Pulmonary Embolism Medical History & The Sleeve....PLEASE HELP!

So... I visited my surgeon for the first time yesterday and I must say, I'm kind of scared now. He said that I would need to get an IVC Filter put in before surgery and keep it in for about 4 weeks afterwards. The nurse then proceeded to tell me that I would be on blood thinners for 6 months post op. Has anyone who has a history of pulmonary embolisms have to get the filter? Can you feel it while its in? What are the effects, if any, negative or positive? What has been your experience with the surgery while having a history of PEs? PLEASE HELP!

I have  had an IVC filter for over 3 years and have been on Coumadin for 14 years, I had my filter put in when I had the lapband put in in 2008 and it was still there when I had the revision to the sleeve this past September. I will have to be on Coumadin for the rest of my life as I have what is called an Antithrombin III deficiency. You can not feel the filter, you'll never know it is there and since it is a temporary retrievable one, you won't have as much risk as something happening to one long-term, which does happen occasionally even with the permanent ones. The 6 months on Coumadin will fly by and you should be fine, just take the precautions that they will inform you about. Best of luck to you and your surgery, praying that everything goes well for you!!

I also had a filter with my band surgery and it's easy peasy! You don't feel it at all and for mine they gave me a twilight sleep where you are out for a little bit but it's not heavy sedation like surgery. I'm glad your doc is taking it out after 4 weeks, that's what mine did. He said if they are left in they can cause strokes from the clots getting backed up behind it and that there are thousands of people walking around with time bombs in them because they don't go back to have them removed. That's just his feeling, other docs may feel differently. It's an easy procedure and you don't feel it at all. I also take coumadin and will for the rest of my life, it's really no big deal. Good luck on your surgery!

 I don't have a personal history of embolisms or clotting issues, but due to my size, the surgeon and vascular doctor wanted me to have one.  It was not a problem.  I don't think I even had twilight, but just more of an anti-anxiety med.  They started going through my neck (there's no incision, just a large needle that they thread things through).  It was weird I could feel it being threaded through my heart.  However, they couldn't get a good read on where it was after a couple of tries, so they eventually gave up that route and went in again through the groin.   Once they went that route it took only about 20 minutes.

No one suggested that I have it removed, though.