Lupus Support Group

What you have to stop, of course, depends on what you take, and what you take depends on your symptoms.

But to simplify it:

For big surgeries, most docs will give you a bump of steroids, maybe 500 mg of Solumedrol.

Most surgeons will STOP any NSAIDS like Naprosyn, Motrin, etc. because they increase bleeding time.

If you have any of the lupus disorders that causes clots to form (like antiphopholipid antibody or anti-cardiolipin antibody), then you are probably taking something to stop clotting, anything from baby aspirin to Coumadin. But this will be tricky because they need you to clot just the RIGHT amount. So whether to stop these drugs will be your doc's call.

Pretty much everything else we take is okay. It would be helpful if you told us what surgery in paricular you were having and what you are taking. Make sure that your surgeron talks TO YOUR RHEUMY. A lot of surgeons don't and THINK they know what to do. I've had them tell me they know and then watch them call my doc and find out they need to add something.

BTW, since having lupus I have had a laparatomy, a morphine pump implant in my belly and spine, carpal tunnel release, trigger thumb release, lymph node removal. And probably other things, but I can't remember.

Be sure to have an ADVOCATE with you prior to and after the surgery. I have seen too many people say, "Oh, no, I can handle this, just pick me up at the end" only to find that they needed help---more pain meds, someone to remember the instructions that are always given to you while you are still sedated, whatever. But you will be DRUGGED so have someone with you who won't be drugged. I can't emphasize the importance of this.

For example, my soon-to-be-ex has triple hernia surgery. He didn't want me back there with him. When I finally got to him in recovery, I discovered that the doc had left him an RX for a pain med he was ALLERGIC TO. And the doc had LEFT THE BUILDING. So if we wanted a new prescription for anything strong, it had to be in writing which meant we had to track down the doc to get it. And then he had to go back to his office and get his special drug pad. All of this would have never happened if I had been in the back with STBX. (The doc had asked STBX about pain control while he was sedated!)

Tracy