[OMCV]

Just got back from my first orientation. Hit a snag, (please do not make a debate) the doctors will not do the surgery without blood. They even make you sign a document that you would accept blood.

[DeMarie]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand.

[OMCV]

Sorry I wrote in a hurry, I want a bloodless surgery and the doctors stated they would not even consider me for the surgery.

[DocSanae]

Do you mean that they will have you agree to a transfusion just in case you have excess bleeding or something happens during surgery that requires transfusion?
This is standard precaution and procedure for any surgery, especially major surgery.
Whether you will actually need to be transfused is another matter. So long as the surgery goes the way it should, and no complications, you won't need any transfusion before/during/after surgery.

If you have objection to this due to religious belief (which is the most frequent case where this comes up) you should talk in private with the surgeon and ask if there are any options, or search for a surgeon who is willing to prepare an altenative to transfusion should the necessity arise. However, in this case, you do need to fully understand that should complications neccessitating transfusions under normal cricumstances arise, the chances of your full recovery will be a bit lower.

[OMCV]

The doctor said that they use an extreme amount of blood thinner and usually require a transfusion after the surgery. They use the blood thinner to prevent blood clots. But after speaking with my friend they did not use blood thinners on her and her surgery went excellent! She was over 50 with high blood pressure, etc.

[beckamarie]

I am sorry

[DocSanae]

Basically, whether you actually need blood thinners and transfusion is case by case. It depends a lot on your past health history and your present state of health.
However, with any major surgery, it's standard precaution to have a couple of units of blood pre-matched to you, just in case. In fact, if I were going to have major surgery, and the surgeon didn't take precautions of having blood ready beforehand, even if he thought I'd do fine, I would call him to task. You just don't want your surgeon to take risks on you, it's your life.
Keep in mind, we drs always prepare for the worst case scenario just in case. A typical "Better be safe than sorry" scenario.

When you are researching for surgery, it's best not to jump to "no, I do not want that". You should first research the why of certain procedures (how exactly the surgeon does the surgery and what medication he/she uses depends on the surgeon), compare with others, then decide. If you feel uncomfortable with your first choice, then research and see if there's another one.

One thing about seminars is that they will give you the *standard* program. However, the actual program is going to be tailored to a certain extent to meet the needs of the patient. If your surgeon wants to use the maximum amount of blood thinners, then it may be that he's had a significant enough number of patients develop thrombosis post, so that to his reasoning, pre-administering the blood thinners is a good precaution. Of course, a different surgeon's mileage is likely going to vary.

It's your life and health, so you should be in control.

[OMCV]

Thank you DOC!!!!

Ok I got to speak with a gal that had her surgery with the same doctors. She said they did the same to her at the orientation, but when she went it for her consultation it was a different story. They worked with her and everything turned out great! So I am set .. July 18th and we will go from there.

[Darla]

there are a lot of hospitals esp. in Calif. that practice bloodless healthcare. I currently work at one, We use significant measures before we do any transfusions and we work with JW representatives. So maybe you can research that aspect and find out if the hospital has a bloodless practice, and talk to your surgeon regarding it and if it is because of religous beliefs maybe you can get a liason to research info prior to meeting your surgeon.


Good Luck


Darla

[OMCV]

Darla - Thank you! Side note .. I grew up in Orange County, in fact we were vacationing down there just last week. Of course I am only one that came back looking like a losbter!

I did email my primary doctor and she e-mailed me back stating that she would speak to the referral coridinator and the care management team for the hospital and see if they was something they could work out. I could not thank her enough for making the extra effort. Would you believe I emailed her around 8:30 and she e-mailed me back an hour later. I have to say I just love my primary doctor, she is always on top of things!