Surgery may be postponed 2 weeks

[judy13]

Finally things were moving, got a call at work for stat labs for cardiac cath on monday. Went and got blood drawn at lunch. Surgery was scheduled for tuesday. Previously chipped tooth started aching. Now on antibiotics for cardiac cath to be done as scheduled for monday. Told to see dentist asap b4 surgery can be done. Now I have to wait to have teeth fixed and my surgeon is going on vacation. He wants to do surgery friday if dental work complete. If not I will have to wait until the week of August 9th for surgery. This is making me crazy. On one hand relieved I may have more time to prepare, on the other hand want to get it over with. Anyone else have setbacks due to dental work. By the way I have had extensive dental work in the past and have to admit my follow up has not been very good. I guess from now on this should be more of a concern.

 

[Superbob]

Yep. Judy, it's frustrating but many folks here have had delays in scheduled surgery. I had about a month's delay because of a bad cold and then I think the surgeon's skiing vacation added to that a bit. (But I wanted him relaxed and rested when my big day came, so I didn't mind too much.) Yes, it adds more waiting time but sometimes there are useful ways to spend that time in terms of further preparation or better yet some fun or relaxing things to do. Hope all goes well for you as you spend just a bit more time in the waiting room. And definitely getting dental work done BEFORE the surgery is a very good thing to do because you don't want to risk the infection in the months after the surgery.

 

[Jkm7]

It is not unusual for surgery date to be bumped up and the wait is always stressful. It is very important any dental work be done prior to your surgery and most surgeons require a statement from dentist saying there is no infection in mouth before they will operate. That is quite standard.

Sorry you have to deal with this chipped tooth but good you spoke up and told your surgeon about it. Bacteria from the mouth travels easily to the heart and it is a worry fresh after surgery so most of us are told we cannot have dental visits until 6 months post op.

Best Wishes.

 

[AgilityDog]

Yeah, my surgery got bumped back a week for similar reasons - Dr's personal schedule, not my dental work. Bummer 'cause work was dovetailing nicely with days I was planning to be out. Now my boss has to figure out which projects he can give me that will be done before my surgery.

I just had my teeth cleaned and full set of xrays this week, in preparation for my surgery (as well as the usual 6 month cleaning). I'm rather lucky, as both my dentist and my hygenist have close friends/family members with kids with congenital heart defects. They are so up on all the coumadin issues...or rather non-issues, and protocols for antibiotics. AND they're nice people.