. Has anyone been here? and would discontinuing ticagrelor 7 days prior to the procedure be enough to reduce the chance of wound bleed? I'm on 90mg twice a day, and asprim 75mg once a day
I'd be grateful for any advise/experience on this .
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SpiritoftheFloyd
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At both the pre-op for both my bypass and a subsequent unrelated operation I was given written instructions as to what to stop and when. The one that surprised me was ACE inhibitors as with a general anesthesic blood pressure can drop through the floor!
I seem to remember that 7 days is a standard for stopping clopidogrel (brand name "Plavix" - an anti-clotting drug) prior to opertions, so that may give some confirmation that another blood thinner should be be stopped 7 days prior too.
[In the case of clopidogrel the surgeon doesn't have to stop it 7 days prior - I think they can give a counteraction drug the previous day to stop/reverse cloppydog's anti-clotting effects dead in its tracks - I added that in case anyone panics that his medical team might have forgotten!]
They want to fit this as they think there's a chance that I could have an abnormal rhythm at some point in the future which could cause a cardiac arrest as I've had one when I had my HA. So I'm keen to have this done to provide some insurance against a further cardiac arrest.
Hi Russel, I had my pre op at Liverpool just the week before like you & I was given the provisional date when I first saw the surgeon, I was quite surprised at the time when he brought his diary up on the computer & checked which dates he could do my bypass & offered me a choice! It was the same for another patient we spoke to as well so it maybe that’s the way Liverpool normally do things unless you’re an emergency.
I had all the usual tests & saw a cardiac nurse who went through all the details before, during & after the bypass & my medication so I’m sure if you need to stop any drug she will sort it out for you. I know it’s easier said then done but try not to worry, as you know Liverpool is a centre of excellence for heart & Chest. Good luck.
I had a review at the beginning of April where it was brought up that I would benefit having an ICD fitted. I said I was OK with that but would like to discuss it with the people who do this procedure. I got a phone call 2 weeks later to go and talk to the consultant, who went through everything and answered all my questions. At the end she said, so do you want to go ahead, I said yes, and as you experienced, she brought up her diary and said the first date I can fit you in is 19th August! I really wasn't expecting to be given a date that day, as you say I think this is the way Liverpool Heart and Chest work.
Having said Yes, and got a date, I've just been waiting for the letter to say it's on and that I haven't been put back, so I'm just pleased to see that it's going ahead on 19th August. I've then got to rest up for 6 weeks (which is going to be the hard bit) and then after that I'll be back in St Caths for another 8 weeks of rehab - at this rate they should be inviting me to their Christmas party!
I missed their Christmas party last year, I finished rehab there at the end of November, I then had to wait for a place for the last stage at West Kirby. I had just started there when the Concourse closed for Christmas so I missed their party as well.
I hope all goes well with the ICD & make sure you rest up as they’ve said.
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