Surgery coming up, what to expect?

[Dan W]

I have a surgery coming up in 2 weeks. I snapped off a small piece of bone in my foot that is floating around in my ankle joint and I have to get it cut out. The surgery is on a Friday. I was told I have to be at the hospital on Monday morning so they can put me on Heparin and I will probobally go home on the following Monday or Tuesday. What should I expect while being on the Heparin? Also, what should I expect post surgery? This is my first surgery of anykind since my AVR two years ago. Does the Heparin make you feel any different while beint put under or post surgery? What experiences have any of you had while going through this process? The surgery doesn't bother me at all and it should not even take 30 minutes but I am not to happy about the extended hospitlal stay or not knowing what to expect with the Heparin. I am kind of scared about what I have read about the body having an allergic reaction to Heparin. I am on Warfarin now with an inr of 2.5-3.5. Thanks

 

[geebee]

Dan,

I have had 4 major procedures since my first OHS, each bridged with heparin. I had no problems at all other than the annoyance of a longer hospital stay and being tethered to the IV pump. No reaction to the heparin, no sign of clotting or bleeding, etc.

It sounds like they are being very cautious with the bridging and that is encouraging.

Best of luck to you.

 

[lance]

Surgical experience with heparin

Surgical experience with heparin

I had abdominal surgery a little over a year ago and was bridged with injectable heparin.

The only difference I noticed was feeling warm not normally my response to warfarin which is to feel cold to chilled. When mobile while in hospital I went outside to stand in the winter weather to cool down. My stomach wasn't bruised from the injections and all went well with the surgery.

So two thumbs up for heparin.

Cheers

 

[Ross]

I didn't notice a thing. Sometimes I wondered if it weren't water in the IV bag, but the continous blood tests told me otherwise.

 

[jeffp]

Dan,
The heparin leaves a yucky taste in my mouth (never knew the taste buds worked from the inside too!) while it is being infused. Other than that, as Ross said, it's just the inconvenience of the IV.
Ask why are they taking you off your anticoagulant for this? I've done foot and ankle surgery for over 20 years and this is not a particularly bloody area (unless they intend on cutting large arteries/veins and not repairing them) to work on. If it's inside the ankle, I'd also ask why they can't do it arthroscopically. The ankle is a pretty easy joint to get a scope into. If they are doing it arthroscopically, I'd press for an even more definitive reason for the bridging.
Jeff

disclaimer: Even though I am a doctor, I have not examined you in any way shape or form, and am rendering a personal opinion based on general past observations in cases with a similar presentation to that which you described.
(Just to keep the lawyers placated. )

 

[Birky]

bridging

bridging

I just had shoulder at the end of last year. Only problem I had with the heparin was having a blood draw every six hours. They were running out of veins and I was pretty beat up by the time I went home. Your time schedule is about right for the bridging with surgery.I was in 11days. Good luck on your surgery,

 

[Dan W]

Jeff, The bone that broke off in on the outside of my foot. The surgeon told me that the bone that runs the length of my foot on the outside was extended and fused to the bone that runs the length of my foot on the top. He told me the medical condition but I forgot what it was. He said it may be a significant cut on the side of my foot/ankle depending on where the piece of bone is. They did a ct scan but he hasn't seen it yet to determine how far in the piece is. He also said the piece is sitting behind some tendons that will probobally have to be cut. Thanks for all the responses.