Hi new here! but opinion advice needed on forthcoming knee replacement surgery

Hello and welcome. I suggest that you perhaps get in touch with the secretary of the medical person/person who gave you the diagnosis..send an email to the secretary marked for the specialist's attention; Explaining your worries about management of this before, during and after the operation, this is really important. Put your GP's name and address on it... and ALSO the name and location of specialist due to to your knee, if possible copy email to secretary of knee specialist as well. Most medical secretaries will let you do this, and pass the info on... At least they have in my case! I would also visit your GP with a copy of the letter you have written, this will make the relevant parties talk we hope. Are you under any particular consultant/team etc etc. Hope this helps. I would start on this sooner rather than later, in case somebody is on leave, also secretariat in hospitals is so stretched these days on the NHS. Mary F

Hi Mary and Thank you,

Sorry I am english but in France and every one concerned is very very aware of what I have....I spoke to my GP yesterday and he said as I had not had a dvt he did not feel the need to give me anything else for the 7 days I am not on aspirin!!!!!

I also spoke to the surgeon and he said he is just the surgeon and I needed to talk to the anethetist....which I got my doctor to do!! and this was the outcome of their conversation.......but I am really worried....I think I may go and visit my doctor on Saturday morning........He does know I am worried to the extent that I will cancel this op if I have to as my problems all stem from cervical neck surgery....ie trauma!!!!

Hi Mary,

unfortunately it was my doctor who diagnosed me, he it quite clued up, and he put me in hospital for further tests! It would be him that needed to prescribe a replacement......so I have just phoned him to see him Saturday.....he knows I am not happy!!!

Yes it is difficult..........I have had no further tests since March last year...I read about people testing them selves....whats that about I just take aspirin!!!! oh and plaquenil........so all in all one very worried person!

Thank you for giving me your opinion though.....it means a lot....and confirms my fears!

Pauline

I need shoulder surgery and my hemotologist told me that the standard procedure is to come off your warfarin therapy and to switch over to heparin for the srugery itself. This is so that you won't bleed excessively when they operate. As it was explained to me, heparin is the safe substiture for surgery, as it works via another coagulation pathway that will not result in your bleeding too much.

So you might want to ask if they are planning to give you heparin or not.

I need shoulder surgery and my hemotologist told me that the standard procedure is to come off your warfarin therapy and to switch over to heparin for the srugery itself. This is so that you won't bleed excessively when they operate. As it was explained to me, heparin is the safe substiture for surgery, as it works via another coagulation pathway that will not result in your bleeding too much.

So you might want to ask if they are planning to give you heparin or not.

Good on you, I am so pleased, it is so refreshing to read about such good communication between a GP and patient in a condition often misunderstood and sidelined - the best of luck with your operation. You will soon be dancing again. Mary F

i had surgery about 5 years ago for an abdominal blockage and the surgeon wanted to take me off heparin 3 days before. thankfully my hematologist kept me on heparin until 20 minutes before surgery and had me back on it 20 minutes after.

if the surgery had been more than 3 hours i would have been on heparin during the surgery.

i have had oral surgery, dermatological surgery on coumadin with no major issues. coumadin just makes me normal. and i alternate 15 and 12.5 mg.

I had surgery 3 weeks ago and was told to stay on my aspirin! No problem with bleeding after wards..... Can you have your specialist (APS Doctor) work in coordination with your Orthopedists to insure the best results? The surgery was Sinus and that usually bleeds a lot but I did great.

Hope all goes well!

LisaWa