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Did you stop your meds before the operation?

Posted , 5 users are following.

rose0000
rose0000

I have been told I can stay on my morphine patches until the day of my operation next week, but I have read on here that others have to stop them a week before. 

Why do you have stop them a week before? Just curious that we have been advised differently. 

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • susie74530
    susie74530 rose0000

    Posted

    This is a dilemma that I have faced time after time - misinformation, instructions that are in direct conflict, opitions that are in direct conflict, leading to considerable confusion.

    If you are in any doubt, I would double check with your GP or consultant.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 rose0000

    Posted

    I was wearing my norspan patch when I walked into theatre, pointed it out to the Dr's, they peeled it off when they were doing my spinal block if I remember correctly. I think its a case of them understanding exactly what drugs you are on, you don't want any mistakes with overdoses. Check with your surgeons secretary, or junior registrar. Have you attended your pre-surgery appt yet, did they ask you to bring in all the drugs you are on, and they go through all your medications with you, they need to know what you are on, and why.
    • rose0000
      rose0000 lyn1951

      Posted

      Thanks Lyn, it is good to know you were allowed to wear your patches to the last minute.

      I was really worrying about being without them, I was late changing them over last week and I was in agony, literally it was unbearable. I don't think I could stay at home without them, I would need to go into hospital. At the time I was beside myself. I was so worried after reading the posts that I would need to stop them.

      I could well do without another cancellation of the operation for another reason, so I thought it would be prudent to check! smile

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 rose0000

    Posted

    Dear Rose, there are certain drugs you need to stop before your surgery, but the hospital will give you a list of those, it is important that you get it right. Chemist at the hospital wrote it all out for me, as mine was a mixture, some had to be stopped for a week. Oil capusles which I take for arthritis, had to be given up for a week beforehand, something you wouldn't think about, as its not really a medicine in the tradional sense.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 rose0000

    Posted

    Hi Rose, 

    so annoying. isn't it .. I agree with others -- 

    I had to bring all my meds plus herbs and supplements etc to pre-op and pharmacist would discuss it with me - I got a print out which ones I could continue and ones I needed t discontinue ( Paracetamol and Dr.Vogel's sleep drops)-

    Hospital later send me a letter as well -

    Double check with Surgeons office when you are in doubt !!!

    big warm hug

    renee

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 renee01952

      Posted

      My husband had minor surgery recently, even though he is heart failure, they took him off his aspirin, apparently they don't need thin blood if they can avoid it. Its a balancing act on a high wire, or so the heart specialist told us, he was very informative, about his coming off the asprin, apparently takes about 4 days before it stops taking effect, and then the surgery, same afternoon as surgery gave him his doseage of aspirin again. Thats why it is soo important that they know what you are taking. incl alternative medicines, as maybe some of the medicine's you are on are blood thinners, or has the side effect of being a blood thinner.
  • Hailea
    Hailea rose0000

    Posted

    Hi Rpose

    If you take certain meds they contain things that make looking after you under anesthetic difficult if not dangerous. I would have to stop my ipupprophen a week before my op but because I am having  problklems I have stopperd them now

    I will have to stop my MST morphine tablets 24 hours before my op too But I am not worried because the nurses will make sure they keep me pain free so you should also tell them you will need help with your pain when you go in

  • maggie93798
    maggie93798 rose0000

    Posted

    I took my meds up to the night before the op. I was on zapain , the generic form of co-comadol, during the day and tramadol at night. I just missed the morning dosage
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