Pre op worries/Stroke

I’m on Apixaban too and due for a minor op at the end of February.

It was explained to me that Apixaban inhibits a clotting factor that is produced by the liver. After a few days without, the liver starts producing the clotting factor again - just in time for the operation.

Then immediately after the operation you’ll be given a short term anti-coagulant until the Apixaban starts working again a couple of days later.

I felt confident after this explanation which seemed to make sense to me.

Good advice here. I’m also on apixiban blood thinners. I had planned surgery last year and like you, was advised to stop them a week before. Hope it goes smoothly

I would support what NotSpaghetti says. You could probably come off them for a month without any significant increase in the chances of having a stroke.

Not taking blood thinners does not mean that you will have a stroke in the near future.

I do not know the detail for blood thinners but when discussing with my doctor whether I should take statins, we looked at the figures and not taking them raised my chances of having a stroke in the next ten years by 2%. I suspect that the figures for blood thinners will be a bit more than that, but not much.

The probability that a couple of days without bloodthinners could lead to you having a stroke is so small it must run into 1 in millions.

Good advice here.

I had to stop mine for dental work. My son for surgery, like you.

It's just a few days - and don't forget there's still some in your system for a while after you stop - which is why you need to stop so far ahead of time.
I had to stop two days before for one dental procedure and two days for another.

I think this is SO normal for the surgeons that it's not something they worry about at all.

Re "how to manage your time" - I'd say, just do what you usually do.
Unless you want to consider rejecting the surgery of course....
Thinking of you.