Told to continue humira prior to surgery

[Scaryman]

Since I am scheduled for surgery may 24th I asked my surgeons nurse if I need to stop humira per the documentation from Abbott. They told me,"don't stop taking it, we have lots of patients on it." This is coming from a very well known leading hospital for gastroenterology. Thoughts on this?

 

[Jennifer]

I've read to stop taking it 2 weeks-10 days prior to surgery and possibly resume around a week after. Talk to your GI about it as well as the actual surgeon (I don't trust nurses with that stuff).

Hey Afidz, paging you.

 

[afidz]

I personally developed a severe infection because I was not told to stop it. It is really not a good idea to be on it before surgery. I would ask the doctor instead of the nurse for clarification

 

[Scaryman]

Yup just to let others in the future know. I met with a world leading gastroenterologist today at the U of C. He and the surgical team told me to stop MTX. But continue humira, we would rather treat the infection ( god forbid) rather than me or others flaring. Surgery during a flare just doesn't happen we all know. There is the answer.

 

[Gra]

My new GI told me recently "Healing is rubbish while on Humira". He explained that healing can take longer / be inhibited to a varying extent by Humira in the system.

 

[PsychoJane]

Same goes for me as I told you in the other post. I got an important skin/wound infection probably from not stopping the humira prior to surgery. At the same time, my GI had told me something similar related to the fact he knew some physicians indicate to take it in continue regardless of the surgery. I just believe it is a bit irrational on its own cause the risk of infection is much higher while on humira and when you get a serious infection then you are supposed to stop taking the humira for the time it last... Then on, I don't know which strategies end up being better.

 

[MikeinBklyn]

I had knee surgery in March. The doc told me to continue taking Humira. He did prescribe antibiotics as a precaution.