It is very normal for anyone to feel a little scared or nervous when they hear the word "operation" or "surgery". One of the main reasons for that fear is the possible complications that may occur after the surgery. Among these, one of the things that many people fear is excessive bleeding after the surgery. But the good news is that with today's advanced medical technology, this risk has been reduced a lot compared to before. However, low risk does not mean that there is no risk. Therefore, it is very important that we are aware of this and do the right things on our part.
Tell your doctor everything - and take your medication with you!
Imagine that you are going to see the doctor before an operation. Then the doctor will definitely ask, "Are you taking any medications?" At that time, we don't immediately remember the names of the medications we are taking, right? Sometimes, even if we remember the medications the doctor prescribed, we may forget to mention a vitamin we are taking or a pill we took for a headache.
The best and simplest solution to this is to bring every medication, vitamin , and supplement you take with you when you go to see the doctor.
Simply put, take your medicine bag with you. That way, the doctor can see exactly what you are taking and in what dose. Don't hide anything by thinking, "This is just a vitamin" or "This is
an Ayurvedic medicine." It is very important for your safety.
| The type of things you need to report | Examples and importance |
|---|
| Prescription Drugs | All medications prescribed by a doctor for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease. |
| Over-the-counter drugs | Over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen , can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding. |
| Vitamins and Supplements | Even things like vitamin E, fish oil, and especially garlic supplements can affect blood clotting. |
| Ayurvedic or Homeopathic Medicine | Tell us about any herbal, Ayurvedic, or homeopathic medicines you are using. Some herbs can also affect bleeding. |
Be careful about the medicines and food you take 'just'
We often think that if a medicine can be bought from the pharmacy without a prescription, it does not pose any great risk. This is one of the biggest mistakes we make. Imagine that Mr. Kamal is preparing for a knee operation. He has been having some pain in his body for a few days, so he bought an aspirin from the pharmacy. He thought, 'This is just a medicine that you can take, you don't need to tell
the doctor .' But aspirin is
a medicine that controls blood clotting, or simply thins the blood . If you go to the operation without telling this, it may be difficult to stop the bleeding after the surgery. The same goes for the painkiller `Ibuprofen`. Not only medicines, we also need to be careful about some of the foods we eat. For example,
garlic is something that is often added to our diet. However, if someone who is about to have an operation eats a lot of garlic or takes supplements containing garlic, it can also increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, it is very important to inform your doctor about these things as well.
Did you bleed during a previous operation? Be sure to mention that.
Do you know what the most important factor that can predict your risk of bleeding after surgery is
whether you have had a previous surgery that caused excessive bleeding. It could be something as minor as a tooth extraction or something more major. If you have uncontrollable bleeding after any surgery, you should definitely tell your current surgeon.
For someone with this history, your doctor may advise you to bank some of your own blood as a precaution. That way, if you need blood during or after the operation , you can use your own blood instead of donating blood.
If in doubt, request a blood test.
Do you have any doubts like this?
- "I feel a little low on blood."
- "Even a small wound seems to not stop bleeding ."
- "Even when I'm just lying there, my body is turning blue in places and looks like it's bruised ."
If you have any concerns about this, ask your doctor to do a blood test before the operation. This is your right. A simple blood test, such as a regular FBC (Full Blood Count), can give you a good idea of the number of red cells, white cells and
platelets in your blood, which are essential for blood clotting. If necessary, your doctor can also do other special tests that check the blood clotting process (coagulation profile). This means that if there is an unknown risk, you can identify it in advance and prepare for it.
Make sure you are monitored after surgery.
There is no doubt that your doctor and the hospital staff will take good care of you after the operation. However, there is nothing wrong with asking for your own peace of mind. You can ask the doctor or the nurse in the ward before the operation: "Doctor / Nurse, do you always check for bleeding after the operation?" Asking questions like this will not only reduce your anxiety, but also let the medical team know how concerned you are about your health. Make sure you are monitored closely, especially if you have been identified as being at high risk for bleeding.
Take-Home Message
- Before an operation, tell your doctor about all the medications, vitamins, and Ayurvedic remedies you are taking. It is best to take your medications with you.
- Over-the-counter medications like aspirin , ibuprofen , and garlic supplements can increase the risk of bleeding.
- If you have had a previous surgery and there was excessive bleeding, be sure to mention it. This is the most important factor.
- If you have any concerns about your bleeding tendency or anemia, request a blood test before surgery.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure your medical team will monitor you closely after surgery. Your safety is paramount.
Operation, bleeding, bleeding after surgery, post-operative bleeding, medication, aspirin, ibuprofen, surgery, risk reduction
💬 Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts here.
Add Your Comment