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Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
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05-31-2009, 01:23 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 2
Hysterectomy: June 29th, 2009
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Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
I am very concerned regarding my upcoming hysterectomy. In March I was diagnosed with severe anemia caused from heavy monthly periods which started after I had gastric bypass surgery in May 2007 (only 36 pounds left to goal). I was put on birth control pills to stop the periods until the hysterectomy could be done. On May 15th I had a hernia repair (caused from the gastric bypass surgery) and developed a large lump three days later. A Cat Scan determined it is a seroma, but it was also discovered I have a blood clot in my kidney. After several trips in and out of the hospital for treatment, I have been placed on Lovenox (blood thinner) injections twice per day for five weeks and after surgery will be switched over to Cumadin for six months. My concern is having surgery with a blood clot and while taking blood thinners. I have been off work since the surgery May 15th and will not be returning until after the hysterectomy because the anemia has caused severe fatigue and I cannot walk around for more than ten minutes that I am not out of breath. I have lost seventeen pounds since surgery May 15th. My ob/gyn handles high risk cases, so I have been assured I have an exceptional physician, but I am still very scared. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone gone into surgery with complications like this? My pre-op is scheduled for June 23rd, I am also concerned about drinking anything for the bowel cleansing (do not know yet if this will be required). Since the bypass surgery, my stomach holds very little. When I had the Cat Scan, I could not drink all the fluid. Also when they did the hernia repair they had to make some repairs to my intestine and everything is still quite sore and I have a fluid build-up the size of a baseball pressing against my stomach which does not allow me to eat or drink very much without throwing up. My ob/gyn is going to drain the seroma during the hysterectomy. Sorry this is so long, but I really need to talk to someone. Thanks for listening and any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
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05-31-2009, 04:18 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 442
Hysterectomy: June 10th, 2009
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
Hi and glad you found us and decided to post!!! This is THE best place in the world for support and the BEST place for the best cyberhugs!!!!
Congrats on your weightloss and coming so close to meeting your goal!!!! That is great!!!!!! It will be great for you both during and after your hyster too!!!! As for your medical problems I wish I had some advice for you! It sounds like you have a really great that you need to put all your trust in. I know it is hard but some things we do just because we have to!!! Not necesssarily becuase we want to!!!
Just know that you are not in this alone!!! You have joined a sisterhood that will see you through the good times as well as the bad!!!!
Big to you and I look forward to getting to know you better!!!!!!
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05-31-2009, 04:29 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 7,531
Hysterectomy: October 23rd, 2006
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
i dont know about your other medical conditions but i wanted to tell you that my mom takes coumadin and has to switch to the lovenox shots before every surgery she has..and she has never had a problem. shes had quite a few surgeries shes had to do that for. after the surgery, she gets her levels checked and follows the directions to start the coumadin up again. good luck!
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05-31-2009, 08:14 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 2
Hysterectomy: June 29th, 2009
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Re: Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
Thank you so much for the support and kind words. I am really glad to have found this website and people who have gone through this before.
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05-31-2009, 08:57 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,154
Hysterectomy: August 22nd, 2008
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
Cougar, and welcome to HS.
I take Coumadin for repetitive DVT (deep vein thrombosis, or blood clot in the leg) and pulmonary emboli (clots in lungs). It was a side effect of the Coumadin that caused the sudden, massive bleeding that led to my hyster. I had only bled for a couple of days, but when I was sent to the hospital my CBC was less than 5. I had to have an emergency hyster to stop the bleeding, but my Coumadin use made that a HUGE problem for my doctors. Before my hyster, I received 8 transfusions of hemoglobin and plasma, and surgery to place a filter in my inferior vena cava to catch any errant clots before they could get to my lungs. And, as I was in the hospital already, I wasn't asked to do a bowel prep or given an enema prior to the hyster. Following surgery I received 2 more transfusions to bring my blood count up more.
Because of my history, my docs and nurses took a lot of post op precautions to lower my risks for developing new clots, and put safeguards into place to protect me if they did. I had compression stockings and those soothing leg pumps, and my nurse had me taking my IV for a walk by the same evening as my surgery. I am sure they will have many precautions for you, as well.
As I understand it, the Coumadin stays in your system longer than the Lovenox. Before my gallbladder surgery a couple weeks ago, I had to discontinue Coumadin for 5 days. It is good that you are only taking Lovenox, as it will keep your clotting factor low while your body absorbs the clot, but it should rebound quickly back to normal before your surgery.
As for the anemia, your doctors will suggest what you should do for that. Have they run a blood count for you? If it becomes severe enough, they will probably suggest a transfusion. I know anemia can be exhausting, and it was harder for me to recover from it than from the actually surgery. You might want to ask your doctor about taking an iron supplement before your hyster. It really does help with stamina and fatigue.
Also, if your GYN forgets to consider your bypass before ordering a bowel prep, don't hesitate to bring up your concern about that! I have read a lot of threads where others have not had to have bowel preps, and they did just as well as I did without them.
I hope some of what I have said helps to alleviate your worries. Others have dealt with similar issues as you and have come through a hysterectomy with little or no problems. Just make sure EVERYONE - your doctors, anesthesiologists, and nurses - are aware of your history.
Best wishes and lots of .
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05-31-2009, 09:51 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 288
Hysterectomy: January 7th, 2000
Surgery Type: DvH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Scared...Anemic, Blood Clot & Blood Thinners
Hi there! Welcome! I can't offer a lot of help but one thing I wanted to ask about--what type of iron do you take? For years I couldn't take enough iron to keep from being anemic (too hard on my GI tract). Finally, maybe 2-3 years ago, I discovered Ferrochel. It's really easy on my system and causes minimal constipation. "The FDA has given Ferrochel the designation of GRAS, (generally regarded as safe). No other iron supplement has this designation."
Good luck!
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