So had very eventful/boring day. I had made up my mind that straight after the holidays I would get onto ordering an automatic opener fitted to the garage door because the present arrangement, as I am too short to lift door high enough, is a heavy metal door propped carefully on a stick when Mr Buff is not available to help. I then duck carefully underneath in and out. Needless to say this a dangerous arrangement on several counts and today it went horribly wrong when the door crashed down on my head as I ducked out. I staggered into the house and enjoyed a full fit of hysterics partly brought on by the fear I might suffer a brain bleed. Once I got myself back together I planned to wait and see if I had any serious symptoms but my daughter who is a career decided to phone 111. After a long wait I went through triage, then was passed to a doctor who decided to make an appointment with my GP this afternoon but said that I should phone to check it was a face to face. Long wait (you are - number 6 - in the queue 🎶🎵🎶🎶) then I got through to sympathetic Chloe, who was not allowed to book me a face to face, I would have to have a phone call from a doctor. Wait a bit then I get a call from Phil the Emergency Care Practitioner who sent me straight off to A&E because I take Apixaban. So my daughter dropped a slightly sick and dizzy me off at A&E - see a triage nurse, then doctor (nice to know my neurological health v good), then much later CT scan, finally find out I have a ‘healthy brain, no sign of injury’.
I’m not giving any advice either way about going to A&E with a head injury but thought it might be reassuring to people who are nervous about anticoagulants that a bang on the head does not automatically lead to a brain bleed.
I’m feeling fine now and grateful for the NHS care even if my day was ruined 😥
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Buffafly
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Boring but … if on powerful anticoagulants as you/we are, must take LESS chances than others. It’s just not worth it. I won’t have a sharp knife in my home. I buy chopped veg. Then you don’t need it. Prioritise your blood is the way I look at it. Also avoid riding on the common modes of transport that most land in AnE with head injuries e g e scooters, roller scares bycycle. Blood loss - sharp knives / tools . Alcohol overload . A propped up garage door was a 🚩 red flag potential noggin event. After the last two years of me having to stop Rivaroxaban 20 mg for dental surgery twice and removal of B C C ( cancer cell tumour ) 2 cm plus plastic surgery same day. Under eye Even for teeth cleaning if deep. 4 times . Then again in 2 weeks for a cortisone injection into knee. (All with a bridging stop start before after plan from my Specialist ) I do not take lightly the presence of these powerful blood thinners in my blood. They stop clots , which I am grateful for , but there is a price to be paid. - CAUTION. I have kidney liver and blood count tests every 4-6 months because taking these . My specialist has discussed me stopping or reducing to 10 mg as in negative APS 3 years. She said it’s a balance , these are powerful drugs . As I had an unprovoked E P Clot in lung ( found to have APS) and the risk from covid , Age (70) doing OK on them, she decided to continue . I have this safety net , but the price of caution avoiding potential head injuries , bleeds ; has to be paid .
The drugs to stop the brain bleed now exist . When I started on them ( as new generation anticoagulants , 5 years approx ago, the first year , had not been approved . It made me nervous . I made myself the promise I would not take unnecessary risks .
If I take silly risks I am breaking this covenant to my brain body blood, I love them ; so I won’t do it . No matter how much fun could be had , How inconvenient or boring to fix any potential Injury traps.
If you make this promise of self care to one’s body, it is there as a priority in the day to day .
It’s a deal, my platelets won’t gang up on me , but I have to fulfil my pledge to not inflict unnecessary damage on them . Try looking at it like that . The deal has to be kept . 🙏🏻
I have been on warfarin since 2004 with zero issues. I have done nothing different in my life either with diet or activity. I still sharpen my kitchen knives regularaly, work with machinery and hand tools and fight the ever increasing brambles in the wild hedges around our property. I had a BCC removed two years ago and continued on warfarin as instructed with zero issues. Life is for living I decided. The only time I ever stopped my anticoagulation was for my prostatectomy ten years ago. (Cancer now gone).
