Meds after surgery

[RandyL]

After reading a lot of posts about meds that were prescribed to everybody after surgery when they went home, it has made me write this as a warning to everyone.

I have not been prescribed any meds except for coumiden. I asked many people why everyone else is on so many meds. I really believe everyone should double and triple check what they are taking. I had many complications including 2 OHS in 30 days and I am 7 weeks post op and still having a tough time. After reading everyone I felt maybe my tough time was caused by not enough MEDS. I was wrong.

Doctors are only human and they tend to follow the herd sometimes without seeing if the times have changed. Thankfully my Doc did not prescribe MEDS just to be doing something.

BTW if this post sounds harsh, please forgive me I just want all the new people like myself to be informed.
Thanks

 

[Praline]

Meds

Meds

Randy,
I feel the same way, I do not like to take meds unless I really need them., I am 7 weeks post -op ...had a mitral valve repair, one bypass, and a maze.I came home from the hospital with iron supplement, lasix, potassium, Colace but that has all been discontinued now. I take warfarin because I still have AFib. I also take Toprol to regulate my heart rate which is extra fast, lisinoprol for high blood pressure (just 2.5 mg..very small dose), an 81mg aspirin, a multi vitamin, and calcium supplement. I am 64 years old. My heart rate is still very fast but my pressure is fine now.

 

[hensylee]

Some meds make you worse than what they are rxed for. I check out any medicine rxed for me to be aware of what it's for and what it does - AND the side effects. I quit one flat, informed my drs I'd never take it again and they said ok. be your own advocate - that's my motto.

 

[MrP]

Nobody enjoys taking any meds unnecessarily...at least I don't know anyone like this. Don't know your true medical situation and don't need to know, Randy. I do understand mine....My doctor is not prescribing my meds because he follows the herd as you put it. He's far more educated than you give him credit. And I'm not taking meds blindly because I've been told what to do by someone following a herd.
Wishing you the best in your recovery.

 

[CCRN]

Meds

Meds

I left the hosptial on a beta blocker, diurectic, coumadin, and pain meds. I was told I could stop the diuretic at my first post op visit but he wanted me to remain on Toprol (beta blocker). It is very good in helping the remodeling process if your heart became enlarged due to your malfunctioning valve. I had the heart and coronaries of a healthy 18 year old pre-op and stayed on Toprol for about 4 months until I couldn't take it any more. It made me retain fluid horribly and made me dizzy as I already had low blood pressure. I hated it so my surgeon let me wean myself off. There is a school of thought with some surgeons and cardiologists that beta blockers will help preserve the valve. I asked my doc exactly what there is to preserving a mechanical valve and he couldn't give me a good answer so I went off the drug. My new cardiologist who is also a heart failure specialist is very gently trying the get me to think about going back on Toprol due to the connective tissue disorder thing but I don't plan on doing it unless they find a big fat aneurysm somewhere else. I work with other surgeons who don't put their patients on anything but coumadin because that is all they need. You are healthy and don't need anything but anticoagulants. My echo in December was excellent with an EF of 65%. I think the only drug that contributed to that was coumadin. Please be aware I'm just a cranky old nurse who wants realistic scientifically proven rationals for treatments prescribed for me. Hope this helps.