I have been on Edoxaban since about March this year without a problem, but recently cut my knuckle when a pair of scissors broke when I was using them and had real difficulty getting even this very small scrape to stop bleeding. It took quite a while when I did it in the morning and then, after a bath and changing the plaster in the evening, it started bleeding again and probably took even longer to stop.
I know this is clearly due to the blood thinners but does anyone have any tips or advice as to what to do or what to use to stop the bleeding a bit more quickly? Any special plasters or products that you use and recommend?
Thanks a lot.
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MrHocum
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In the hospital they had some sort of plaster with a clotting agent in it. Don't know if you can get them over the counter or not, though.
On the other hand, my cardiac surgeon doesn't seem too worried about it. When removing some sutures he just stuck a normal plaster on and said "that will probably bleed for a while". (I'm on warfarin for a mechanical aortic valve.)
Thanks for the response. I'm not really that worried, especially about smaller cuts, but it did bleed all over my bedsheets last night, despite the plaster I put on it, and so I was hoping to try and avoid that in the future.
the best thing for removing bloodstains is your own spit, but it is rather limited to small stains as it takes a lot of spit to loosen a large one spit on the stain and gently rub it in, repeat if necessary, then wash on cool to warm cycle, hot water cooks the blood in
small stains can be dissolved without the need for washing afterwards - this is a method often used by stitchers after they prick themselves eith needles and bleed onto their work
saliva contains an enzyme (amylase) which helps to break down the proteins in blood
Hi I use a Click Medical liquid plaster spray I found on Amazon, it works on small cuts and abrasions, especially on my hands and small scratches. bigger cuts need the modern water proof plasters, I have the Elastoplast waterproof sterile, which also worked well for me. I seem to be cutting myself more these days. I don't leave home without my little self help kit these days😇 hope that helps!
Doctors have the ability to counter the bleeding effects of warfarin should the need arise. Modern anti-coagulants are in a different category. For this reason, my wife’s cardiologist insisted that she came off Edoxaban 3 days before she was fitted with a pacemaker.
It's those stupid little nicks that won't stop, the bigger cuts seem to stop more easily. I'm on Warfarin & Clopidogrel and a small scrape can bleed on and off for 48 hours. If you just use plasters the blood pools up and then breaks through as you've found out.
The best solution I have found is to wad up a sheet of towel roll to fit over the cut and use surgical tape to hold it in place. You can always put a plaster over the towel roll if no surgical tape to hand.
Thanks. Yes I did end up doing something similar at 2am last night when I found it had broken through the plaster and it now seems to have stopped again.
I did see that there are special plasters on Amazon that say that they have something that helps with clotting and also a 'Haemostatic' spray, but I did wonder how effective they were for those of us on blood thinners.
I would have a word with your pharmacist about the plasters. Also I would have held my hand in the air above my heart to reduce the blood flow, after wrapping it up in gauze or whatever you use. I am on Edoxoban and touch wood, haven’t been too badly affected.
I'd be cautious of using some from of coagulent without talking to doctor/pharmacist. How locally contained to the cut is the effect actually going to be? I wanted to see if I could use something like Arnica cream to help reduce bruises, but the pharmacist I asked said it was a "No", to avoid more widely countering the intended effect of the blood thinner I was on.
I had no idea that I should not be using Arnica!! Here is what I found: Because of its ability to prevent clots from forming, Arnica should not be taken with other medications or herbal products that can thin the blood like aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, enoxaparin, apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, ginger, garlic, or ginseng, to name a few.
Thanks, yes I spotted these as well, but at 50p a plaster I was hoping that someone here might have tried them (or similar before) and be able to say how effective they were, before I spend £15.
There are these ones, which sound similar and are cheaper but also the shape is not quite as useful - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...
I bought an over-the-counter spray suggested by my chemist, but have yet to need to use it. I don't seem to have any problems with tiny nicks and jabs for injections and blood tests, but earlier this month a nurse removed a canula (having forgotten it was still there) and some thin blood poured out down my arm onto the chair. Another nurse dashed over with some sort of wipe, cleaned my arm and put a small dressing on, a bit like a solid tube the diameter of a pencil. I removed it the next morning, and saw only a tiny speck of dried blood.
