Re: Blood Thinners and Our Supplements

[Guest guest]

There's a big leap from the " may " do this or " may " do that with a lot of things

brought up about supplements or blood thinners. Without directly quoting,

L. Stoll, M.D. Director of psychopharmacology Research lab, McLean

Hospital, Faculty, Harvard............says there is no documented case of

bleeding caused by EPA (Fish Oil) except that a large dose (17 grams) could

cause a partial or time limited reduction in platelet coagulation. I do not

know of any post that has revealed a problem with bleeding from the doses most

people are taking. I imagine that few, if any, are taking more than 2-3 grams

of EPA a day. Stoll says, " Aspirin lasts for the life of the platelet and can

cause bleeding " . EPA he says, " causes a partial and time-limited reduction in

platelet coagulation " . So stop the EPA though you are taking such small

amounts.

I have been drinking a lot of Pau d' Arco these past few weeks and strong doses

of tea as well. Some things can confuse a visual exam I suppose...like beet

juice and its bright coloring but I don't know about the other things you

mentioned. Make it easy on yourself. Stop taking the supplements because it

is you that must feel comfortable not us.

As for taking " so many blood thinners " ? I don't think what you mentioned

are issues to worry about during your usual efforts aside from the surgery.

Additionally when you think 'Blood thinners' don't always associate what you

read with supplements. Aspirin is not the same as EPA from Fish Oil and has a

different action. You are going for surgery so follow directions if you feel

uneasy.

Joe C.

From: BW

Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 9:19 AM

Subject: [ ] Blood Thinners and Our Supplements

Hi,

I have my IDC breast cancer lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Thursday.

I've been told to stop taking all herbal and natural supplements for a week

because of blood thinning and excess bleeding during and after the

operation.

I've looked up the blood thinning properties of all the supplements I'm

taking and that have been recommended here on this list and sure enough,

most of them are blood thinners.

Pau D'arco Tea, IP-6, Vitamine E, Ganoderma Mushrooms, Selenium, Indoplex,

Omega 3, Turmeric, etc.

Questions:

All of these are great antioxidants and great for fighting our cancers, but

should we be taking so many blood thinners on a regular basis?

Blood thinners can block the absorption of B12 from the intestines, but B12

is very important for us. How do we balance this?

Thanks,

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Barbara.. I am not a doctor but, I too, had a lumpectomy with sentinel node

biopsy and instructions from my dr to stop all my supplements... well.....

lol.. I dropped my vit c, multi, selenium etc.

It is probably easier to tell you what I did continue to take.. just didn't

tell the doctor. I continued.. natural thyroid (smuggled in from home since

they kept me til late the next day after surgery), hawthorne (I have a

'nervous' heart with extra heartbeats & hawthorne helps to regulate it),

manganese, Ave. Everything else could be skipped for a few days, in my

mind.

Drink tons of water when you get home and try to relax & rest. Those darn

drains are a pain but better than changing sopping bandages, I guess.

Oh... oh... just a little hint. When the doctor lets you shower (you will

still have the drain bulbs for a few days), tie something around your waist

& pin the drain bulbs to the waist tie. I used a length of polyester hem

tape (I sew), cut a generous length & tied it around my waist. Pinned the

drainage bulbs to it and was able to shower just fine. After your shower,

dry yourself, pat dry the waist tie, put on your surgical bra, then .. pin

the drainage bulbs back onto your bra. Hang up the waist tie (or use 2

different ones, alternating use) to dry and it will be ready the next day.

I also used this waist tie during the day, even when not showering. It was

so much more convenient than pinning to my bra. My dr. must have given me a

yard or so of drain tube..lol.. it kept getting in my way. But pinned to

the front of my waist tie, it was much easier to handle.

I went back on my regular regime of vitamins after a few days.... I think it

was around the time when I got rid of the drainage tubes and never had a

problem. But.. if you feel uneasy at all, you do what your doctor tells you

to. A week isn't a long time to be off your vitamins.

Let me know how it all goes for you.

Good luck, my friend and God Bless... Lola

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 9:19 AM, BW <westwood> wrote:

> Hi,

> I have my IDC breast cancer lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on

> Thursday.

> I've been told to stop taking all herbal and natural supplements for a week

> because of blood thinning and excess bleeding during and after the

> operation.

>

> I've looked up the blood thinning properties of all the supplements I'm

> taking and that have been recommended here on this list and sure enough,

> most of them are blood thinners.

>

> Pau D'arco Tea, IP-6, Vitamine E, Ganoderma Mushrooms, Selenium, Indoplex,

> Omega 3, Turmeric, etc.

>

> Questions:

>

> All of these are great antioxidants and great for fighting our cancers, but

> should we be taking so many blood thinners on a regular basis?

>

> Blood thinners can block the absorption of B12 from the intestines, but B12

> is very important for us. How do we balance this?

>

> Thanks,

> Barbara

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lola and Joe,

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this. I compromised. stopped

taking the supplements that are blood thinners as of yesterday (4 days

before surgery) not a whole week before. I believe very strongly in the

benefits they were giving me!

Thanks for the tips Lola on pinning the drain bulbs. I've been told that I

won't have drains with this lumpectomy and partial node biopsy, so hopefully

this won't be an issue.

Barbara