Posted by DocGreg (24.131.169.145) on August 02, 1999 at 19:47:08:
In Reply to: For DocGreg posted by Anne Thomas on August 02, 1999 at 10:30:15:
You are right, it is a bad position for me to recommend something against your physician's advice. So, I will give you the facts and let YOU decide what you want to do.
The major problem with non-steroidals is that they cause platelets to not function properly. This can be beneficial (aspirin to prevent heart attacks), or harmful, such as excessive bleeding.
Aspirin permanently destroys platelet function. This lasts for 10 days (the time it takes for the body to make new platelets). Indocin is supposed to interact with platelets for about 24 hours...the platelets are able to recover once the drug is out of the system.
Complications with bleeding in breast surgery are not so much with the risk of transfusion, as the risk of a poor cosmetic result (although the risk of needing a transfusion is not nil). Biopsies leave an empty space in the breast (tissue is removed). If that fills up with blood, it can scar and distort the breast.
Good luck. Hope the surgery goes well.
G