Upcoming MVR, tricuspid repair, & Maze

Dar51 · Sep 25, 2009

Hi,
I am new to this site but have been reading for a few days. My surgery is scheduled for the 13th of Oct. I have a heart cath. on Sept. 29th. I have AFib. and have stopped my coumadin before the cath. Since surgery isn't until the 13th I asked my cardiologist about the interm between heart cath. and surgery. He is putting me on Lovenox? He said I can take it up to 24 hours before surgery??? I'm scared of both not taking it(because of clots) or taking it and bleeding. Does anyone have experience with this?

Thank you.... I'm so scared but I'm trying to focus on the keeping informed and on the multitude of tests preop.

Oh, I am a 58 year old female who had Rhuematic Fever as a child.

Thanks,
Darrla

Ross · Sep 25, 2009

Hello and welcome to the funny farm.

That's an awful long time to bridge with Lovenox, but I suppose it's the right thing to do considering the circumstances. You certainly don't want to go unprotected for that long and Lovenox will protect you. I agree fully with stopping it 24 hours before surgery. Lovenox has the potential to make you bleed far worse then Coumadin could ever hope too. I learned from experience. I had all my teeth removed last year about this time and had to ER admissions for uncontrolled bleeding afterwards. Partly the stitchings fault, but Lovenox would not allow my blood to clot at all. Took the doctors a couple times to figure out what the real issue was and pulled me off the Lovenox, leaving me unprotected while my Coumadin INR got back in range.

I put you on the calendar to make you official. If the date changes, let me know please.

Eva · Sep 25, 2009

Welcome aboard, Darrla. Sorry I cannot advise you re the bridging, but wanted to welcome you and wish you a successful surgery on the 13th of October. You will always find answers here to almost any question you may have!

Jkm7 · Sep 25, 2009

Hi Darrla,
Yes,,,, this heart surgery business is frightening but it is so every day for the surgeons and nurses etc that they get us through it. Happy you found us as most of us have been through OHS and some of us multiple times. For many of us, the wait is the worst part.

I agree that's a long time for Lovenox bridging and it's too bad your cath and surgery are so far apart but sounds like you are in good hands.

Any questions, please ask away. There is almost always someone who has encountered what is being asked about.

This is a very supportive, knowledgable group and happy to help in any way possible.

catwoman · Sep 25, 2009

Darrla:

Welcome! Good luck with the heart cath Tuesday; hopefully you'll be "whistle clean," as my cardio said when I had my heart cath.

You might drop in at the Anticoagulation Forum. There will be others there who have bridged with Lovenox.

davidswife · Sep 26, 2009

Hi Darrla, and welcome! So glad that you have found us

. No need to be scared - this is the nicest and most knowledgeable group of people that you will find anywhere. I can't help you with your questions on the Lovenox but I'm sure that will be lots of people who will come along and share their experiences. Wishing you the best of luck on Oct. 13th. That is the day that my twins were born so it is a lucky day and you will do just great. Another one of our members, Danny, is having his surgery on that day too so I will be cheering you both on while I'm celebrating with my girls (who will be turning 15)!

Nadine