hello all I can’t believe I’ve banged my head. Again. I was closing not of my car and hit it hard. Right now in A&E waiting for scan. I’m very frightened. Has anyone had this on Apixiban.
Banged my head hard very anxious - Atrial Fibrillati...
Banged my head hard very anxious
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foxglove1
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You are very safe at AE and they will look after you. The skull is very tough. A scan will sort it out so keep us updated. I am not on Apixaban but they all do the same job.
Yes, and that's one of the reasons I stopped taking apixiban with the blessing of my ep, as my afib burden is low in spite of my risk score. ( noted in advance that the preceding comment is controversial, and I respect both points of view). You did the right thing by going to the A&E. I didn't and spent a nervous weekend wondering if I should have. By all accounts here, you should be OK, but again, you did the right thing.
Jim
With all due respects Jim, you may be in a position to stop your anticoagulant, but it is very rare that any of us can. Personally, l wouldn’t ever stop taking this medication after being diagnosed with AF. , despite all the treatments available. Anticoagulant is the most important treatment for all of us. AF comes back and no one can say 100 per cent that it won’t because, to date, there is no absolute cure. It’s a personal decision, once again, but to me a risky one that you have taken. Take care.
but it is very rare that any of us can (stop anticoagulants)
Thanks for the respectful reply, but In the United States, many of us are allowed to stop anticoagulant afrer a successful ablation. And as far as I know, there is no difference in stroke risk between the two countries.😊
I'm certainly not telling anyone to stop their anticoagulation, just pointing out my own personal decision based on speaking to my doctors, which is what I suggest everyone does on this very important topic.
There appears to be a good case both for and against anticoagulation in certain populations, such as those with a very low Afib burden.
Hopefully we will have more information from the new REACT-AF trial which is further testing this very issue.
I only brought this up because Foxglove has hit her head more than once and bleed risk/propensity is another factor that should be taken into consideration other than just simply the stroke risk score.
Hopefully she will discuss this with her doctors like I suggest everyone does as opposed to being persuaded one way or another by opinions on this forum , particularly on this matter, which can get let's say dicey.
Jim
We are not allowed to stop anticoagulation here in the UK because we are told the stroke risk for AF is too high even after ablation. Ablation is a treatment to give you a better quality of life, but is not a cure. As you say, we live in hope for more information on this and more confirmation of the safety of stopping this important drug. We would all welcome this, not to have to take this horrible drug. I believe there are some of us on here who will tell you the consequences of not taking an anticoagulant, We are all warned of banging our heads, it is the downside, but doesn’t have any comparison for being a vegetable in a sick bed, unable to eat, drink, move or being blind. We all have our different opinions, decisions and reasons for our particular situations. I hope when further research is done we may be able to at least cut down on drugs, or miraculously a cure is found.
You wrote ... We are not allowed to stop anticoagulation here in the UK ... well I did (naughty 🇦🇺 boy!), or rather never started it, because my individual concerns around a repeat of my previous spontaneous (ie. unexplained) chronic bilateral subdural harmatomas is greater than my stroke fears from a relatively low AF burden.
As mjames1 says, it's a very individual decision.
PS. I live in UK.
Yes, there are always exceptions to the rule, but l am speaking of the majority. It applies to all drugs doesn’t it? In some they do more harm than good. Anticoagulation is the first line treatment here in the UK because of stroke risk, this was my point, and it must be disconcerting to you with your health problems, for which l have empathy. I agree, absolutely, that it is an individual decision, but the reality is that AF brings along with it a high risk of stroke and that risk is always there because there is no absolute cure.
I don't take anticoagulation after a successful ablation. It was my cardiologist and EP (in the UK) who made that decision. As I am no longer in AF (after 20 years) and am 49, non smoker etc, the advice was that (considering the risks associated with bleeding vs stroke risk) that the risks (of stroke) was so low as to suggest taking anticoagulation was unnecessary and maybe even more risky.I now don't take any heart meds. Obviously I would reevaluate if and when AF returns and as I age.
Well actually I have never been told ‘I am not allowed’ to stop it!! I’ve had an ablation end of February, works so far well. I am a bleeder 🙄 and NOT happy on Apixaban and can find NO professional medical person who will give me a proper informed advice and do you know why?? In case I’d have a stroke and they might be sued!
Most import you go to an A&E, I heard was you can die from bang your head in older age…thank goodness, it is a load of rubbish. I was frightened.
