AF and having surgery : hi I have af... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

54,328 members33,995 posts

AF and having surgery

Montybird profile image
11 Replies

hi I have af and am 55 I am going to have a hip replacement soon, and very worried about the surgery, I also have to stop taking my blood thinners 3 days before surgery. And worry about af well I'm having surgery.

Written by
Montybird profile image
Montybird
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

I had an emergency hip replacement some years ago so only stopped Apixaban very briefly. All was ok.Aside from the hip replace itself do all your precribed exercises after the op.Do not miss them out until Physio. says so. If you do not get physio. on account of the hosptal situations at the moment invest in some private lessons if you can possibleaffort it. I was very lucky and got about 12 on the nhs.

Montybird profile image
Montybird in reply to10gingercats

thnaks so much for your reply x

Ageingfast profile image
Ageingfast

when I stopped my blood thinners before surgery, I did get migraines. But as soon as I returned to the tablets, the migraines stopped. So no big deal and nothing to worry about.

If its any help, my wife has had two hip replacement operations and a revision (replacement of the replacement) of one hip, but noting she doesn't have heart issues. From observation the first few days can certainly be uncomfortable but I was surprised how quickly she recovered although the revision took longer to allow a return to normality (or better). And she did not have any problems and now her dodgy hips are a thing of the past. We also know others who have had this surgery with good outcomes. As for your blood thinners I look upon it as only a temporary increase in your heart risk during which you don't take them for a few days, and that is acceptable, but without that temporary pause in medication it is likely the operation would not be allowed to proceed, so the temporary increase in risk is far outweighed by the long term improvement in quality of life following the replacement surgery.

annpavitt250448 profile image
annpavitt250448

I had a hip replacement 21 years ago and it's still going strong. Waiting for a knee replacement depends on how long I have to wait as to whether I am still in clopidogrel after a stent last September. Regarding stopping blood thinners I had to come of the antiplatelet for 5 days before my colonoscopy and was fine. You will get blood thinner injections after the operation anyway

I am4 months post op THR. Don’t worry you will be well monitored and have injections in your tummy for anticoagulant for a few days. I am 78 and doing fine,no problems with AF good luck

Montybird profile image
Montybird in reply to

thanks so much that has put my mind at rest x

Drummer20 profile image
Drummer20

I used to be a nurse looking after people having orthopaedic surgery and they give heparin injections to protect you during the time you can’t take your anticoagulants.The anaesthetist will look after you and keep an eye on your heart rate you will be well looked after.

Montybird profile image
Montybird in reply toDrummer20

Thankyou this had made me feel better about the op x

Concker profile image
Concker

had to stop my blood thinners , no problems, I had my hip done and because I was fit going into surgery I was up and dancing in 5 weeks I only used a stick for a few days, I did not have an epidural procedure as my back so worn nowhere to inject not a problem being put to sleep, preferred it to be honest. Not so sure years on whether I would fare so well but who knows and everyone I know who have had their hips done are fine. So good luck.

watermill profile image
watermill

Waiting for a different op but have found the comments useful as I have AF too.My husband had a hip replacement and he was told to get walking every day starting with short walks and going further every day. Worked a treat.

Good luck

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Heart Surgery

I am due surgery on 7th September. I will need one valve replacing and one valve replaced or...
ChessRe3 profile image

AF sufferer.

Hi I have been diagnosed with AF , I am extremely worried about taking blood thinners .
Torvi profile image

Af and high Troponin levels

After suffering with AF for 4 days last week, I decided that I must go to A&E. (really did not want...

Open heart surgery.

Hello everybody this is my first time on here and the support I’ve seen from every body has been...

Af ablation

Hi there...im 52 fit active living with AF....have now been recommended to have AF Ablation...but I...

Moderation team

See all
HUModerator profile image
HUModeratorAdministrator
Luke_BHF profile image
Luke_BHFPartner
Amy-BHF profile image
Amy-BHFPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.