Hi all

Just wanting to see if anyone here has been banded while on warfarin. I've looked into it and know that they can do a heparin bridge for surgery but am wanting to know if anyone has had this done. I'm going to speak to my vascular specialist on 16 Jan about this and hopefully get a referral to see a surgeon asap for the band.

Thanks

Hi, checking with your specialist is best of course, but they do have ways of working with warfarin and surgery. I am also on this medication and there have been a couple of invasive procedures done that required my temporary stop of taking it and everything was fine. Basically, the heprin is given via an injection in the hospital, the warfarin or coumadin is the same thing but in a pill form.

I was not on it at the time of my banding as it was some time ago that I had the procedure, but I did have cardiac problems even then. I went through it without a hitch. I was one of the lucky ones in that I had 0 problems with the surgery and, thank goodness, to date with my band.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Cindy

I thankfully am off warfarin now but every time I need surgery I have to go back onto blood thinners. I was on heparin whilst in hospital for the lap band and then on clexane injections at home for about 2 weeks after the surgery and had no problems with extra bleeding or anything. The surgeon just asked me to ask my haematologist for advice before doing the surgery.

all the best.

Thanks for that. I go see the Dr on the 16th and see what he says. I couldn't image it'd be a problem tho.

Hi,

I did have the surgery and did have the bridge. We have an anticoag clinic here and they worked with me and my doctor to set up the whole thing. I gave myself Lovenox shots (a type of heparin but not quite the same) a few days before and gradually reduced the warfarin and after surgery, two or three days of the shots as I started back on warfarin. The clinic taught me how to give myself a shot and had me do it there to make sure I could do it. I didn't like it much but it was better than risking a stroke. I have afib and so just quitting warfarin was not a risk I wanted to take. I had my surgery December 20th and we're still working on getting my INR stable. All in all, it was not that big a deal. Please feel free to ask me any questions that you have.

Kathy