Which one, if you don't mind me asking? I just removed the plaster and dressing that I put on last night and it started bleeding again immediately so it does seem like I need to try something.
I purchased some special plasters with sonething in them that stops bleeding from ebay. Also bought one of those white sticks that men use if they cut themselves shaving.cant remember what they are called
you can by hemostatic plasters although I’ve only found very small ones but they work in small nicks. You can also get a hemostatic spray which I’ve found good and they do hemostatic gauze dressings.
Hands can bleed anyway,but worse on blood thinners,I usually elevate hand and use pressure,then put plaster on tightly,usually does the job,but at night you probably rubbed it and as healing takes a bit longer you just knocked plaster off. You'll get used to it,now have bruises that can't remember hitting and nicks when in garden
I’m on aspirin and clopidogrel. Knocked a scab off the back of my hand in a fitness class . Couldn’t stop the bleeding . Was a bit embarrassing to say the least 😱
I am on Apixaban you just have to put a tight plaster one if the blood comes through the plaster put another one on top . And leave it on a few days before removing it. If you have blood tests make sure they use 2 tight plasters other wise you will get a sleeve full of blood . Happened to me the nurse wouldn't put the plasters on like I asked and only pad of cotton wool and micro tape .Felt my arm getting wet on the bus luckily had a linen shirt on and a cotton navy blue jacket. When to my favourite coffee shop for a drink and asked if they had a first aid kit. From my elbow to my wrist my shirt was red and my jacket . Cleaned up the blood and 2 tight plasters on . Have to have a plaster if I have an injection.
Always have plasters handy of all sizes . Plus I can't eat crunchy food as they give my blood blisters in my mouth . Which normal goes within a day.
A cut on a knuckle will always bleed more as the scab gets disturbed with every bend and movement. Kaltostat or aquacel on the cut under dressing helps to halt bleeding/aid formation of clot. Elevate wound and apply pressure. I’m on 60mg edoxaban and have same problem. Take care 🦊x
I’m on rivaroxiban 20mg and my blood flows even when I go for a blood test. It’s messy and different, but the doctors and more importantly the nurses don’t seem too worried as it is an expected side effect. I’ve been told to use compression for a few minutes and so far that has worked. The wound may open up a bit on and off for a few days even, but eventually it stops. As you’ll have discovered, a few drops of blood goes a heck of a long way, but you’ll know if it is serious enough that you need more urgent help.
I think that's what worries me. A small cut like this is not a problem, but what if it is much bigger. I didn't really appreciate this before and now realise I really do have to be quite careful, wear gloves when doing anything vaguely riskly, etc.
Don't forget that Edoxaban isn't a blood thinners it is an ani-coagulant. Hence your blood won't clot. I am on the same and I find that cuts can take up to 5 or 6 days to finally stop bleeding. You think it's ok, after 24 hours, then you wash it and it starts all over again. I've been on it for a year and just got used to it, my first aid kit is always close at hand and plasters are with me all the time
I have previously put a dollop of Vaseline on a cut ( inspired by boxing and what the do in the ring) I placed a cheap dry dressing on top and secured with surgical tape (microphone)
Hi I take Edoxaban and when I cut myself I use 2or 3 plasters all at once. I sliced my hands with a knife cutting something and it went to the flesh. I put pressure on it with lots of tissues then I covered it with 3 plasters side by side then one on top. When I saw blood I would change and repeat. It eventually stopped after a few days.
I've been pondering that for along time! Hav'nt found a satisfactory answer. Ever since I was put onto Apixoban. I cut myself at work on the edge of a sheet of paper, it did not stop bleeding all day! I kept changing tissue papers.
I have been extra careful ever since, I use a razor which is blunt, avoid any sharp things etc,etc. Don't forget you can quite easily give yourself internal injuries too!
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