Is Blood Thinners the only option?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello,
I was just diagnosed with DVT on Friday after returning from a trip to Ecuador. Was told it was because of sitting on the plane for a long time, but it was some of the shortest flights I have taken recently, 4-5 hours each, with several up and downs to the bathroom, etc on each flight. I am wondering if it might have been the elevation that did it, we were above 14000 feet a couple different days.
I only got to spend about 15 minutes with the Doctor. Ultrasound showed a clot in my right calf. He prescribed Xarelto, said it would be 3-6 months. I don't like the sounds of that, it really will affect my lifestyle and hobbies. And not being able to quickly reverse the drug kind really bothers me. I spend a fair amount of time in the backcountry, or did before this. I told my wife she might have to keep me in a padded room for the next 6 months. Doesn't seem worth the risk of a bleed out.
Are there any surgical options instead of a course of 3-6 months of pills? I work with tools and power equipment a lot, and the thought of not being able to do that because of fear of bleeding is very depressing.
Already my swelling in the calf is gone, and the pain is almost gone. Stareted Xarelto and compression socks Saturday.
Thanks
0 likes, 11 replies
Karinbra Motoman
Posted
Hi this is a clinical l question and I'm not a doctor
However please be aware that there are a few places now offering treatment to remove a clot. It's called thrombolysis anf thrombectomy.
Here is a link from just one hospital ( in the UK)https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/thrombolysis-and-thrombectomy
Do seek a second opinion but do it quickly as the window you can get this treatment is quite narrow
Motoman Karinbra
Posted
Karinbra,
Thank you for the reply. My Doctor never mentioned this, but I am in a small town 2 hours from a large city. I will do some research tonight and try to make contacts. Any idea how much time I have? I understand people on here aren't Doctors, but a wealth of info here usually.
Moto
Vivi3nne Motoman
Posted
Hi and welcome to the forum. I had one of the largest DVTs they had ever seen at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, I had not been on a flight, worked, my work involved some driving but mostly on my feet walking about, I dont smoke which is a major factor for DVT, in fact I did nothing that could have resulted in a clot but I got one. You just have to wait it out I am afraid for the body to disperse the clot, the Xarelto does not "make it better" it stops it getting worse or you getting another. I did have my clot washed out with an anjiojet but it has to be done in the first week or so, too late after that I believe and even if you had it washed out, you would still have to take the Xarelto. I am on Apixaban, which is similar to Xarelto for life as they dont know what caused the clot. I wear a medical bracelet but I dont worry about the bleeding. At the end of the day, many people take these type of blood thinners when they get to a certain age just to lower the chance of a stroke.
Motoman Vivi3nne
Posted
Thanks for the response. I'm afraid after reading about everyone elses situation, I might be put on blood thinners long term. I ride motorcycles a lot, and a lot of it is off road. Really depressing to think I might have to give that up. Already giving up skiing and snowbiking for this winter, but hate to see my favorite summer past time go away as well. I wear a lot of protective gear already, but probably need to cap it off with bubble wrap, LOL.
I am already having bad headaches on the Xarelto, so I am going to ask to try Pradaxa, which is at least reversible in the states, not so sure about the rest of the world.
From initial contact, seems like Angiojet and similar procedures is for bad cases of clotting? Mine was two partially blocked veins, don't know how serious that is?
moon53540 Motoman
Posted
hi I have been following your post and thought I should let you know that pradaxa has a very high risk for bleeding. There are other safer alternatives like edoxaban. Has your doctor told you, you will have to be on blood thinners for life? Do you smoke or have you had any injuries recently?
Motoman moon53540
Posted
Moon,
I had not heard of that drug. Are you saying it has less bleeding risk than other meds? I assumed they were all similar, and wanted to find one that could be reversed. I have not seen that in the US, are you in Europe by chance?
My doctor has only said at this point I will be on thinners for 3-6 months. I am still awaiting lab tests of my recent blood draws. But after reading lots of stories, I am afraid it looks like for many, they are on these for life.
I had not had any recent injuries. I have not been a smoker, but did smoke with some friends when they were visiting about 3 weeks before my trip. Maybe two packs over the course of two weeks.
I may have been a bit dehydrated during my trip, as I have a prostate problem that makes it hard to pee. I think I drink less water as it is sometimes difficult to pee when I need to when traveling in a group. That and altitude may have contributed.
moon53540 Motoman
Posted
I was told the newer anticoagulants have less risk of bleeding, so apixaban and edoxaban are the newest but apixaban has quite a few negative side effects like crushing chest pain, screaming headaches and very intense anxiety. I don't think either are reversible though, but I may be wrong. Mention it to your doctor to see what they think.
Vivi3nne moon53540
Posted
I am on Apixaban and was told by my vascular surgeon that it was not reversible and so I must always carry a card or wear a medical bracelet, he said though that although there was no antidote it didnt stay long in the system, 12 hours and its gone, much less time than warfarin
Motoman Vivi3nne
Posted
Pradaxa is a newer medication as well, and is reversible. But I wasn't aware it had more chance of bleeding than the others, like Xarelto and Eliquis. Those are supposedly also reversible in the states, with a drug called Andexxa, I think. But when I go to that website, looks like it isn't available in many areas yet, and not where I live.
I will have to discuss all these options with my Doctor, but I have the feeling I may not get better answers until I get to a specialist.
Vivi3nne Motoman
Posted
Apixaban is Eliquis so that is interesting there is an antidote now. Thanks for that info. I have been on it a couple of years now, looks like Andexxa is new.
Vivi3nne Motoman
Posted
There is an antidote to Warfarin, I think that is the only blood thinner with an antidote, I was on it for 18 months and would never want to go back to it. You have to have regular blood tests, they start of weekly and if they can get your blood levels consistent it can go to four or eight weeks, the longest I got was 6 weeks. It was a real pain having to keep going to the clinic. Warfarin is affected by diet, you cant eat a lot of green vegetables and salad stuff at any time and if you change your diet at all, for example go on holiday and eat different foods for a week, or if you just want to cut down to lose a bit of weight, it will affect the amount of warfarin you have to take so you have to be careful all the time. Warfarin is too much hard work for me.