AF and having surgery

[Montybird]

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.

[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 in reply to 10gingercats]

thnaks so much for your reply x

[Blackcatsooty]

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.

[Hidden]

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]

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

[Hidden]

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 in reply to Hidden]

thanks so much that has put my mind at rest x

[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 in reply to Drummer20]

Thankyou this had made me feel better about the op x

[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]

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