Post op. medications

[PathFinder]

Hi!
How many medications have you had to take right after surgery? I'm getting very nervous already of that. How long am I going to take pills (except anticoagulants)? Or may they be permanent? What kind of meds did you take, guys?

Ivo

 

[geebee]

I took the same meds after surgery as prior other than coumadin - Inderal, Digoxin, Lasix and Potassium.

The Digoxin was stopped a couple of years ago but I am still taking the others (27 years later).

A daily baby aspirin was started a few years ago.

 

[WayneGM]

Post Op I took Coumadin (just for 3 months as I had a repair not replacement), Cytotec (for 2 weeks), EC Acetylsalicylic Acid (for 2 weeks), and painkillers (Oxycocet, Tylonol 3, or Tylonol ES).

 

[Lynlw]

Hi Justin had surgery Tues, they didn't replace the valve, just part of the conduit attatched to it. He came home Friday on Pain meds and 1 baby aspirin. He was on a few heart meds right after surgery for a day or so. So as long as he doesn't run into any bumps, (his appt is Friday) he will just stay with that. He does have a history of getting pericardial fluid so we are watching for that, if it starts to happen the probably with put him on a little lasix for a while.
I know you had some bumps, so hope you are feeling better soon,and they will be able to start cutting down on some of your meds, lyn

 

[Adrienne]

Mostly first month post-op

Mostly first month post-op

For the first month post-op, I took Coumadin (which I no longer take as I had a repair), Amiodarone, a calcium channel blocker, Monopril and Lasix.

After a month, I no longer had to take the Amiodarone, calcium channel blocker or the Lasix.

I now take (as far as heart medication) low-dose Aspirin and a very low dose of Metoprolol (a beta blocker) (that is only because I have a rather fast heartbeat).

So, I wouldn't panic. Right now your heart is still healing so it's normal to be on certain medications.

 

[jds]

Post Op Meds

Post Op Meds

I had surgery a month ago - MVR requiring a replacement with a bovine pericardial valve.

I am now on 6mg Coumadin and expect it to be 2-3 months. Also 12.5mg Toprol XL, Lisinopril, and a baby aspirin for blood pressure. I also take 1000mg slow-release Niacin for cholesterol and triglycerides. I took iron (NiFerix 150mg) for two weeks for mild anemia, stopped, then restarted because my hematocrit was still a little low. At the beginning 2 weeks, I also took Prilosec (antacid) but don't think I really needed it - my stomach has no trouble with the iron nor do I get constipated with it.

I took maybe 6 or 7 Tylenol 3's (Tylenol+Codeine) in the week after hospital release but did not have much trouble with pain. I'm a rock-climber and maybe I just don't notice.

Prior to surgery, I had taken 12.5mg of HCTZ plus an aspirin for blood pressure and 1000mg Niacin for cholesterol / triglycerides.

 

[DeWayne]

Right after surgery I was taking Lasix, Iron pills (was quite anemic after surgery), one 325mg aspirin tablet, Sotalol, Enalapril, potassium for 20 days, plus percocet for pain, then tylenol for a while.
I was on the percocet for a couple weeks, iron pills were like 60 days I think, sotalol (for a-fib) for first couple of months then changed to Toprol XL.

Currently I take I 81 gram aspirin once a day, 10 MG of enalapril 2 times a day and 25 mg of Toprol XL once a day. (right at 11 months since surgery)

 

[aussigal]

I came home on warfarin, lasix, beta-blockers , sleeping pills, pain-killers and something for constipation. I was able to drop most of these within a few weeks and now 14 months later I am only on the Beta-blockers and warfarin which I expect to be on for life.

 

[Philip B]

Post-Op Meds

Post-Op Meds

I suspect that you'll see changes in your meds as you progress away from surgery. Mine have changed since my surgery on March 28. I'm presently on the following:
Coumadin (permanent, I have a mechanical valve)
Lipitor (percautionary, my colesterol is okay)
Zoloft (temporary, I had a bad bout with post-traumatic stress about a month post-op)
Diovan (possibly permanent, my blood pressure runs just a little high)
81 mg Aspirin (probably permanent, this seems to be the standard "cure-all" to prevent general heart problems

My cardiologist figures I'll be able to stop the Zoloft in a few months. Four meds including a baby aspirin isn't bad.

-Philip

 

[llewis34]

I too had many meds right after surgery. But you will realize that once they start taking you off them, you begin to feel SO much better! I was on Amiodarone, Lasik, Lipitor, Lovenox, Potassium, Percocet, Baby Aspirin, Toprol, plus my multi-vitamin. I felt like I could open a pharmacy! We found it easiest to take a Sharpie and mark the tops of the bottles with the numbers 1-9. Then we made a list on a dry erase board on the frig for Morning- Noon- Evening, with the corresponding numbers that I had to take each time. That way we didn't get confused. And all I had to recognize was the number on the top of the bottle! I was only on most meds for 4 weeks after and once I started coming off of them I felt like I turned the corner.

I am 9 weeks out and went back to work today, half days the first week. It DOES get better!!

Lisa

 

[Cooker]

Don't know how many I was on when released. Can't remember But I only take warfarin and toprol now.

Tom

 

[Bina]

In hospital they really like to give pills, pills, pills.
I had coumadin, metoprolol, lasix, potassium, tylenol, stool softener (!)

At home and now: coumadin 3 mg, metoprolol 60 mg/day, aspirin 81 mg.

By choice daily I take: 250 mg Vitamin C, and a calcium/vit D.

 

[jds]

Resumed Iron Supplements after surgery

Resumed Iron Supplements after surgery

Hello -

I took 150mg of iron (Niferex) for two weeks after surgery. My doctor does this just prophylactically to treat for anemia. After I finished, though, I felt weak so my hematocrit was checked and was a little low. Started the Iron again and felt more energetic right away. If hematocrit is still low in a month, I guess I have a different problem.

John

 

[KenBeirne]

It appears to depend on your body's reactions

It appears to depend on your body's reactions

Judging by my current experience, what you end up taking depends on how your body reacts to the surgery. For example, my blood sugar went up, apparently due to surgical stress, and they gave me insulin and glipizide in the hospital, and left me on a small amount (2.5 mg) of glipizide daily until I go to my PCP and he can figure out the real situation. I am hoping that my regular exercise, diet, and recovery will bring it down to pre-surgery, non-diabetic levels.
Also, I was on lisinopril for blood pressure before the surgery, but have not been on it since, since the blood pressure has not gone back to its earlier levels. So, win one, lose one. My cardio assures me that when I have fully recovered my blood pressure will probably resume its previous level -- he's a bit of a killjoy.
Other than that, it has just been warfarin, 83 mg. aspirin, and the same Lipitor and Niaspan I was taking before for cholesterol. So not a whole lot of extra pill taking. They gave me Darvocet to take if needed, but it hasn't been. While you are in the hospital, they will probably give you a lot more (e.g. lasix, since they like urine, and stool softeners or suppositories, since they want bowel movements, etc.), but as I said, it will probably be a function of how your body reacts, and apparently everyone's acts differently.
Hope this helps.

 

[Bryan B]

I took Toprol XL 25mg daily for one year after my surgery and then it was discontinued by my cardiologist. The only thing I take now for my heart are two baby aspirin daily. I had a Ross Procedure...IMO comparing the amount of meds one has to take after surgery will vary from patient to patient depending on what type of surgery they had and what there overall health was like before their surgery.