Blokes. Biggest % in A N E .old blokes falling off ladders . Using tools. Riding new modes. According to stats and the E R TV prog. Warfarin is regular INR checks is it not? So The bleeding factor is actually being ‘nursed ‘ new gen anticoagulants is self regulatory , with diet , activity . Blood tests for platelets only 6 monthly with specialist review .
The only thing I avoid is yoga inverted poses and weights to avoid a second stroke. Although I take an anticoagulant, I use two different billhooks and two different commercial hedge cutters cutting scrub in a nature reserve. I've had BCCs surgically removed, 20mm flat polyp removed from my colon, perinium core samples. Add to that years of cycling, occasionally driving Honda Pilots or Group N cars off-road. There is Praxbind to reverse Pradaxa, but it hasn't been necessary, even when the polyp wound opened and passed a lot (to me) of blood.
Oh Buffafly, what a horrible experience I’m so thankful it’s got such a happy ending! What a relief.
It’s probably good you got sent to A&E isn’t it? If I were you, even if I’d seen a doctor, I’d have had niggling concerns after a blow to the head like that while on anticoagulants. The CT scan is the best reassurance! Hope you can relax and that your head isn’t too sore.
Take care xx
PS Out of interest, how was it in A&E? When I was there a week before Christmas, it was like a war zone in terms of numbers and chaos. I was triaged as urgent priority for trolley & cubicle, but neither were available for hours, so I still had to sit among the coughing and mask-pulled-down masses!
Very quiet, everyone well spaced out, companions not allowed in unless carers, not a cough to be heard! You had to ring a bell to get in and had your temperature and reason for attending checked at the door so they may have been turning people away for all I know. And all masks worn properly except for a woman who gave me a rather defiant smile, so I was lucky. I guess the rush starts much later. Our health centre has three of the practitioners I mentioned so maybe our area is good at heading A&E attendees off at the pass! Your experience sounds awful 😬
Wow that sounds really impressive! And light years away from my visit. There’s building work going on at my A&E though, so the entire waiting area was crammed into what is usually a small clinic area. Standing room only, no seat space, let alone spacing! Once in the treatment/consultation area it was great though Very grateful for that. Feel so sorry for the nurses and doctors working under such conditions. X
It all sounds very reassuring. Thanks for sharing. I must admit that the bleeding bit niggles me a bit. I am so pleased that a bang does not necessarily mean a big bleed- slightly less niggled now.
I bruise very easily and just have to use my hands too much and I get burst blood vessels under the skin (taking bioflavonoids helps no end -without them it happens much more frequently. This was happening pre Apixaban) When I bleed I bleed very prettily. A little bit of blood goes a long way.Up and over Garage doors are heavy things. Ouch!!! Our garden shed has one and burglars vandalised it many years ago so I know.
I don’t think I should be recommending makes on here - or is it all right? Anyway I take various ones with bioflavonoids, mostly citrus and cherry. I notice within days of not taking them that I get more burst blood vessels under the skin in my hands when i am doing things - gardening, golf, cooking etc. I cannot remember where I read it but I have been taking them for decades.
That's awful. People who won't wear their masks properly in A&E should be told they won't be seen till they do! It really is not such a big deal for a few hours. They should think of the staff who are wearing them for 12 hour shifts. I went for an xray at the clinic mid Dec and was peeved to see 2 young men in the waiting room with masks under their chins.
I assumed she was exempt because anyone without a mask was offered one at the door. Occasionally I get very breathless wearing a mask because my lungs aren’t good so I take it off saying apologetically ‘I’m exempt really’ which makes me look noble 😂
Not aimed at you . Asthma . However it’s an incredibly high risk with CV omricon infectiousness. for you with Asthma , without a mask , endangered by those (mostly men ) coughing talking loudly , with no mask or under chin . Any way to avoid it , any way at all , best path to take . Everybody I see on the bus, in the hospital waiting rooms , supermarkets everywhere , no masks , must be exempt then . It’s the most ridiculous rule English Govt ever regurgitated . My friend in California , says it’s clear cut, bus shops everywhere , NO MASK. you cannot go in. Security bus drivers , staff enforce it and will call Police . You have to send somebody else, buy online , take another way. I wished I lived there. The lies and selfishness on show by this % of people , during this last 2 years in England is horrid.
