Wow, can't believe they didn't warn you. Hope he is doing ok now. Very scary.

That is just scary........you would think common sense would tell them it was not a good idea for him to continue the thinner for a while. Hope all is better with both of you by tomorrow.

So sorry for all of this. Really scary, I would definitely follow up somehow, not sue, but make some noise!

Yes, a major screw-up!

Last time my DH had a colonoscopy, he was off aspirin, fish oil, his multivitamin, Plavix, even mushrooms, for a full 10 days before the procedure. He didn't start taking them again for another 10 days.

He is since off Plavix (thank goodness!), but we're really careful about these things.

The doctor should have made all of this crystal clear to BOTH of you. I never rely on DH to remember these things, especially after anesthesia.

That doctor and/or discharge person has a lot to answer for.

Oh, Patti! You are both in my prayers!

Tami

That's just awful.

Patti that is just horrible.... I would do something severe enough to make the Dr. aware that this information should have been given to you and your husband before the colonoscopy.

The place where he got the colonoscopy should have questioned him and re-scheduled the "procedure". This is a known hazard of blood thinners.

One of the nurses told us they've had 4 other cases of the same thing happening in the last couple of weeks.

So...who will pay the hospital bills? You? Your private insurance? Medicare?

I would be raising a big stink *everywhere*. Think of 'the next guy' before you shrug it off.

The other thing to watch for is any product with Naproxen--Advil, excedrin, aspirin etc. That is what put me in the hospital with bleeding for 3 days and now I cannot use them--ever...I too went thru something similar with my colonoscopy when the took out 1 polyp and have been told I have internal hemorrhoids. Please check with your Dr about these products.
I do wish you and your hubby the best
Marie

You and your husband are in my prayers. My husband is on blood thinner,Cumadin,and has to be very careful with all of his tests and procedures. You should have been better informed. It is scary when you learn that you weren't given the right information.

Wow, that sounds like malpractice to me. Most everyone knows you have to stop blood thinners, aspirin, Motrin, etc. a couple of weeks before and after any surgery at all. I'm sorry your husband and you went through this, patti.

Please be alert.Plavex could cure you and it also can kill .You are in the doctor"s hands.

Everyone should know all about any drug they take.

The information is out there.

Sorry for your trouble and worry, Patti.

((((((Patti and family))))))

I've been on Warfrin for more than a couple of years - not to take Advil.

ole joyful

Patti, what a nightmare for all of your family. I hope you can report good news soon. Try to get some rest now.

That's horrible! I certainly hope the doctor who did the colonoscopy was informed.

I don't know why they are building hospitals they way they are these days. Yes, there are elevators to get you to the floor, but now each floor is HUGE. I worked in a hospital that added an enormous pavilion. As part of my job, I went to see certain patients in their rooms (now all private). I would be so tired by the time I got to the rooms at the far end. It was ridiculous. The nurses all complained of exhaustion from having to cover so much territory, too. I don't know what they were thinking when they built that place.

That's terrible! Sorry you all had to go through this.

I'm sorry to hear of your plight.

I have a colonoscopy annually, they send me multi page instructions when I leave the appointment for the procedure. It clearly states not to take any of the above mentioned meds prior to and after the procedure.
This should never have happened, I just looked at the Clean Prep instructions and it states the same there.

I'm not saying someone missed the warnings at home but you might want to be sure all the pre op documentation was read by your husband. If he is anything like most of us guys the first thing we do is throw away the instructions.

That is so scary...thank you for relating your story so others can make sure they don't resume taking it too soon....hope Denny is feeling better..

Well, I spoke with an old Endo nurse yesterday. We were talking about another patient's endo procedure and I thought about you guys. I made a comment about how you weren't told not to take the Plavix and she told me that if he was on it long-term they sometimes do not stop it after the procedure, same with other blood thinners because the risk of not taking it can be worse than taking it. She did say that in those cases they cauterize the wound after removing polyps to make it less likely to bleed from those sites.

I was thinking the same thing as kath. As with all things medical, there are pros & cons to every decision. It he hadn't resumed the Plavix, he might have had a stroke, for example. But it seems that at a minimum there was a lack of knowledge, educating, & understanding of all the benefits/risks of this drug. It drives home the point that pts need to also be proactive in their health care.

I hope your husband is making a good recovery.