Good afternoon everyone,
Please could I just ask if anyone has had surgery (either elective or required for health reasons) whilst taking Imatinib and what the outcome was? I’ve heard mixed reviews about either stopping Imatinib for a few weeks or just stopping it a day or two before/after. Obviously this is something I will discuss with my haematologist on my next visit but I would like to know what individuals’ experiences are?
Thank you x
Hi @CarlaWild good to hear from you again and I guess there is a good reason for your question.
Please do let us know what your haematologist says on your next visit as obviously they know you best and your whole individual medical history.
I hope others will be able to share their experiences for you.
Look after and be kind to yourself
Hi @CarlaWild I have stopped imatinib/Nilotinib for a surgery which was done in agreement with my consultant and the anaesthetist. I had major surgery that required strong painkillers. I think i stopped a couple of days before the operation and started it again on leaving hospital a week later. This was discussed in the pre operative appointment and everyone seemed to be in agreement.
All the best
x
Thank you for your reply @Chrispy - can I please ask how long you were on Imatinib for prior to the surgery? I’ve spoken to my consultant today and he’s said he doesn’t really need me to stop the Imatinib at all as it won’t alter my chances of getting an infection etc, I wonder if everyone is different? My surgeon seemed dead set on me stopping the Imatinib for a month so I think there may have to be some back and forth with this one until an agreement is made.
Oh @CarlaWild you show so clearly how 2 experts in their fields can have different opinions.
Please do let us know how you get on.
Really be kind and look after yourself
Hi @CarlaWild I had been on medication for a good few years before the surgery. If you look at the leaflet with the tablets I think it shows a post surgery pain relief that is standard that you shouldn’t have. I think it may be fentanil but i may be wrong (I have moved on now and am on Asciminib). I have shown this to anaesthetists on minor operations and they just ignored it and still gave it me. I was ok but I am not sure what the interaction is. The major operation i had they were more thorough before and told me to stop so it wasn’t in my system during surgery.
Good luck
Thank you for your reply again! The surgeon seems to think that I may have an increased risk of infection if I continue Imatinib throughout the surgery and recovery, my consultant seems perplexed by it and said that my blood results are good so he’s not wanting me to stop taking it at all. I currently take codeine etc when I have bad days with pain (usually backache etc). I’ve not seen many posts from people with Chronic myeloid leukaemia undergoing surgery so it’s really difficult to get any sort of guidance but obviously I appreciate that we all have unique circumstances. X
Thank you for your kind words, I keep having days where I feel beaten by this disease and I’m trying to find some normality and continue as I would before my diagnosis. I do feel like I have many many hurdles to navigate x