Having a breast biopsy surgery on the 27th and need your thoughts....

[pumpkincake]

Hello all...

I am scheduled for a surgical breast biopsy on the 27th. I have had minor work done by the dentist but have not had any surgeries since I have been on anticoagulation.

So.... my general doctor cancels my appointment I have with him the day before the surgery. ugh. He said he spoke to me on the phone and doesnt need to see me. (got a call from his office)

I start bridging on this coming Monday. The procedure is out patient unless there is a problem. I feel like I am just hanging here....without any conversation with my general doctor about the APS and surgery.

What experiences have you had with surgery that I need to be concerned with beyond the clotting risk? I know that is higher....although he has not talked to me about anything.

This is another time when reaching out to others with Hughes/APS is more beneficial then a physician.

Thanks for any thoughts and input. I am writing down questions and will call him since he said he doesnt need to see me.

Beverly

[pumpkincake]

THis is an outpatient procedure...and I am reading about the higher risks of clotting during and following the surgery...should I ask my doctor to keep me there to monitor this? Geeze...now I am more nervous.

[Hidden]

I need knee surgery and because of all my previous strokes caused Hughes and Lupus Anticoagulant, and both my Hematologist and Neurologist told me that getting off aspirin and warfarin should only be if surgery is a life and death situation. Both told me that I WILL clot and it’s just a matter of what damage it will do.

[sharonap]

I m on warfrin I had a hysterecotmy (they thought I had cancerous tumor)

I was admitted one week before op slowly reducing my INR to 2 was than put on IV heperin. my INR was tested every four hours. I did end up with a clot in my pelvic area once I was eating properly and infection cleared (about 10 days was put back onto warfarin. But afterwards consultant told me in future he would treat someone on warfarin with heprin injections not IV.

I had keyhole surgery while on warfarin 3 days in hospital before op to reduce INR and stay in afterwards until INR 3.5

Tumor was benin.

[77tiger05]

I was taken off warfin before my breast biopsy and put on Levanox, which is given in 2 shots per day then the day of surgery you don't give yourself any. The next day was back to the shots and added warfin until about a week goes by. Didn't have any problems, no cancer and all was great.

Best of luck to you!!!!!! Will say a special prayer.

DJ

[pumpkincake in reply to 77tiger05]

DJ...did you have a surgical biopsy?

[77tiger05]

Yes, actually a 4 inch ?mil incision. Have a nasty scar because I'm allergic to paper tape and they forgot the steri strips they used to reinforce sutures has paper tape in it. Let me know if you need anything!??!! I mean that!!! Good luck!!!!

[GinaD]

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[panda60]

I had one done last month - I was asked to get my INR to below 3.0 and was fine. So best thing is to phone the clinic and ask them what they would like your INR to be.

Think someone else mentioned surgery - I have had three operations since going on warfarin and each time my warfarin was stopped for a few days beforehand and I injected heparin, then continued on this for a while (can't remember how long for) and then went back on to warfarin.

Caroline

[nyctapdancer]

I just saw my hematologist the other day. He has APLS, so I trust his advice beyond anyone else's.

He says we cannot be off anticoagulation, period. He says one would get off coumadin the day before, and go on Heparin, skipping only the morning of the surgery.

The instant the procedure is done, you'd go back to Heaprin AND coumadin, and continue to use both for 5 days, or until INR is back to above 3.

I had major abdominal surgery 5 years ago, I got off Heparin 20 minutes before. If the surgery had been longer than 3 hours, I would have been on Heparin during the surgery. I was immediately put back on it when the surgery was done, and started coumadin the same day.

That's because my hemo insisted on it. The surgeon had wanted me off coumadin for 3 days before surgery. In which case, I'd be dead now. :>)

If the dr doesn't know that, you need to see another surgeon.

I hope your biopsy goes easily and is totally negative.