Coming off Apixiban

[Cotton50]

My partner has been on Apixiban for 18 months after having an Unprovoked Pulmonary embolism. Today he has seen a Consultant who advised him to come of it as he has no problems with lung function or heart. And only the one blood clot.

He appears to be taking this decision in his stride and out of the two of us it’s me that is feeling anxious. Anybody else come off Apixiban and how did you feel about this. Also is their anybody who takes Apixiban or injections when they are flying?

[Daneball]

Interesting. I'm no doctor, but if someone has a PE, I'd want to know WHY the clot happened. They don't happen for no reason. It's good the heart and lung tests came back fine, but what about other conditions like Lupus or Factor V Leidin, or diseases like cancer? I'd want to know WHY it happened before having NO treatment for blood. If they recommend he take aspirin or something, that would probably make more sense. And I was told after my DVT that I was a TOTALLY normal person, I can pretend like it never happened, will likely have no future issues. Dr. was actually dismissive and RUDE. As I was leaving her office I said, 'well my Dr. just wanted me to touch base with Hemo bc I'm getting on a plane next week'. All of a sudden, she turns on a dime. WELL, then you need to take aspirin for 2 days prior to flight, be extra hydrated, pump your calves and be sure you walk the length of the plane every 30 minutes. Continue on aspirin until 2 days after flight home. Ok then, apparently I'm NOT normal? And FYI, I did get another DVT 10 years later, due to the left over scarring and residue from my first DVT that she told me not to worry about. I was NOT taking aspirin or anything after 6 months blood thinners after the first one. I have to say though, I think I caused my second one from a combination of dehydration and too much vitamin K in my diet. I was going crazy on Kale at the time, and BANG, another clot.

[Asdan05]

Hi. As for flying after clots, I took two shortish flights six months after two dvt’s. Felt confident thanks to this site but mainly I am on compression tights and Apixaban for life. I’ve never seen a haemotologist but was referred to a vascular surgeon whom I saw twice.

I would advise him to ask to keep on the anticoagulants until all his questions are answered. Good luck.

[Cotton50 in reply to Asdan05]

Thank you.....he has not seen a haematologist either, but he has seen a vascular consultant and had 2 dopplers, outcome was given a clean bill of health. The various consultants have told him they have no idea why he had the clot as everything appears to be fine. The only thing we can think of is that he flew to Australia for a holiday 6 months before the clot caused any symptoms but other Doctors have said it would not be the cause because of the length of time between the flight and the clot symptoms. I think what decided my partner to heed advise of Consultant was ....he occasionally has a faint in the night whilst going to the bathroom and were he to bang his head it could lead to a bleed. The Consultant also said interestingly that they find IF a patient were to have another blood clot it usually presents with the same symptoms and follows a similar pattern. All we can do I suppose is trust their professional advice. He is also going to ask the Doctor if when he flies he can have a few Apixiban to take before flights. Thanks again for taking time to reply.

[Asdan05 in reply to Cotton50]

Good luck, both of you. He’s lucky to have such a supportive partner. I have other heart problems so maybe that’s why I have to keep on Apixaban. Havent coped with tights in a summer yet!