RE: To Helene - post surgery internal bleeding

[Guest guest]

I did not experience any post surgery bleeding (nor any excessive bleeding

during surgery) because I was in the hands of Dr. who did a superb job

(abd myo). Also, I never did get black and blue marks on my abdomen, which is

nice - and the incision is becoming invisible! I would assume that the first

line of defense would be a very capable, experienced surgeon to prevent such

trouble; also perhaps making sure you have avoided aspirin (and other blood

thinning products) for as long as possible pre-surgery, and then, again, have a

doctor who is on the ball - one who will check on you throughout each day after

surgery, so as to monitor any problems that may pop up. I've heard horror

stories about patients who have not had their surgeon check on them but one time

- at hospital discharge. That is totally unacceptable. Establish the surgeon's

standard practice up front.

Rhonda

P.S. Helene - I've answered you off line, but it bounced back 3 times...

-----Original Message-----

From: Helene Barba

The article stated:

" The operation on Mrs was performed without

complications, but while recovering she began to bleed

into her abdomen. By the end of the day she had died

from an internal haemorrhage. "

So my question is, how would a woman know that she was

bleeding into her abdomen post surgery? The bleeding

is internal and she is already in pain from the

surgery, so how can we know that we aren't hemorraging

post surgery?

Helene

[Guest guest]

> One sign of internal bleeding is a drop in blood pressure. This is

> one reason they take your blood pressure often post-op.

>

> Sunny

I had a usdden drop in blood pressure, which the nurses attributed to

an anaesthesia reaction. They changed my medication, and that was it.

I later discovered that I had been bleeding internally, and ended up

with a large hematoma (basically a " lump " of blood inside my belly)

which my body is slowly reabsorbing. My hematocrit dropped from 32 to

21! I received 2 units of blood before I was discharged. Thank God

the bleeding stopped on its own, since no one seemed aware it was

happening.

Don't want to scare anyone, but this was my experience. I think I had

a good surgeon, but the nursing staff- maybe not so great.

-Mindy