I am , apparently, to take Warfarin for the rest of my life. I suspect that troublesome side effects are feeling cold all the time and failure of small cuts - such as face-scratches and razor cuts to heal over 5 months or more. Can any kind reader confirm that this is not just my imagination, advise what to do about it, and , perhaps, suggest alternatives ?
With compliments and gratitude,
Tavishock
I've noticed that cuts take longer to clot (maybe 5 or 10 minutes instead of a couple of minutes), but I haven't noticed them taking longer to heal. I tinker with cars a lot, and my surgeon suggested chainmail gloves if I'm banging up my fingers/knuckles too often.
My temp control was definitely off-kilter coming out of hospital, but that can also be a result of anaesthetic (and that they put you in hypothermia while on the bypass machine). I seem to be mostly back to normal now; maybe I feel the cold a bit more?
Thanks for this, - helpful. I also seem to suffer from "nose dribbling" more than my pre-op recollections. Any validation of this ?
T-shock
Now that you mention it, yes, my handkerchief does seem to be getting a bit more of a workout....
Thanks again for this.....I shall check with someone who can offer a professional opinion and get back if this seems likely to be of interest to you
best,
Tavishock
If you scratch or cut it just takes longer to stop once stopped takes same as normal to heal,you just put pressure on
Iv’e been on warfarin since Feb this year. I have always been very sensitive to cold , but warfarin hasn’t worsened that . Cuts take a little longer to stop bleeding , but healing time doesn’t seem to have changed. Others have mentioned nose ‘dribbling’ I do get that but I am on Bisoprolol.
Thanks helps me to adjust to separate real from imagined inconveniences.
Warm good wishes
Tavishock
hi, my husband has been on warfarin for 18 months. Cuts definitely take longer to heal and he feels the cold more. It’s manageable though and we’ve invested in electric blankets and woolly hates etc. He’s on bisoprolol but I haven’t noticed that his nose runs more.
Hats!
Thanks for this. Glad to know I am not inventing symptoms. Shall suss out electric blankets
Warm good wishes
Tavishock
How are your feet? I was on Warfarin for over a year to help with a blood clot, along side lots of other medication for a HA and bypass op.Depending on how hot or cold my feet went through a range of colours from blue to white to red. Most of the time I had dry skin and red blotches, which has mainly cleared since I came off the Warfarin.
Thankfully the blood clot had gone.
I still feel the cold as I am still on a blood thinner which I think is often the case.
Thanks for this. My feet are often blue or purple. Decorative but slightly irritating. Recognise dry skin and blotches but though irritating, liveable. Good to have what might have been fantasy symptoms validated.
Warm good wishes
Tavishock
Hello there are alternatives to Warfarin that don't require INR such as Apixaban etc. Might suit you better.
I have been put on Apixaban, which is an alternative to Warfarin, and I am not cold all the time. If you find the cold too much it might be worth asking if you could change. Whilst both are referred to as blood thinners, they are in fact anticoagulants. As others have said, minor cuts, scratches, etc do take a few minutes longer to heal.
Thanks for this useful advice. Will look into it. My abrasions (razor cuts) do not heal, but have persisted for 6 mths or longer. Anyhow, now motivated to initiate conversation with doc/chemist about warfarin alternatives.
Warm good wishes
Tavishock
You might also find haemoplastic plasters and gauze useful. I recently purchased Curad Quickstop Instant Clotting Technology plasters from Amazon. There are a lot of other makes and sizes that may be more appropriate for you. I also bought Cut-Eeze. CM056B Soluble dressing. Again other makes may be better for you. So far I have only used one plaster and it was very effective.
I agree.Look into DOACs as they seem to be just as effective.
I was offered warafin and did some research and found Apixaban (Eliquis first) instead and have been on it for a few years. Cuts bleed a little more but heal quickly.
I've been on warfarin for 5 years and it's my hands and feet that suffer from the cold, I'm usually the first to be wearing gloves in the running groups I attend and bought some heavy duty mitts for skiing.If you're on warfarin for a mechanical valve there's no option to the warfarin.
Take care.
Andy
Thanks for this. Not on mechanical valve - I understand that my replacement is a piece of pig. So there may be options.
warm good wishes
Tavishock
I would have thought they would have given you one of the new "family" of anti-coagulants as you haven't got a mechanical valve. I have been on warfarin for 22 years and live as normally as possible. I am also hypothyroid which also makes you feel the cold more, like warfarin, so am always too cold or too hot. This is not a major problem. Neither are small cuts. Just try and live like you have been doing as there's no big problems with warfarin once you sort out your dosage! Regards!
Thanks. I am encouraged, and shall "consider my options" as you advise
Warm good wishes
Tavishock
Yeah, I thought mechanical valves and ventricular assist devices were the only things they still used warfarin for....
I'm not on Warfarin but found that my skin was fragile when on a steroid inhaler. If I had a cut etc I used (and still do for cuts) Hydrocolloid plasters or dressings, depending on the size required!
I have been taking warfarin for more than five years following a diagnosis of arrhythmia and will probably be taking it indefinitely. Other than the regular blood tests to check my INR it has not caused any problems although a slight delay in clotting following the blood tests. Initially I was somewhat obsessed with moderating foods containing vitamin K but for me it was an unnecessary concern and I have a more relaxed attitude towards my diet which is pretty healthy anyway.
In all honesty, in 36 years of taking Warfarin I have rarely, if ever, noticed any side effects, certainly nothing unmanageable. I wish you well, and I know no two people are the same, but I hope this puts your mind at rest.
My mum has arrhythmia and heart failure. She's on apixaban thinner not warfarin tho. Definitely she feels the cold more, in fact had an attack of Raynauds syndrome and effectively got frostbite, so certainly not your imagination. Though it's now under control by changing the high blood pressure tablets, they've confirmed she will feel colder from now on and must take extra care to keep warm especially the fingers and toes (so get thermal gloves and socks if not already acquired!)
Statin side effects
Furosemide side effects.
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unpleasant side effects
