What about this bleeding do most people have this problem or just the unlucky ones ?

[Christo4]

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry Christo what bleeding.?

[Christo4 in reply to BobD]

I were told taking warfiarin I were at risk of nose bleeds bleeding gums also bleeding from cuts, care taken with cooking knives !

[BobD Volunteer]

I've been taking it for years (9) and never had a nose bleed. Yes my gums bleed occasionally but that is probably down to me not cleaning my teeth properly. I build race engines and work with machinery and yes if I cut myself I might bleed a bit but not for long. My worst injury was a knocked finger nail which went black. I think most people get too panicky about warfarin and at the level of INR we need to be (2.5 to 3.5 or for some 2.to 3) there is little risk. Far more risk of ending up with a stroke.. It is odd that many GPs are paranoid about it which is why so many people in UK are at serious risk of stroke because they are on aspirin rather than an anticoagulant. I read a statistic which claimed that a doctor who had a patient with a gastro intestinal bleed was ten time less likely to prescribe warfarin in the next six months, but a patient with a stroke made no change it their behaviour . So sad!

Bob

[Christo4 in reply to BobD]

Thank you for that info

[Ang3lc4ts in reply to BobD]

I have only been on Warfarin for 15 months and I do get bruises if I knock myself. The interesting thing is that when I go in for my INR tests, the nurse has a job to get blood out of my finger which results in bruising of said finger! When I was in hospital a few days ago, they had a job to get blood from me which really frustrated them! They are concerned that I have a gastro intestinal bleed because I had a sudden drop in my haemoglobin count, I told them I don't think I have but they are insisting they want to do an endoscopy to check. I think I am just anaemic so I am now on iron supplement. However, they gave me a Warfarin antidote and have told me not to take Warfarin until I have this procedure done in about a fortnight. What are your thoughts on this?

Di

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Ang3lc4ts]

I think they are being very cautious and doing the right thing by you., Better a few tests than the other possibility. I have a cystoscopy and ultra sound this afternoon as a precaution even though we all feel it is radiation damage post cancer treatment. Better safe than sorry.

Bob

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Christo, I would give up professional rugby if I were you, and maybe even think about stopping the knife throwing act, or cliff diving, and maybe even the off piste mountain top snowboarding, but apart from that... Zilch

Yes if you cut yourself you will bleed a little more, might take 2 minutes more to stop, some people get nosebleeds not many, and for example many things look worse than they are, so a very minor cut to the eye which in a non warfain person will be a tiny speck will probably on you be a bloodshot eye (happened to me) But apart from that the risks are tiny, and certainly not as bad as the risk of stroke.

People do get bleeds, but then so do people not on warfarin.

The reason that so many doctors fail to prescribe anti coagulants for AF is they have a badly misinformed opinion of the risk of bleeds. But they think aspirin is OK, I shake my head too just like Bob.

Christo I promise you warfarin is the easiest drug you are going to take, relax, get the INR up into 2.5 or close and then forget it, stop worrying about it, and it will become your best friend. Promise

Ian

[Christo4 in reply to Beancounter]

Thank you blame my Dr for all these ? I'm just going to chill out and get my INR to 2.5 or close as you say.

[R1100S1]

Christo

I am an ex rugby player and have a messed up nose.

I can bleed at slightest knock but last time on warfarin I honestly had very little trouble stopping the bleeds. Was out of AF for a year or so and on aspirin as a precaution, but since late October in continuous AF and can't wait till I get the comfort and security of warfarin again.

I finally saw consultant last week and now waiting for appointment at warfarin clinic.

(So living in Bradford is not quite as good as made out on tv last night)

Don't let it get you down.

[Christo4 in reply to R1100S1]

Thank you for your posting I'm going to chill out now !

[rosyG]

Christo - I was similarly worried when I started warfarin in August and have had no problems at all- Sometimes have had marks if I scratch too hard and then they disappear quickly!!

[georgejen]

Christo, I have been on warfarin for 9 years now , I only started to get nose and throat about 4 years ago, I have over this period of time had 2 chest x rays and also seen an Ent Specilist again who thinks that it is the very fine blood vessels in the nose, tounge and throat ,I do cut my self doing DIY but it is nothing to worry about, the only thing that I have been adviced to avoid are contact sports.Take care and try not to worry. George