Hello Everyone. I have just joined and this is my First Post, (please bear with me). Brief Description - I had a Double Bypass two years ago and a Pacemaker fitted afterwards and now on Warfarin for Life. Lately, I have been getting quite a lot of bad bruising all over my body. It seems to be getting worse. My INR is very unpredictable of late. I attend the Anticoagulant Clinic nearly every Week where the Dosage is adjusted accordingly. I have told the Nurses at the Clinic and they say it is normal. Was just wondering if anyone suffers like this! Thank you.
Warfarin and Bad Brusing!: Hello... - British Heart Fou...
Warfarin and Bad Brusing!
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ParrotLover22
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In my email inbox today from the BHF.....
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
In short bruising can be a side effect from taking blood thinners and anti platelet meds. That certainly applies to me since I started on daily low dose aspirin, but I just accept it.
ParrotLover22• in reply to
Thank you SO much for your Reply. I will certainly take a look at that Link later. I know I have to take the Warfarin for Life but these bruises have suddenly become a lot worse and just worries me a bit you know and was just curious if others go through this 
ParrotLover22• in reply to
HI again Lowerfield. I have just had a quick look at the Link which is very helpful. My Bruises turn Black in Colour and some are quite big and can appear anywhere and nowhere where I could have possibly knocked myself. I have to go to the Clinic again this Week. I will show them again and see what the Nurses suggest. I keep thinking it could be something else so just for re-assurance and peace of mind, I will ask and show them, again, lol. Thank You.
my mother, also on anticoagulant therapy, has this all the time - it's a very unfortunate side effect - there do not seem to be any explanations for some people being more affected than others
Hello
I think so many of us have suffered with bad bruising from blood thinners so it is nothing to be worried about but just can look like you have been in the Boxing ring and done 10 rounds with Tyson !
You only have to nudge yourself and a bruise can appear but I am glad you are been monitored and keep us updated how you get on x
Aww Thank You Bekind. It's nice to hear that. Not that I want anyone to have a load of Bruises because I don't :). I think I could be 'Overthinking' things a bit but, nevertheless, always best to check. It's NOT quite as bad in the Winter time but in the Summer it's not very nice at all. Like you, I feel like I have been in a 'Boxing Ring' and come out the worse end lol. Yes, I will definitely let you know and thanks again
• in reply toParrotLover22
Hello
You are not alone with this at all and I have tried to twist it by every bruise I see telling myself the med is working
When I had my first heart attack and was in Hospital my Husband for some strange reason was really gently stroking my feet and when we looked down both my feet were literally black he panicked ran and teched the Doctor and they just smiled and said it is the blood thinners nothing to worry about she will have to be careful as she will bruise easily so even the Doctors expect it when it happens
Just realised you have joined today so Welcome and I hope you will find the Community helpful there area lot of knowledgeable kind members so you should do x
ParrotLover22• in reply to
I'm sorry that you have had a Heart Attack and hope you are feeling OK now. I had two Valves replaced via Bypass and then a Pacemaker. Yes, it is hard sometimes, especially when People ask you 'What are your Bruises??? My Sons have even said it to me lol. I know I should believe the Nurses when they say it's Normal but when it is you it is a different kettle of fish altogether!! I am a bit of a Worrier anyway, unfortunately, and really don't think I'm going to change now Thanks BeKind. You've got the right Username. Take Care
• in reply toParrotLover22
Hello
I ended up having 3 heart attacks and then last year triple Bypass operation so I know roughly how you are feeling
Yes I do understand especially as a female we do not really want to be covered in bruisers and I know someone asked me what the scar was down my leg ( from my op ) this Summer and I felt so upset and conscious but as people say on here see all these things as you are a Survivor !
I worry to my name should be anxiety but honestly when they tell you it is ok and normal when you ask again believe them it is true
Lovely talking to you x
Yes, anyone taking the huge variety of blood thinners can suffer with this and is also likely a consequence of age and related to how long you have been taking them, as the protection they provide builds up and so will the propensity to bruise.
Its astonishing how often you brush against something , most often the hands, but in the winter presumably more clothes will provide more protection against bruising.
