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Apixaban and blood chemistry

Tryfan profile image
Tryfan
β€’34 Replies

Since being with my wife. For the last 30 years I have not been bothered by insect bites. Whilst she is a magnet for all airborne and crawling creatures. I seem to have read somewhere that being blood type A. Whilst she is O makes her more attractive to insects. Anyway, true or not, whist together I seem to be protected.

Things have however changed. I was attacked three days a go whilst gardening. I have no idea what it was. But wondered if taking Apixaban has altered in someway my blood chemistry that makes me now more attractive to insects.

I have tried to attach a picture of the back of my knee to see if anyone can suggest what it was that attacked me.

I will make what is left of my life's work to ensure whatever it was appears on the endangered species red list.

Unable to load picture for reasons unknown. But the question on Apixaban still remains picture or not. Thoughts please.

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Tryfan
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34 Replies
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bantam12 profile image
bantam12

I've not noticed any difference, I'm outside in the fields every day with all my animals but never get bitten, I must not be very tasty 🀣

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply tobantam12

Thanks. It is strange why some people get bitten to death and others sail by unaffected.

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

I am A+ and have always been badly attacked by insects. But some are more aggresive than others. There is a 'black fly' in Oxfordshire ....looks a bit like a blue bottle that causes a nasty wound that invariably becomes infected.They like watery environments and also like mock orange trees/shrubs.

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply to10gingercats

I'll look out for those imports here in N Wales. Maybe like the rest of us your Oxford ones are holidaying in the UK and have chosen us.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Anticoagulants slow down the clotting process but for the life of me I can't see how they could make you more attractive to biting insects. Even if they did affect the blood chemistry you would need blood on your skin to attract them. I have always adopted the view that at least the little b*****s will die if they attack me.

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toBobD

Agree Bob. But this sneaky little bxxxxxd, a bit like the cat creeping into the crypt, bit and crept out.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteerβ€’ in reply toTryfan

Years ago in Italy they told me Bitter Campari Soda kept the zee zees away but I'm sure it was a sales pitch. lol 😁

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toBobD

Hey. I don't care Campari, soda and orange is my absolute favourite long drink. Telling the wife now -medicinal reasons.

cuore profile image
cuoreβ€’ in reply toBobD

One of my favourite drinks

Sfhmgusa profile image
Sfhmgusa

It might be that the level of testosterone / pheromones you have is reducing as the years pass. Insects are very sensitive to this. Sorry to make such a personal comment😳

My dad was never bitten until around 65 whereas my mum was a bug magnet …and he linked it to not needing to shave every day .

Personally at 60 I seem still to be the less attractive to our insect colleagues of my wife and I and I’m on apixoban she is on no medication

Steve

Sheepbreeder profile image
Sheepbreeder

Reducing testosterone levels as you age, Brexit, changed your deodorant or aftershave, climate change ?

Maggimunro profile image
Maggimunroβ€’ in reply toSheepbreeder

🀣🀣🀣

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toSheepbreeder

Good one.

bassets profile image
bassets

I was bitten last July by something tiny that I didn't notice at all until I began to have hives and a bad bout of AF. It put me in hospital and seems to have exacerbated my Af afterwards to the point where I am waiting for an ablation. I thought it was just me but perhaps not?

dexter8479 profile image
dexter8479

I'm A+, and always have had an often nasty reaction to bites - they go into blisters, leave marks etc. This used to only happen abroad, ie in mosquito countries. I've been on Apixaban for 3 years, and yes, I'm now getting the same reaction to bites here in my garden, on walks etc. I was putting it down to climate change, and that we must have welcomed new nasties here in Northern Europe, but it seems there might be something in your theory of A being involved. Like Bob, I can't really see how, but who knows? Maybe the little buggers can sense you're not going to clot so quickly, so they get a longer drink?

Anyway, I'm single-handedly supporting the entire bug spray industry at the moment, nice to know I'm doing my bit....🦟

momist profile image
momist

Sadly the picture didn't come through. But, if it's a big bite that has turned red all around it and swelled up, it could well be a horse fly. They don't seem to care what blood type you are or what deodorant you wear. They only bite humans when horses aren't available though . . .

RajaRua profile image
RajaRuaβ€’ in reply tomomist

I get very bad reactions to horse fly bites. Nasty buggers!

Windlepoons profile image
Windlepoons

I'm A+ and must taste lovely. I've always been bitten. Even in December in the UK! I'm on Rivaroxaban and haven't had any more bites than usual.

SuziElley profile image
SuziElley

I’m B+ and get bitten by anything and everything. The worst are big brown flies, found around moorland and cattle and also horse flies. These always result in large blisters and I have to be very careful as they often seem to become infected. Doesn’t matter what I use to try to deter them, the blighters always manage to find me. Probably the best deterrent is Avon Skin so Soft, but not a very manly smell.......

Flossie72 profile image
Flossie72

I'm Blood group A- and have always reacted badly to any bite at all. Needless top say I get bitten to death, and swell like a balloon, have had several medical interventions to help, but my husband, group A+ never gets bitten at all. Just the luck of the draw I think!Sue

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toFlossie72

I know Sue. It is a mystery.

beach_bum profile image
beach_bum

I have not noticed any difference. But having said that, I live in Canada...out in the country, and am outdoors all day...forests, and fields with the dogs, gardens at home, trails on the bike...so I either protect with deet-free protection, or I'm a dead-man πŸ˜‰ ...black flies, hornets, wasps, and of course mosquitoes. Now I now you have them in the UK...so just imagine ...x10 lol.Ever been hammered by a bald-faced hornet? 🀬🀬🀬 Oh mercy me there is some agony and swelling...sorry, I digress...no, they are equal opportunity micro-satan spawn. My wife swells up, and me not.

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply tobeach_bum

Brilliant. Always wanted to visit Canada. I'll not report you to the Canadian Tourist Board as I think I'll stick with Anglesey.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65

I'm beyond an avid gardener and biting insects zoom in on me as if by radar. The only difference I notice since taking Xarelto (a blood-thinner) is that when I scratch, the bite obviously bleeds more. No big deal; just a bit of witch hazel on it and I'm good to go again.

beach_bum profile image
beach_bumβ€’ in reply toSnowgirl65

Yup..ditto for Xeralto and Witch hazel...for cuts and scratches though...I rarely get bit *see deet-free deep woods Off* πŸ˜†

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65β€’ in reply tobeach_bum

Thanks -- I'll check out that deet-free deep Wood's Off!

Jimmy37 profile image
Jimmy37

I take apixaban ,spend anytime in the garden end up with bites, never see where they come from.

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toJimmy37

Seem to remember they are called "no can see em" in some Caribbean Islands.

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

Sad news Tryfan, I’m A Rhesus Negative and the ruddy biting things love me 😫

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toLaceyLady

I did read that eating Garlic. As well as being the best contraceptive known is also supposed to help deter the pesky things. Or maybe that was put about by the Garlic growers association.

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLadyβ€’ in reply toTryfan

🀣

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

The best bit of kit besides the Kardia is an Aspivenin, big fat green syringe and cups that sucks out the venom πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

Junoesque profile image
Junoesque

I have found that since I have been on anticoagulant that the bits I get now has become much worse than I used to get. I am really wary of going out or in the garden because now when I get bitten it is really traumatic. So yes I think it does make a difference. Maybe it’s easier to suck 😬

Tryfan profile image
Tryfanβ€’ in reply toJunoesque

Thank you. Interesting.

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