Heparin Patient "Suffering"

North Hills, CAIf you have had a surgery that involved a Heparin injection, then you may already be aware of the complications that can follow from Heparin contamination. However, what if the side effects are similar to those you might experience following the surgery itself? How would you know if you were suffering because of the medication or because of the surgery? How would you know if you were exposed to the medication involved in the Heparin recall?

Jo Ann S. had a vertical sleeve bypass on June 3, 2008. A vertical sleeve bypass is a surgery in which a portion of the stomach is removed to promote weight loss. Some of the benefits of this surgery are that there is no bypass of the intestines and, therefore, no loss in the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Furthermore, the stomach still functions normally, so patients can still eat most food items. Weight loss with a vertical sleeve bypass is typically slower than with other forms of weight loss surgery.

"They [doctors] gave me an [Heparin] injection in my leg just before the surgery," Jo Ann says. "I don't know if there was a reaction immediately because I was put under. I woke up after the surgery and received a series of 4 or 5 injections of Heparin in the same leg. It was my right leg and they gave the injections because they were concerned about blood clots in my lungs.

"The injections left bruising where the injection sites were. I started vomiting severely, I was sweating a lot, and I was confused and disoriented. I was really sick. I still have problems now. I have severely low blood pressure, I'm dizzy all the time and I have a slow heart rate. I get confused and I'm off balance a lot. I just haven't been myself since the use of Heparin.

"I really think Heparin is at fault. I don't remember if I brought it [the use of Heparin and its risks] up to the doctor or if he brought it up to me after the surgery. I don't remember much of what was said after the surgery because I was so sick and medicated for the pain.

"I've never had a reaction like that before. My main concern is what Heparin has done to me physically. I am on blood pressure medications to bring up my blood pressure. It is dangerously low—my average now is 83/46. Before the surgery it was always 120/80. I have constant shortness of breath, heart palpitations and chest pain.

"This has definitely impacted my life. I'm not well. My daughter is very concerned about me. I've been in and out of hospitals because of my extreme weight loss [considered quicker than normal with her surgery], low blood pressure and heart rate. They can't come to an exact diagnosis of what is wrong with me."

Many patients who were given Heparin during their surgery are now questioning whether or not their side effects are related to the use of Heparin. Although they may not have realized it at the time, some of the complications that they suffered, such as difficulty breathing, nausea, excessive sweating and dangerously low blood pressure, could have been caused by Heparin.

"I hope that all the people suffering now because of Heparin can go on with their lives and get better," Jo Ann says. "The way I feel right now is horrible. I feel awful. I don't wish this on anybody. I hope that they can get better and I wish them the best in life."