PS: Bekind. Sorry for delay in answering you. Healthunlocked wouldn't let me sign back in lol 😅
• in reply toParrotLover22
x
hi heart attack heart failure pacemaker fitted all 5 years ago on riveroxiban for life was told at time I would bruise easy but nothing to this day well nothing except the usual good luck to you kwagmire ??
HI Kwagmire. Sorry it's only now I'm replying but I've been busy all morning! The Surgeon told me I would be on Warfarin for Life and didn't realise there were any alternatives! I am glad you are OK though 😍
My husband also takes Rivaroxaban( Xorelto) and has to be on it for the rest of his life ( he is 63). But it is working out well for him and convenient, no need for monitoring. We are in US and if you have no private insurance, this medication can be pricey, maybe that is why doctors do not suggest that.
Hello Yogi. I am glad your Husband is doing well :). Another User has already said on here that Warfarin is the only Anticoagulant you can take when you have Mechanical Valves, (I have two)! I am going to the Clinic later today so I am going to mention it and see what they say anyway. Thanks for your Reply
I used to be on Warfarin but in Feb 2020 my local hospital encouraged me to change to an alternative. I think there are 3 or 4. I chose Rivaroxaban which i take once a,day with food. I'm so glad i switched.
Well it might be worth asking about an alternative then. No-one has said anything to me. That's all they have said is that I must be very 'Sensitive' to Warfarin!! Thank you for your reply.
As i understand it, Warfarin is affected by certain foods and by alcohol whereas Rivaroxaban and other alternative blood thinners are not. So you don't need to be monitored and tested continually.
Now this is interesting. I have to go to the Clinic tomorrow so I shall ask. What they will say, I really don't know. Maybe that would be down to my Consultant or Doctor but I can only ask. Thank you.
What's your INR range? I'm on warfarin for life after a valve replacement but I've not found myself getting bruised that much although I am 32 so maybe my age is protecting me a little bit. My INR is meant to be between 2.5-3.5, it's normally around 3 on my regular checkups.
Hopefully a little encouragement for you. I had my valve replacement at the same age you are now and well over 30 years later I still have no problems with Warfarin, only occasional INR fluctuations outside of normal parameters, usually caused by a change of diet.
Thanks for that. I have been wondering if it's my Diet as I have been trying to cut down on Food since my Operation and Lock-Down, I have put on quite a bit of Weight and was not happy about it. I shall have to try and get myself stabilised!!!
HI. My INR last Week went from 3.8 to 2.7 in 3 days. They sent a District Nurse one day as well as the Nurses were not happy. My Therapeutic Range should be 2.5 - 3.5. It is SO unpredictable of late though, I really can't keep up with it all lol 😂
Bruising is certainly an issue however, why not ask to be prescribed a new generation anticoagulant such as Rivaroxaban as they don't require constant monitoring and in my experience bruising is not as much of an issue though one should always be mindful if you take a knock
Hi. I really didn't know there was an alternative but now after reading these Replies, it might be well worth asking. Thank you.
Morning.
after my heat attack i was on ticagralor aming the rest of the heart cocktail for a year. Even scratching an itch could leave me with a massive black bruise! Now im off thay it has died down a bit but the asprin still leaves me prone to easier bruising. Show the nurse to put your mind at rest but its probably just the meds doing their job (which although awful looking is a bit reassuring)
Jules x
I used to worry about the terrible bruises my mother got but now I realise they were the result of the medications for angina she was taking. I was on low dose aspirin for a while and I used to bruise easily too.
Yes. I can understand that. My Sons ask me very often What are those Bruises??? They tell me to be more careful lol 😂 I'm sure they think I'm bumping myself
I’m not on warfarin but do take ‘blood thinners’. Bruising is common with these drugs. Sometimes the bruises just appear for no apparent reason. But they DO go away. Hope this helps.
Yes it does. Thank you
I totally understand the bruising! I was on Clopidogrel and the brusing looked as though I had been in a fight! My cardiologist noted the extreme bruising and changed me to Rivaroxaban for Life. I have not looked back since. Be assertive and get this changed.
Not very nice is it??? I am definitely going to see if it can be possibly changed. Thank you.
Masses of bruises and I'm only taking aspirin.
