Hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering if anyone knew the reason there is such a high risk of blood clots in the legs especially, and lungs during or after surgeries for the j pouch? And is this common for most big surgeries too? Thanks.
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Probably due to dehydration. The colon regulates water and electrolytes in the body, and your body's adjustment to the loss of the colon takes time. Stay hydrated as much as possible!
I once had a client develop DVTs after drinking a bottle of wine and falling asleep on a long distance flight. Alcohol consumption, and lack of movement of the extremities and dry cabin air on the airplane = dehydration city and blood clots in his legs. It was nearly fatal but he got to the ER in time to get saved by blood thinners before the fatal pulmonary embolism that would have happened had he not gotten quick treatment.
The pain of such blood clots is excruciating and you will know if you have them.
I think part of the reason is being immobile right after surgery. That's why leg squeezers are put on your legs while in the hospital.
Definitely agree with Kangaroo 
You exercise quite a bit JoeJoe from everything you tell me privately and that is great! Its proven too that drinking water throughout the day thins out the blood-reducing blood clots. I believe if you do exercise along with drinking water all day, you should be fine
Drink Water: before, during, and after every meal
I had them in my right leg and in my lungs before I had the colectomy.
@Olina posted:I had them in my right leg and in my lungs before I had the colectomy.
I am sorry about that! Are you in blood thinners indefinitely??? ANd if so, which one???
I'm not on blood thinners or anything. I was just curious about this issue and have been doing a ton of research on everything related to the jpouch proceedure.
Yes I’m on Coumadin for ever.
@Olina posted:Yes I’m on Coumadin for ever.
Sorry to hear that honey. I am just glad you are doing better and that you lived through all of that as well
Thanks. I did live through these clots with a grateful heart
One other thing. JoeJoe not sure if you are male/female but I am aware of 2 different women I know (one I dated), both with genetic/familial predispositions to blood clotting disorders, who suffered DVTs and pulmonary embolisms due to taking birth control pills. The one I dated told me she took the birth control for virulent/aggressive menstrual cycle symptoms and she told me she had to stop BC and use marijuana instead. She had to go to ER, severe leg pain, was put on Coumadin and pain killers and was in bad shape for around a week. She could have died if she didn't get to ER when she did. Once the clot goes to the lungs there is a very good chance the PE is a fatal condition.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/dis...-causes/syc-20354647
Obviously this issue is only relevant to females and I think BC is only an issue if there is a genetic or family predisposition to blood clotting disorders. Air travel is another thing that can turn such a predisposition into DVTs and PEs.
Thank you. I appreciate all of your feed back on so many of the questions I have asked. I'm a guy, but I appreciate that information.
I was told by my Gastro doc that people with Ulcerative Colitis are more at risk for blood clots in general so it wouldn't surprise me the post surgical risk for those of us with IBD might be greater.
