A question about Ibuprofen.

[CTyankee]

I am having surgery on next Thursday. I was told by my doc not to take any aspirin or aspirin product (because it thins the blood) when we made the arrangements this past Thursday.

So I was having trouble sleeping last night and had a bit of a tension headache. I was searching for a non-aspirin pain reliever and found Ibuprofin. I looked on the label and did not find any mention of aspirin and I took two for my headache.

Today I inquired at my pharmacy about taking Ibuprofin before surgery. The pharmacist said I shouldn't take Ibuprofin either!

Needless to say, I am calling my surgeon's office first thing Monday morning, but does anyone know if Ibuprofin is as strong a blood thinner as aspirin is? I can't understand why my doc wouldn't include Ibuprofin on the forbidden list...

[redqueen]

1. The issue may not be thinning of the blood.

Not sure but it might depend on what kind of procedure it is - whether or not you're allowed to take aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen or whatever other type of medicine.

[CTyankee]

3. I'm having a repair on an incisional hernia.

Because I have had extensive abdominal surgery before my doc will have to do an open, not a laparoscopic, procedure.

[TZ]

2. Ibuprofin also has blood thinning effects...

Here is a list of things to not take before surgery:
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=why+can%27t+you+have+ibuprofen+before+surgery%3F&page=1&qsrc=19&zoom=%3CKW%3EWhy+Can%27t%3C%2FKW%3E+I+Take+%3CKW%3EIbuprofen+before+Surgery%3C%2FKW%3E%7C&ab=3&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psinteractive.net%2Fdonottake.htm