Preventing Pulmonary Embolism and other feelings

[Tiff 93]

My biggest fear about having this surgery is dying from a pulmonary embolism. When the thoughts of the possibility crosses my mind, I get angry at myself for not being able to lose weight without this drastic measure. Can anyone tell me if your doctor in Mexico gave heparin injections before surgery to reduce the risk?

I have been reading on preventative measures such as lots of walking and fluids etc, compression stockings... I don't know why all of a sudden I am focusing on this one thing when all along I have been so excited and looking forward to this. I guess the fact that surgery risks include blood clots, flying does also... I am feeling alot of guilt at the POSSIBILITY of something happening to me and feel like my kids being left without a mother would be the most selfish thing for me to do. Anyone else working through these feelings?

[LoveMyWorld 0]

Totally right there with you! but then again I think of what kind of life I will have if I dont have the surgery, and the impact that has on my kids. i keep reminding myself that giving my children a happy healthy energetic mom who has the energy to play with them is something I want to do for them. I know that Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Aceves in Mexico both give Heprin or Lovenox injection to help with preventions of blood clots.

[Tiff 93]

Thanks Lovemyworld. I really need to switch my thinking around. My kids do deserve a healthy mom. I appreciate the info on the docs, I will check it out.

[BladeFox 235]

I think about blood clots as well. My Mother went in for Thyroid/Tracheal surgery and never made it out due to this. So my clinic checked me to conclude that I/or my family doesn't have this propensity to blood clot through a simple blood test and it came out negative. That has given me some relief, but I know that what will be most important is the walking while in the hospital and during the first month after surgery. I am making a commitment to myself to do everything in my power to prevent this from happening.

[Roo101769 742]

I hope I can help you feel a little more at ease. I am the survivor of not one, but two pulmonary embolism. The first occurred in April of 2011 and the last this past May. Yet I still went ahead with the sleeve surgery on 10/21. We took every precaution; Lovenox injections, and IVC filter, full pulmonary work up and having to get medical clearance from my hematologist and vascular doctors. I knew I was still taking a chance. But being obese is chance enough of developing clots that lead to PE, so it was worth it. I am very happy to say I had absolutely no complications from the surgery, aside from maybe a little extra bleeding due to blood thinners. Since you are traveling to Mexico it is important that you do what you can to prevent clots. If you aren't on anticoagulants then taking an adult aspirin will help. During the flight be sure to get up and walk when you can, or at the very least flex your ankles up and down in your seat. ( this helps the blood to circulate better in the seated position) It is now standard care to be given Lovenox while in the hospital, so ask the medical staff there about it. And as soon as you can after surgery get up and walk. Not only will this help to prevent clots, it will also help a great deal with the gas from surgery. Good luck. Trust me, it is very worth the risk for the rewards!!!

[Tiff 93]

Wow bladefox, I am glad your test came back negative. Yes walking after surgery is important and what i didnt realize is that it can happen weeks after surgery so making the commitment to keep on walking is key. We can do it!

Thank you Roo. The fact that you went through with this having had two previous PE shows your courage! So glad it all went well and that you had no complications. Its a relief to hear that its standard that something is given to help prevent clots. I will move move move on the plane for sure! Thanks for your reply. It gives me some peace.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I think you should discuss your fears with your surgeon and discuss the possibility of taking aspirin or other meds - but make sure he knows!

I did plastics in Mexico - big long surgery - so I understand your fears. In the end, I just decided to pick a surgeon with a good track record and follow his advice.

I think that many of us fixate on a fear like this, and it sort of represents our overall fear and anxiety about this really really big leap of faith.

[Arts137 1,811]

YES! Don't be ashamed of your fear. Study and learn.

There can be complications, but as you will see they are rare:

http://www.thinnertimes.com/weight-loss-surgery/vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy/vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy-risks-and-complications.html

A mortality rate of 2/1,000 for major surgery is not too shabby!

Do you have a family history or a personal history of blood clots? Is your starting BMI over 50.0? If not, it is likely that they will not agressively treat you for potential clots...

But DO discuss with your medical team!

[Roo101769 742]

Just a little add on. I went for a follow up with my hematologist last week. He said my last genetic test came back negative for clotting disorder. But he did say this...When he first started in the field there were about five or six tests that looked for clotting disorders. Now there are over 20! He believes that sometime in my life a test will be developed that will pinpoint exactly why I have the propensity to clot. But at this time I am considered "of unknown origin" in my clots because all the current tests have been negative. My theory - if it is meant to be it will be. Why worry about what you can't control, just do what you can and ther rest is left up to a higher power!