Food for thought

[paulh1]

Recently a good friend of mine just died due to complications from a fall . I found out he was Plavix for at least three or more years. He had fallen while skiing and hit his head. He didn't feel an pain so he continued to ski. About an hour and half later he started to feel dizzy and throwing up. They rushed him to the hospital but by that time the damage was already done. He had a severe brain bleed,lapsed into a coma. he regained consciousness for awhile and would lapse back again. They finally stabilized him and he was sent to a nursing facility close to home. He was more or less in a vegetative state. His family decided to sign a dnr for him. Eventually he succumbed to an infection and died. Joe has about my age and fairly active guy. It really gave me a lot to think about being on anticoagulants and not to take them lightly especially those of you like myself who exercise pretty intensively. I will miss him

[Peddling]

So sorry for the loss of your friend. Skiing is an exciting but hazardous sport and even without Plavix he could have had a fatal injury. Remember Natasha Richardson? She died in very similar circumstances.

Yes, I guess a tragedy does help to concentrate the mind, but I hope you will continue to exercise, whilst you enjoy it, for many years to come.

[PeterWh]

Also Michael Schumacher, though still alive.

[CDreamer]

Sorry for your loss, for sure drugs carry risk, as does skiing, but we cannot eliminate risk from our life. It is a sad story and I hope you will remember him in happier times.

[voyagersprit]

I'm on Pradaxa and wear an SOS pendant, and everyone knows that if I bang my head, to take me straight to A&E, whether there are any symptoms or not.

[Rellim296]

Some valid points made here and a reminder for everyone - on anticoagulants or not - to take any head injuries seriously even if seemingly trivial.

[Mike11 in reply to Rellim296]

Totally agree on this one. Any blow to the head can cause internal bleeding whether you're on anticoagulants or not. Always get to A&E - they won't treat it lightly at all.

[Rellim296 in reply to Rellim296]

Actually when I say head I think I am meaning skull. My chin met the ground once and I was told the jawbone doesn't really count.

[dedeottie]

This is why i gave up riding horses when i knew i had to take warfarin. My horses were young and i knew at some point i would be thrown off and quite likely hit my head. I am not averse to taking calculated risks but i decided the odds were too high with this.

I have filled my life with other active but less hazardous passtimes and feel much safer. X

[paulh1]

I did forget to mention that Joe was wearing a helmet while skiing. So even with the head protection this still happened.