LATERAL FLOW TESTS, ANTI COAGULANTS AND NOSE BLEEDS.

[RaySyl]

In the past few days I have had two severe nose bleeds, both in the middle of the night. The second bleed was so severe - it lasted 1.5 hours - that my wife contacted 999. The really helpful First Responder who came out put me in touch with one of our GPs, bypassing the usual arrangements for doing so. I asked her if the bleeds might have anything to do with a Lateral Flow Test which I had self administered the day before. She told me that these tests can cause nose bleeds, which can be serious for people on anticoagulants. So, take care the next time you stick one of the LFT sticks up your nose!

[Jalia]

Interesting! Hadn't thought of that but makes sense .

[baba]

Do a throat swab instead of nose.

[RaySyl in reply to baba]

You are supposed to stick it up your nose and on your tonsils.

[bassets]

Thanks for the information. Hope your problem has cleared up now.

[Outtheresinger]

I have had exactly the same problem recently thanks for making the connection. I will stick to throat swabs from now on!

[RaySyl in reply to Outtheresinger]

I hope your nose bleeds weren't as bad as mine. I spent more than an hour on Tuesday night bent over the sink in my bedroom trying to staunch the flow of blood - really scary! In the cold light of day it looked like a murder scene. The doctor I spoke to confirmed the connection I had already made between the LFT and nose bleeds.

[Karendeena]

Mum (who is 93) had the same, woke up choking on blood, very scary, called an ambulance who confirmed a nose bleed. She is on 2.5mg apixaban

[RaySyl in reply to Karendeena]

That's awful. How is she now? And this was after a LFT?

[Karendeena in reply to RaySyl]

Thanks for asking RaySyl, she's fine now, although I feel guilty for doing the test😟