Apixaban and tattoo

[Robbo1975]

I’m due to have a tattoo, but of course I’m on blood thinners could I come off them for a few days before to have the tattoo and go back on them after it’s done ?

[CDreamer]

Really? Do you need to ask what our thoughts might be? You would be willing to risk a life threatening or limiting condition for a tattoo?

IMHO - it’s not worth it.

[Robbo1975 in reply to CDreamer]

I wasn’t asking for thoughts or advice, my life is my life, I was simply asking if anyone has ever done it, it’s ok to stop before you have an ablation, or when a hospital forgets to give you meds for three days, but god forsake you want a tattoo or anything like that........ keep your opinions I was asking simply for advice

[sotolol in reply to Robbo1975]

My tattooist wanted a letter from my GP that I had back then saying I understood the risk. I had it done just before the next AC was due.

[sotolol in reply to Robbo1975]

Ps. In the end I had quite a big one done. I’m still here 5 years later.

[Buffafly]

Presumably the tattoo is going to say 'I'm taking an anticoagulant to prevent major stroke?' 😁

[bennie06]

You are required to come off blood thinners for 48 hours before certain medical procedures so check with a medical professional first and hopefully go for it. AF should not be allowed to change who you are.

Good luck.

[CDreamer in reply to bennie06]

And in a medical environment you will have support should anything go wrong - not sure a tattooist will offer that.

All the procedures I’ve had meant just stopping the morning dose but it depends on the procedure, the protocol of the clinic & which a/c you are taking.

[sotolol in reply to bennie06]

I had one done and I’m on pradaxa. My GP knew this was for a very special reason for me to have it done. I came off for 24 hours. I didn’t even bleed much. Obviously it’s up to you and the risk, ...I’m sure you will decide. I’m so glad I had mine done.

[Dawsonmackay in reply to bennie06]

Check with a medical professional? Okay.

[Robbo1975 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

I have checked with the HF nurse and was told it could be okay, it’s not as if I’m stopping full stop is it

[Dawsonmackay in reply to Robbo1975]

Okay we're all dummies until we're not. So, I decided to Google part of your statement, "Is it okay to stop taking blood thinners before having a tattoo?" Wanna guess how many pages appeared to your question? I have a better one, what makes you think that a nurse would know squat about having the complications of having a tattoo? One site that I read, which I will post so that anyone who is interested can read from persons who ARE one blood thinners and had a tattoo and what they experienced. For the layman, most of them say, it is pointless to have a tattoo because the blood thinning agent will not allow ink retention! You have to actually come off the blood thinner for at least thirty days in order to insure ink retention. So, I ask you Robbo1975, wanna stop taking your blood thinner for thirty days, just for a freaking tattoo? As I stated before, "That would be a big NO (for me)." Good luck but at least take care of yourself. Please. Here's the website:

treatwell.co.uk/question/23...

[Robbo1975 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

No one called you a dummy!!! Warfarin is different from apixaban

[Robbo1975 in reply to Robbo1975]

Also, are you a nurse? The HF nurse I spoke to is at the top of her game, I think she’ll know slightly more than you!

[Dawsonmackay in reply to Robbo1975]

Great. Take care of yourself.

[Dawsonmackay in reply to Robbo1975]

That's an expression. Let's backtrack for a moment. This is what you first posted: "I’m due to have a tattoo, but of course I’m on blood thinners could I come off them for a few days before to have the tattoo and go back on them after it’s done ?" We have to guess what blood thinners you're on. Naturally you tell me that Warfarin is different than Apibaxan, but you could be on something else... Several who replied to you can't nonchalantly stop taking their daily dosage unless their EP or cardiologist says otherwise. When I read your first message, I assumed the worst, that is, you are in permanent Afib etc etc. What I meant by dummies until we're not, is that my assumption got me into trouble. And I apologize for leaping to conclusions. As I said before, take care of yourself. Please. Regardless if a nurse tells you it's okay to stop the blood thinner. And no, I am not a nurse, just a normal person taking my Afib meds.

[Thomas45 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Oops. The title of the post was Apixaban and Tattoo.

I have never desired a tattoo. Whenever I have to stop my anticoagulant, the last occasion foir a colonoscopy to remove polyps, I feel unprotected.

[sotolol in reply to Robbo1975]

My tattoo is still the vibrant colour years later, there are always scaremongers because they don’t agree doesn’t make you wrong.

[Dawsonmackay in reply to sotolol]

I'm to blame for that. The link that I copied showed some posts that stated that when on blood thinners the retention of ink becomes an issue. Robbie then set me straight stating that Warfarin (which they were taking) was different than Apixaban.

[sotolol in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Job done 👍🏻

[Goosebumps]

I know we all worry and one of my worries is that I might have an accident and the medical staff wouldn't look in my wallet to find my anticoagulant card.

Maybe I should just get 'NOAC' tattooed across my forehead?😄

[Finvola in reply to Goosebumps]

😂😂😂

[Thomas45 in reply to Goosebumps]

Why not wear a silicon band, stating you're taking an anticoagulant. In the UK they're easily obtainable.

[Polly159 in reply to Thomas45]

Yep, I got one (looks more like a fit bit!) That works well.

[Finvola]

Sorry, Robbo - I can’t believe you would consider this.

[sotolol]

You could walk out tomorrow and get hit by a ten ton truck. Your decision though 🙂

[Dawsonmackay]

That would be a big NO! I'm surprised to even answer that question. CDreamer summarized your question perfectly.

[Steve112]

IMO this is No difference from having a Tooth out..speak with your GP first and live your life..

[Thomas45]

It's a difficult question for me to answer. I have never had a desire to have a tattoo but I have younger friends who don't have AF, who have many tattoos. I wouldn't do anything to increase my risk of having a stroke, and have felt totally unprotected when I've had to come off an anticoagulant for a medical procedure, the last a colonoscopy to remove polyps seen on an earlier diagnostic colonoscopy when I wasn't taken off the anticoagulant.

It's not the same as having a tooth out. My dentists can deal with bleeding up to an inr of 4.0.

I noticed that Robbo's nurse sa I'd it COULD be okay, not would.

[Robbo1975]

Well had the tattoo done, no bleeding whatsoever and came off apixaban one day prior, no issues or problems whatsover

[Hhood89 in reply to Robbo1975]

How is it healing? I am in the same boat. Apixaban for blood clots I had over 3 years ago now. Am booked in for a tattoo in remembrance of my mum. I've not been lucky in finding anyone who has been on apixaban and had one so would really appreciate your experience. Everyone just jumps down my throat when I ask - but I don't see any difference in stopping for a tattoo than stopping for a medical procedure; it still has to leave the system to some degree!

[Robbo1975 in reply to Hhood89]

Hi, it’s healed really well!! And I didn’t bleed once!

I spoke to my cardiologist before hand and asked what’s the best plan, he told me that because apixaban only has a 24 hour lifespan to stop taking it 24 hours prior to having the tattoo

Back on the apixaban as soon as I got home after the tattoo, the tattooist said that he’s done loads of people who take blood thinners and never had any problems

Go for it and not worry !

[Robbo1975 in reply to Hhood89]

You’d have to stop taking the apixaban before you went for a dental operation