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[history_grrrl]

I'm about to start on this, as a trial (since we don't yet know what my problem is, it's not clear this will help). It's not warfarin, but a different kind that doesn't require the frequent blood tests.

I'm nervous about this because I'm fairly klutzy; I feel like I'm constantly needing a bandaid for cuts on my fingers from kitchen knives and such. Yesterday I accidentally stabbed myself in the palm with a pair of tweezers, for example. That kind of thing.

Is anyone on a blood thinner who can share thoughts about how to be more careful, or maybe how to feel less anxious about it? Thanks in advance.

[barred_owl]

I'm not on a blood thinner, HG, but have a friend who is now looking at a lifetime of warfarin use.  He wears a bracelet, 24/7/365, that will inform others as to his proclivity to excessive bleeding.  Perhaps something like that could help reduce some of your anxiety??

<<hugs>>

[cgfunmathguy]

Due to issues that cropped up last January, I'm on blood thinners (actually, "anticoagulants") for life. I have a ready supply of tissues, cotton balls, and bandages in the home for the many accidental cuts and scratches I get. Know that the bleeding does stop; it just takes a little longer than before. You'll be fine as long as you focus on being prepared instead of bleeding out.

Also, as Barred Owl suggests, you should really have a bracelet, necklace, or other means of letting people know that there's an issue (just in case). (I consider this suggestion as part of being prepared.)

CG, who hopes to be switched off warfarin soon.

[history_grrrl]

Thanks, you guys; hugs and advice really do help! I also did some additional internet research that involved learning some anatomy, so now I have a clearer understanding of why taking this stuff is a good idea. CG, great idea to be prepared; I usually have bandaids in my wallet but will start carrying those other items around. I have a medic-alert card in my wallet for something else and will add this to it.

CG, I'm really sorry you have to deal with this. I'm on something other than warfarin, called dabigatran ("Pradax"), which doesn't require the blood tests; I wonder if you could get switched over?

[chaosbydesign]

You probably know this already, but just in case you don't -- be careful with over the counter pain meds because many of them contain NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen, which you should not take with blood thinners because they also thin the blood.

[barred_owl]

I like the idea that you're carrying a health alert card, HG.  Sounds like you're managing the responsibilities of going on this new drug quite well!

I just wanted to throw in a PSA (as a biologist teaching an A&P class in which my students have reported on this topic, I can't help it):  technically, blood is not "thinned" (as in diluted) by the use of warfarin, Pradax, or even NSAIDS.  Rather, it's the ability of the blood to clot that is reduced--the platelets that are so critical to clot formation are unable to stick together or to the walls of a damaged blood vessel, thanks to the chemical properties of the drugs.  If platelets don't stick to each other or to blood vessel walls and start forming a clot, blood flow through that vessel and out through the wound will continue unimpeded, at least for a while.  The blood retains its volume, consistency, and concentration of cells--nothing gets "thinned."

</PSA>

I suspect that the term "blood thinner" came into use as a simplified way of explaining the drugs' effects to patients.  It's easier to say that than "anticoagulant," I guess.

[cgfunmathguy]

Thanks, you guys; hugs and advice really do help! I also did some additional internet research that involved learning some anatomy, so now I have a clearer understanding of why taking this stuff is a good idea. CG, great idea to be prepared; I usually have bandaids in my wallet but will start carrying those other items around. I have a medic-alert card in my wallet for something else and will add this to it.

CG, I'm really sorry you have to deal with this. I'm on something other than warfarin, called dabigatran ("Pradax"), which doesn't require the blood tests; I wonder if you could get switched over?

Right now, it's only approved for a very limited scope of clotting issues. My cardiologist has indicated that when it's approved for something similar to my issues, he'll switch me over. This should be sometime in the next year.