I am so sorry! This sounds horrendous and really unnerving. What a relief it had a happy ending. Take it easy for several days, or at least until the garage door is sorted out. Very best wishes, Katie x
Gosh Buffafly, what a day for you! I’m glad to hear you’re ok now, albeit a couple of inches shorter, I imagine!Happy New Year to you. Hope the New Year starts a little more calmly!
What a worry for you Buff, so pleased you were eventually given the ok. No more balancing the garage door up with a stick, please! You're one of our favourite forum members and thinking selfishly, we need you here. Take care now. X
Glad your alright, sounds the sort of daft thing I’d do, and it’s not until it goes wrong or someone points out that it’s not the most sensible that it occurs to me. my classic was try to mend the electric motor on the spit on a gas cooker with a knife when switched on, my very own type of cardio version was the result, burnt fingers and a sore bum from landing the other side of the kitchen. Now get on and order a posh garage door.
Oh Buffafly, do be more careful! I know the worry this must have been. A bleed in the skull is one of the worst outcomes, and it gets worse the older you are. (Not suggesting anything!). Glad it turned out alright for you.
Suggest all you like, I’m 77 in a few days! A&E said it was a red flag injury because of the anticoagulant but as I’m creeping up to the point where my dose would be reduced to 2.5 I guess that would be a factor.
Very relieved to hear your head is ok, Buffafly and that there was no (internal) bleeding. The statistic that over 50 percent of accidents happen in the home isn't surprising!
A and E told me that any bang in the head region should be checked with a scan within hours. I was severely told off for not going in sooner when I gave myself a black eye.
Glad ur ok 👍... interesting your mention of UK physicians calling anticoagulants "thinners" odd. I know a bit about garage doors as I be had a few installed over the years, so I have a few suggestions....your current door sounds heavy, so yes, a motor would work, but ensure your local codes are met. Some are hard-wired, some plug-in...most newer construction have a plug in the ceiling near to where it would be installed. You will also need the motor, guides and rails installed by a professional to meet code and keep your insurance company happy. Compare that cost to selling or scrapping your old door, and installing a new lightweight aluminum one...the cost may be comparable, and you won't need a motor. I have no idea of construction/Reno costs, codes in the UK.
Thank you, very helpful advice! I had doubts about fitting a motor to such a heavy door - I noticed it has wires on it which were a mystery until I realised they are probably from a previous auto opener. The additional cost of simply changing for a lightweight roller aren’t huge.
Glad you are ok and going to A&E was absolutely the right thing to do. Before going on Apixaban I banged my forehead badly on the edge of the car door. A week later I went to the GP with headaches still and got told off for leaving it so long!
Immediately get a garage door opener … what are you thinking? You dodged a bullet but remember one thing … you are NOT bulletproof … first things first …
So glad you’re alright Buffy. An automatic door is a great idea. I feel for you, being a bit under five feet tall myself. Supermarket shopping always entails looking for someone twlll to reach things for me!Happy New Year! xx
Thank goodness you are ok! That sounds like quite a wham to the head. Glad someone told you to get to A&E, even though none of us really want to go there. Especially these days. I was told in no uncertain terms that any bump to the head, get to the hospital. Hope you get that door sorted soon!
Thank you for posting this. I’m so glad you’re all right. I’m in Australia, banged my head quite hard and after dithering, went to A & E. It was a Sunday afternoon and my GP closes at 1pm that day. CT was ok. I intended to ask the registrar how much I should worry about banging my head but forgot. Mine was nothing compared to a garage door!
Glad you came out of that ok Buff. I had similar experience though not nearly as traumatic when my heavy wooden blinds fell down hitting me on forehead! Funnily enough was not sore but just stunned and glad to survive
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I’m so thankful it’s got such a happy ending! What a relief. 
Very grateful for that. Feel so sorry for the nurses and doctors working under such conditions. X
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