Just seen your post, foxglove, I’m so sorry you’re having such an anxious wait . I hope it won’t be too long before you have a scan and good news 🙏🏻 Do let us know, won’t you?
(I have hit my head hard while on Apixaban and was worried, but my GP felt it didn’t need checking out. However, I wished I had just gone as they’d probably have given me a scan and I’d have had peace of mind.)
Thanks Jane. The good news is the scan was Normal But followed up by the doctor saying I had to keep an eye on any dizziness, balance probs etc as sometimes in the elderly problems can come a few days later. Oh, and did I have anyone at home to check. I don’t So I left feeling relieved on the one hand but knowing me won’t feel “in the clear” for a week or so. Another instruction was to drop my Apixiban tonight. I’m not keen to do that. I was told too that the right thing to go to A&E if any head injury. Thanks so much. This site is SO reassuring x
Oh I’m so glad the scan was clear. That is a relief. I’m sorry it was followed by the much less reassuring warnings though. But if I were you I’d remind myself that they have to say them, to cover themselves, it doesn’t mean there’s any likelihood of it. And that if they thought it was likely, they’d have been much more directive or kept you in.
So did you follow instructions and not take your Apixaban tonight? I wouldn’t be keen to either. But if you did, maybe it’s some comfort to hear it will apparently have some effect still in the first 12 hours off it, albeit reduced. (I was told this when I was asking why I would have to be off Apixaban for 3 days before surgery).
Take care - Hope you manage to sleep tonight. Jx
Good morning I hovered about taking Apixiban or not but after reading one of the posts decided I would! I’m still here and hope to be and shall continue as usual thoughI loathe taking Apixiban - I’m 18 months post successful ablation with no AF so far. Thanks to all.
xx 
My cardiologist told be that the bang has to be so hard it leaved a bruise as big as an egg and you pass out or see stars so I would not be too worried!
That’s like my GP too! He wasn’t worried about the big painful bruise/lump on my head, said no need for a scan or examination despite the Apixaban, so long as the bang on the head hadn’t felt like I’d been punched and seen stars/lost consciousness. (But if it DID happen while on anticoagulant, go to a&e immediately. )
I was told exactly the same by a top cardiologist
A&E is the best place to be and it's they've mentioned a scan ... deep slow breathing can help to ease the worry ..
Any news foxglove1? Hope all is well.
I once lifted a really heavy door into my garage and had an awful searing pain in my head. Later that evening when I looked in the bathroom mirror I had a big crease down the side from my mouth. I thought I'd had a stroke, dialled 999 and paramedics came and took me to hospital I was given lots of tests there, kept in overnight and more tests next day. All was perfect, when my daughter came to see me in the ward she asked where the crease was, she couldn't see anything wrong. I thought it must have gradually disappeared.
I'm ashamed to say I was making a fuss over nothing because I actually have creases at each side of my mouth and I think it was just the angle I looked at one side in the mirror!
I told a friend of mine, who's a nurse, about it and she said she'd done the exact same thing, that made me feel better.
Jean
Thank you Jean. I’m home now after 6 hours ina very crowded A and E. I can’t believe I was so stupid not being more careful
I had the scan and sent a response to Jane who wrote to me so that will let you know the situation. I follow you Jean, amongst a few others and can always reply on help!x
My brother in law recently fell down full flight of stairs, landed on his head and knocked himself out, had all the scans done and found to have 3 small bleeds on his brain, kept in overnight for observation and was absolutely fine with no problems since. Hopefully you will also be fine.
Wow was he on anticoagulants? Good to know he is alright now.
Yes Apixaban, he was rescanned 1 month after the fall and everything clear so despite a hefty bang which did cause bleeding there was no lasting damage.
Yes , no bleed and they found a brain!
yes twice , all ok thank goodness , it is a worry though. Hope your ok xx
Yes, I’ve hit my head many times on my boat. On Apixaban, too. Never had any negative consequences, besides the bump and the bleeding scar. Never went to the emergency department either.
many times and still here to tell the tale. I fell and crashed my head so badly I did have a brain bleed but no problem. Even if you have done damage to your head with apixaban there is a reversal agent so don’t worry
Hope you get to rest up now, and recover. Don't be hard on yourself (pardon the pun) accidents happen. I don't think it's about being careless. Hope you have a restful weekend ahead.
yes, I banged mine on low ceiling- HARD had lump in side of my head and I refused to go, Never had good experiences with the county hospital! I was nagged by OH and in end went. Head scan, no issues. Hope you’ll be fine 💗
Hi, for a number of years after my initial Afib diagnosis, I was on an anticoagulant (Edoxaban).
