going off plavix

[Roster17]

Has anyone on this board ever go off of plavix for surgery after having a DE stent.  I am 2 yrs post stent in the  LAD.  I have gallstones and need to have my gallbladder removed.  My Cardio wants me on the plavix indefintely, so will not give me the ok to stop the plavix for 10 days and the Surgeon will not do the procedure with me on the plavix. I'm in a no win situation. My symptoms are not that severe yet, Does anyone have any suggestions or advice.  Should I try another Cardio for a 2nd opinion or is there someone that I can complain to so these dr's will get together to corrdinate something. This is going to end up being an emergency operation with me on the plavix.  I really want to avoid that.
Any suggestions or if anyone can advise me on what I can do will be very helpful.
Thank you.

[Dixies]

I have been on plavix for a year and 6 months..The dr had me take them every other day for a month and then said to take them once a month for a week..I am down every day I take them..My bone scan was very bad this time from the plavix genetic..Hair loss joint pain I just want off of them..I hear about a very natureal blood thinnner , going to ask about that and go off of the plavix for good..It is called Nattokinase ..My health is not good and I am in so much pain on the plavix, joint pain and headaches and the list goes on and on.Hope this helps you out a little..

[PattiandJohn]

Go to another surgeon that specializes in high risk surgeries.

[Roster17]

I'm really sorry to hear about your husband. It's been 5 yrs since my stent was put in. My Cardio will now let me off plavix for 7 days for any surgery or procedure needed. But it still is a little scary.

[tess317]

My husband had 2 stents put in after a mild heart attack, and was put on plavix to prevent clottting on the stents. Three yrs. later he was taken off plavix for surgery. He got thru the surgery just fine, but suffered a major heart attack in the recovery room, and after 3 months while in the hospital died of another major heart attack.

[toby45]

Does anyone have any info on how long Plavix has been on the market and are there any long term probs with taking this med...

I understand that Plavix was initially designed as a short term solution (6 mts post surgery), but then they found high mortality rates with people coming off the med so they decided to make it a med you take for life post angio or surgery.

I'll try and find the article, but curious to find out if anyone knows more...

[lulama]

On the other hand............Jim, it could be that your bypass was somewhat of an emergency,whether they admitted that to you or not........and............for your surgery, there were all kinds of experts standing by.....monitoring your inr, with stuff they could igive you to keep your blood regulated., and all sorts of resusitating gizmos right there, etc.......that ordinarily are not called for in gall bladder.surgery......

And, yes, I'm sure doctors think about covering their hind ends.....If hey don't , who will.?

[Roster17]

Toby45 & jim62 thank you for your replies.  jim62, I believe you are right.  Doctors are just covering their *****r

[jim62]

I went through the same thing for a colonoscopy.  I asked every medical person I knew, and the concensus was that 10 days off plavix was far less of a hazard than doing the thing while taking the plavix.  It didn't make me feel much better about it, but then again, I didn't die or anything.  Can't argue with success.

Interesting that I had triple bypass surgery, and was off plavix for ONE day before the procedure.  I guess a lot of it is just doctors covering their collective *****.

[toby45]

I'm not sure what to advise. I'm in the same boat. 3 DE's for the LAD. Here's some food for thought...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=41974&sectionid=3510210