I was on Aspirin Qualipop but that was only for a Year
MInes for life and the bruising just gets worse. Ho hum. A necessary evil.
Yes that's the thing isn't it???
Some things we just have to put up with. (Like the root canal I just had as an emergency!!!!!!! but a fantastic new young dentist; didn't feel a thing)
Thank you SO much Everyone for your Replies. I really didn't expect ALL these!! I hope I haven't missed anyone out lol 😂
I was on warfarin for about a year but they changed me to apixaban....lot easier as it's just two tablets a day and you don't have to go for regular monitoring.You should ask them!
Oh I'm going to tomorrow. To be honest, it's getting me down a bit. I will let everyone know what they say. Thank you.
No problem...I did find warfarin a nuisance as it was up and down all the time! The actual warfarin people may try to convince you to stay on it but I would ask your doctor if I were you! 
That's exactly how I'm feeling now Khartoum. Feeling stuck in a rut slightly with it all. 
Try to cheer up...my next-door neighbour(he's 85....I'm only 65) always says....'as long as we wake up breathing every day then we've got a result!'
Lol I'm 69. Whether I make it to 70 is another matter ha ha
Unfortunately it is normal and having a small puppy, I'm covered in bruises. Your INR takes a good while to settle and sometimes doesn't. Warfarin INR is affected by diet, so Alcohol, vitamin D, medication, etc., so good to read up and check it out. Mine settled after a while, but went beserk when I got Covid, so it can be easy to upset the system. Good luck 👍
Hi I’m relatively new to this as well. I asked at my local surgery and was told much the same as everyone else. It’s the blood thinners, they’re working so bruises are a side effect. Some weird and wonderful shapes and colours tho!! I even have a paw print on my leg where my ‘four legged nephew’ tried to jump on my lap. Still.. the alternative would be much worse 😉
Thanks Aria :). All these Replies have made me feel SO much better. I was beginning to think 'What is wrong with me??' Lol 😂. I just wish I'd found this Site before for Re-Assurance. I only picked a BHF Booklet up at the Clinic and really didn't have a clue it existed. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY grateful for having the Bypass as I really do feel so much better than I used to feel but, sometimes, it's just nice to have People who understand what we have been/going through. Take Care and Thanks a lot
Hello and welcome. Lots of us have replied and so you can see you are not alone. I’m only on Aspirin following my by pass and defib implant op. But brushing with any blood thinners is inevitable. They look far worse than they are. But you do need to make people like dentist etc. aware as you may bleed a little more than most people when cut. Good luck with treatment you’ll get there eventually.
Thank you so much for your Reply. I am so grateful for everyone's input and it has made me feel a lot better about it. As I have said already, I wish I'd found this Site before!! I have a Dentist Appointment next week so I will make sure I tell her. She knows that I have had a Bypass and Pacemaker but I will tell her about the Warfarin anyway. Thanks again
I have AF and have been prescribed Apixaban 2.5 twice daily . I too are experiencing severe bruising . I have mentioned this to my G P but no further action was taken.
That's all I have been told is that it is 'Normal'. Trouble is as soon as some start to fade, another lot comes!!!
I have never been on warfarin as rivaroxaban is the standard procedure at my GP surgery. I was coming up in bruises and also suffering from nose bleeds including ones that started up when I was asleep. I complained vociferously and have been transferred to a low dose apixaban (2 x 2.5mg for those with low bmi and over 80 - which I am not but only too happy with the result). I gather apixaban is less likely to cause bleed. I don't know what anyone else thinks?
Hello Lindy. Hope you are OK with Apixaban then. Trouble is, it is only Warfarin I can take because I have two Mechanical Valves! I bleed a lot too, even if I just have the smallest cut. It does get me down sometimes but know now that it cannot be changed as nothing else has been approved yet, at least in the UK, for People with Mechanical Valves that is. Apparently it is different if someone has Tissue Valves or different conditions!
I hadn't grasped the nature of your complication and had just thrown that into the mix in the hope it maybe useful, if not to you then to someone else with bleeding problems. Thanks for the good wishes. I am fine with the baby apixaban, no more thrown away pillows for me!
That's OK and no problem at all. I knew you were only trying to help!!
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