A quick solution to stop bleeding when you cut yourself.

[Rosemaryb1349]

Like a lot of other people on this site I was worried when I was first diagnosed with AF and prescribed an anti coagulant, in my case Riveroxaban. That was back in 2014 and since then I have only had a minor scrape or nick that only needed some firm pressure and a sticky plaster. Then I read on here about a product called Woundseal which quickly seals a deeper cut etc. I bought a pack of 5 from a well known online site and have carried 1 of the tiny tubes in my handbag at all times and the rest in my medical box. This week for the first time I cut my finger badly while opening a stubborn tin, I grabbed a tube of Woundseal and after cleaning the cut under the tap and drying it I poured the contents (like a fine black grit) into the cut and it stopped bleeding almost immediately and after 30 seconds of firm pressure I was good to go with just a sticky plaster. It doesn't even sting either. It not only does what it says on the packet but also gives peace of mind. Rosie

[sotolol]

Hi Rosemary thanks for that. I’m always cutting myself I’ll look that up. Helpful. Bless you

[Physalis]

Your anticoagulant doesn't make any difference to wounds on the surface of the skin or to nosebleeds. These are plugged by the platelets in your blood.

I was surprised when I did a vitamin d test to find that my finger stopped bleeding very quickly and I couldn't get enough to fill the capillary tube. At the time that didn't seem right to me as my apixaban should have made it easy to draw blood.

I am now aware that the anticoagulant acts on the blood itself to make it flow more easily and stop clots forming in the heart or anywhere else. You will carry a card to inform people that you are taking it in case you have an accident or will be having surgery.

When I first started taking it there was no antidote to it but it seems there is now one, Andexanet alfa.

It doesn't matter whether you use the proper term anticoagulant or blood thinner if people don't understand how it works. Maybe Bob or FlapJack could post a thorough explanation for us in practical terms. Real life examples, not just the theory.

[Polski in reply to Physalis]

'Your anticoagulant doesn't make any difference to wounds on the surface of the skin or to nosebleeds. These are plugged by the platelets in your blood'. This is not my experience!

[Physalis in reply to Polski]

It has been my experience but I can see from my blood test that my platelet level was 182. The normal level is shown as 150.00 - 400.0010*9/L.

We don't normally look at platelet levels.

[baba in reply to Polski]

It is also not true

[CDreamer]

Thanks for posting. There are quite a few products out there including some gauzes which do a similar job.

[Desanthony]

Thats it. Going to get some of that. I am forever nicking myself. My wife is looking for blood coloured sheets and pillow cases, as every time we change the bedding there's spots of blood somewhere!

[Sean_C in reply to Desanthony]

Me too! I would love to be able to come off Rivaroxaban.

[redsocks79 in reply to Sean_C]

So would I

[Ppiman]

You give very useful information. I bought some a while back after reading about it here. I haven't used it yet as I seem not to bleed excessively - fingers crossed. I did use a styptic pencil recently on a shaving nick a while ago and didn't realise how painful those things are.

Steve

[Singwell]

Could we have a pinned post on this topic please? Along the line NES suggested by Physalis? Meantime, I bleed easily but have done for years, pre AF, so thanks Rosemary!

[444AHENSON01]

Thankyou so much for that information, it's always worrying when l cut the vegetables 😊

[Cha275rL]

Thanks for that Rosie, that’s helpful to know. I slipped on a leaf yesterday, and my hands slid on the road, and I felt my front teeth hitting the road. A stone cut into my chin too. I got up, feeling like an idiot, and a man rushed over with a paper towel (didn’t realise I was bleeding) and held it on my face. Blood was all down my coat and scarf, and it took 5 hours for the chin cut to stop. I’ll try to get that Woundseal, sounds great. Sorry, didn’t mean to go on. Take care all.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Cha275rL]

Hope you okay now after your fall, gosh, not nice that! 🤗🎅

[Cha275rL in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Hi Snowdrops_17 , I’m ok now. Swelling gone down, and don’t look so much of a fright! Was afraid it would start AF up but thankfully it didn’t. Thanku for asking, much appreciated. 😉

[doodle68]

Woundseal is good but expensive, I have found applying pressure to a wound with a clean cloth works well.

When I had just started taking anticoagulants (Apixaban) I was walking my dog and found a sheep caught up with a bramble firmly embedded in its fleece. I was gently untangling the bramble when the sheep bolted and the bramble ran through the length of the palm of my hand . Stunned by the pain and blood dripping from the wound I applied the clean tissue I always carry in my pocket and a clean 'poo bag' and applied pressure then made my way home across the fields.

I dreaded removing the temporary cover and when I did was delighted to see the the bleeding had stopped and the edges of nasty wound were together.

I think I had expected much worse 😊

Since then I haven't been too scared of bleeding, I thing cuts bleed more initially when you take NOACS , it just takes a little longer than usual for clotting to take place.

[S11m]

Back in the late Summer, I was wearing shorts picking blackberries, and sufferer a minor abrasion on my calf. The blood flowed down my leg and into my sock for about half an hour - but I only lost a teaspoon or two of blood - and I was not concerned.Someone pointed it out to me as I walked down the High Street - and I told them that, as long as the blood was red, it was no a cause for concern.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to S11m]

Oh now you made me laugh S11m! Excellent answer 😃

[Palpman]

Cayenne pepper stops bleeding in seconds and the beauty of it is that fingers have no taste buds.

[Bagrat in reply to Palpman]

I was just going to mention pepper. have only ever used black pepper. it forms a matrix for the blood to stick to.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Palpman]

I don't think I'd fancied that, but try if I cut myself at work 😅😂

[Palpman in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Does not burn at all. Used it on myself and my kids many times.

[Tryfan]

Just a different point. My GP mates tell me you mostly need to be concerned over banging your head. Bleeds on the brain are the most concerning. Cuts that you can see and stem by the methods many of you have described should not concern us. Just take care on reducing banging your head. Always get checked out if you knock yourself out or see stars.Best wishes.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Tryfan]

I know you right! And also if you have a really severe injury and you are bleeding profusely! But small cuts can be annoying, took 3 weeks for one of my cuts to heal 😊

[Misty4]

That’s an excellent tip. I’ll order some...

[waveylines]

Thanks very useful. My GP warned me I would bleed for longer if I cut myself and would bruise more easily. I did find that to be true. So shall arm myself with cayenne pepper or Woundseal when I go back on the anti-coagulant/blood thinner.

[Ramblingross]

Natural honey will stem bleeds from cuts...

[waveylines]

Oh wow......another great tip -at least three options to try. Thanks.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to waveylines]

But would use Manuka honey 👌

[Snowdrops_17]

Great ideas on here thank you 😊🥰