surgery

[Birky]

I went to see the Ortho Dr. yesterday and he thinks that the tear in my shoulder should be repaired. We discussed the coumadin issue and he said that I would be off of coumadin for the surgery then do the Lovenox thing. My Cardio had mentioned previously that he didn't think that the insurance would pay for the Lovenox. I called them yesterday and the only way they would pay for it is if I went to the hospital and have them give me the shots.I am thoroughly confused. I thought that you gave yourself the shots.I really do not want to be an inpatient with the heparin thing unless I can't do it any other way. I called the Cardio this morning and was told as soon as I get a date, then let them know and they will work with the Ortho. The Ortho is in Chicago and we are in Peru-about a 100 miles away so its not like the hospital is next door. I really do not want to have this done since I have had so many surgeries but the pain is keeping me awake at night and limiting my ability to do things. Any help will be appreciated,

 

[Ross]

Well when it comes to insurance, they have the ball. You can file a grievance with them about it, but it's going to take time that you don't want to waste. Basically, it's either be admitted for bridge therapy whether by LMWH or IV Heparin drip or just stop the Coumadin, risk a stroke and forego the operation.

I'm facing the same thing with my Colonoscopy, so I know how aggravating it is.

 

[RandyL]

HeyThere!
If the insurance company will pay for the hospital and the Heperin then go for it. Lovenox is no picnic.

 

[geebee]

I would much rather be an in-patient with a heparin drip than do lovenox shots. Unless you meant that the insurance wanted you to go to the hospital, get the shot and then go back home which sounds really silly.

I would do some more questioning just to be certain.

 

[Ross]

I disagree with you two. I'd rather have the lovenox then go for a Heparin drip. Your talking about being stuck with a needle every 6 hours with the drip vs once in 12 hours for lovenox.

 

[RandyL]

I disagree with you two. I'd rather have the lovenox then go for a Heparin drip. Your talking about being stuck with a needle every 6 hours with the drip vs once in 12 hours for lovenox.

When I was in the hospital the Heperin was hooked directly into my IV no needles just dripped into me thru the IV 24/7

 

[Ross]

When I was in the hospital the Heperin was hooked directly into my IV no needles just dripped into me thru the IV 24/7

Yeah but didn't they come poking you every 6 hours for aPPT tests? That's what I just went through!

 

[RandyL]

Yeah but didn't they come poking you every 6 hours for aPPT tests? That's what I just went through!

NOPE I had 2 pikks and didn't evewn have to fool with the technicians, only the nurse could work the Pikks which meant 2 maybe 3 times a dy if they weren't to busy.I was liucky I had it down to a science they get blood from the IV and I get Moephine at the same time. lol
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[Birky]

surgery

Just talked to the Ortho's office and have scheduled the surgery for 10/30. Now all the fun starts. It is supposed to be done in a surgery center but they are going to make sure that I am able to have it done there. Of course we have to coordinate with the Cardio. I do not want to do the heparin thing do to getting stuck so many times and the cost of being an in patient. How come no one tells you all this stuff before you have a mechanical put in? How many days do you have to do the shots of Lovenox? Are some mechanicals more prone to clots than others? If this gets too complicated, I might just let it go and have my arm fall off. If it didn't keep hurting so much and moving out of the socket, I would say the "heck with it. I think I am falling apart.

 

[Mary]

Just talked to the Ortho's office and have scheduled the surgery for 10/30. Now all the fun starts. It is supposed to be done in a surgery center but they are going to make sure that I am able to have it done there. Of course we have to coordinate with the Cardio. I do not want to do the heparin thing do to getting stuck so many times and the cost of being an in patient. How come no one tells you all this stuff before you have a mechanical put in? How many days do you have to do the shots of Lovenox? Are some mechanicals more prone to clots than others? If this gets too complicated, I might just let it go and have my arm fall off. If it didn't keep hurting so much and moving out of the socket, I would say the "heck with it. I think I am falling apart.

Birky,
I had to undergo a hospital stay (throwing calcium clots from the stenotic valve) before I had replacement, and that was when I realized that if I went mechanical, I had a pretty decent chance of landing in the hospital on a fairly regular basis as I aged and my body needed more procedures done to it. My four day stay was enough to make me go tissue.
I hope you get everything sorted out; shoulder pain is the pits!

 

[Ross]

NOPE I had 2 pikks and didn't evewn have to fool with the technicians, only the nurse could work the Pikks which meant 2 maybe 3 times a dy if they weren't to busy.I was liucky I had it down to a science they get blood from the IV and I get Moephine at the same time. lol
\

Your lucky or is it more like unlucky. If they only checked you 2 or 3 times, they were not doing it by protocol.

 

[Ross]

Just talked to the Ortho's office and have scheduled the surgery for 10/30. Now all the fun starts. It is supposed to be done in a surgery center but they are going to make sure that I am able to have it done there. Of course we have to coordinate with the Cardio. I do not want to do the heparin thing do to getting stuck so many times and the cost of being an in patient. How come no one tells you all this stuff before you have a mechanical put in? How many days do you have to do the shots of Lovenox? Are some mechanicals more prone to clots than others? If this gets too complicated, I might just let it go and have my arm fall off. If it didn't keep hurting so much and moving out of the socket, I would say the "heck with it. I think I am falling apart.

It's not as bad as you might think. If you have good, usable veins, then they can put an IV in each arm. One for the heparin and the other for blood drawing. Figure a week at least as far as time goes. If you go in and take the shots, every 12 hours you'll be getting poked in the belly, but the needles are so small that it's not a big deal either.

I found out where I lucked out. I had two IV's but they were both in the arm that the Heparin was running into, so they couldn't use the unused port for drawing and couldn't find a vein in my other arm that didn't blow when they tried to insert a 20ga angiocath into it. Hence, my continuously being poked for blood.