During this period, I continued my activities- rock climbing, mountaineering and cycling; all with the approval of my cardiologist. I took the occasional hard knock but nothing significant happened other than some bruising and a few lumps & bumps.
Of course, we all live under different circumstances and if you are concerned then you’ve gone to the best place.
My anticoagulant was eventually stopped. Primarily it was prescribed as precaution but due to the stability of my Afib and being under the threshold for anticoagulant it was removed from my treatment. No qualms about starting again, if I am told I need it.
Yes several times,kitchen cupboard and low ,sloping ceiling. A and E said try to think like this: would I gave gone to A and E if I wasn't on AC?
Hope you are out soon
that’s me too. Wilson d Kitchen cupboards even managed the wing mirror of a bus. Must pay more attention. Thank you !
The idea of 6 hours in a plastic chair in a crowded A&E is so off-putting I'm sure some of us take the risk. Does anyone take half dose Apixaban? I have one GP who favours this due to my low body weight but others in the practice don't agree. Confusing. The NICE guidelines re anticoagulation after ablation are interesting to read.
I had a right good bang on the head but was ok. Good luck. Hope all is well.
Approximately two months ago I fell backwards off the bottom rung of a ladder landed on my backside and then continued backwards to crack the back of my head, with a loud thud, on a very heavy cast iron patio chair leg. This resulted in a reasonable amount of pain and a deep cut that bleed profusely for the next hour. Ironically just the day before I had been to the surgery for an AF checkup and was told that if I ever bang my head while on Apixaban then I should go to A&E immediately for a scan and to be checked out. So off I went to A&E and was sat there for four hours waiting to be seen. When I was seen they did a few tests (waved a finger in front of my eyes) and asked a few questions about how high the ladder was and did I see stars etc. Then told me that they don’t do scans now by default (this was a very recent change in procedure apparently) and that I “should “ be ok but come back if I get any other symptoms!
Was not told to stop the Apixaban.
I came away feeling a little short changed to say the least, as it turns out no problem going forward but I would now be thinking twice about going to A&E n the future , I mean what would be the point?
Wow, that sounds like a serious enough head injury to warrant a scan! And frankly, being told you ‘should’ be ok but without the tests to back that up is never as reassuring as medics seem to think it is, is it??
I’m v glad you were fine, but I agree it would put me off the bother and stress of going to a&e another time.
I have banged my head hard several times on Apixaban and latterly on Edixsban. Rather stupidly I have never been to A&E but neither have I come to any harm. I think you would be very unlucky to have a bleed but in the very slight chance that you do, you are in the right place.
Ran into a plate glass window a couple of years ago - nearly knocked myself clean out and was fine so don’t think that every knock will result in an internal bleed - I’m on Apixaban as well - Hope all ok
yes a few weeks ago I fell crossing the road ( don’t ask!) hitting my head and shoulder. Attended a&e and was there for 6 hours waiting for head ct and shoulder X-ray. No question on their part as to the need and all carried out very pleasantly ans efficiently. I had called 111. Anyway all ok. You’re in the right place without a doubt.
I'm not very worried about my Eliquis causing severe bleeding because of what happened to me just over a year ago. I was on Eliquis at the time this happened.
I was riding my bicycle along a street on the Gold Coast and was hit by a 4WD with a bullbar. According to a witness the 4WD was travelling between 30 to 40 Kph when he was turning into a side street and T boned me. I had a gash on my right arm that went around 3/4s of my arm and it compressed the nerve into the bone and muscle and you could see my bone in a part of the cut. I also had a broken the small bone in my leg with all the skin missing off my knees and numerous puncture wounds on my legs which needed stitches. I was lying on the ground conscious for over 20 minutes till the ambulance arrived and I spent a couple of nights in hospital.
I did bleed a bit but I didn't need pressure bandages and I was lucky I was wearing a helmet which did hit the asphalt. I may have been very lucky not to have severe bleeding but it gave confidence that all is not lost if you injure yourself while on blood thinners. My example is not to say that if you hit your head you won't have life threatening bleeding as every injury and a person's body is different.
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Hit My Head on the Pavement
