BRIDGING MY BLOOD THINNER FOR COLONOSCOPY

[catlove123]

It's time for my colonoscopy but I have reservations because I have been instructed to discontinue my regular blood thinner 5 days before the procedure; and bridge with lovanox. Then I'm supposed to stop the lovanox 2 days prior to the procedure. I have had a colonoscopy before but not since being diagnosed with APS. I don't want to bleed because if that happens the doctor will take me off blood thinners; which we all know makes for the risk higher much higher for blood clots. Has anyway been through this? If so will you please share your experience or info with me. Thanks

[KerryA]

Hi I've been through these sort of scenarios with good and bad outcomes.

Bad when the clinicians of the procedure try to tell me what to do with my Warfarin pre procedure.

Good when my haematologist advises what and when I should switch to Daltaparin injections pre procedure and gradually back to Warfarin over the following days.

I monitor my own INR with a Coagucheck machine and dose myself with Warfarin so am able to be in good control before and after procedures and operations as long as I have at least a week's notice to get a Daltaparin prescription and switch to it.

So, make sure that your Haematologist knows that you're going for this colonoscopy and advises you and tells the clinicians who will do this procedure

Best wishes

Kerry

[catlove123 in reply to KerryA]

Thanks very much Kerry A, makes me feel a little better. GOD'S WILL GIVE ME THE COMFORT I NEED. So I guess I'll take my hematologist advice and bridge with the lovanox stopping 2 days for the procedure.

[KerryA in reply to catlove123]

I hope it goes smoothly for you 🙂

[Bloodredroses in reply to KerryA]

Yes exactly Kerry. As no cutting I was told stop 3 days ( forget but approx ) before then start again same day after . Don’t worry it stays in your blood for approx 2 days after you stop . I stopped 5 days before having little tumour and plastic surgery under eye . The night after not started again I accidentally tiny cut myself in hospital in finger . Blood everywhere , floor walls . It stopped . Ice Vaseline stops it . I asked Heamo why, she said it can be the drugs they use . ( It was very red and flowing like on blood thinners ) . Anyhoo the Colonoscopy Dr told me he has lots of patients that don’t stop for whatever reason , but no problem as Thry have drugs to stop it . If not snipping off any polyps , usually no blood anyway . Colon is Stretchy , 💩. Plus they do hundreds , ( I’ve had 5 no bleeds ) even if a little puncture ( low risk the drugs do stop bleeding . My dentist told me he had done heaps extractions on Warfarin . Normal people , no problem . Just relax ( that helps the procedure ! Ask fir a bit of pain relaxer , that helps . Very quick all over . You.ll be fine .

[catlove123 in reply to Bloodredroses]

THANKS ALOT

[Bloodredroses in reply to catlove123]

Welcome , ( having a colonoscopy every 5 years is a good thing without needing to . ) 🤟

[catlove123 in reply to Bloodredroses]

ITS BEEN 6 YRS SINCE, SO THANKS

[Dot69]

I've been through exactly the same procedure, thd first time I had an endoscopy I didn't have to stop warfarin because they were just ' having a look ' they realised I was on warfarin so stopped 'looking' because something that had to be removed , I was then informed I would have to stop taking warfarin for 5 days before the next procedure, they didn't inform my APS consultant , when I saw her at my next appointment she was furious they hadn't informed her because I should never have stopped taking the warfarin, there was something else I could have taken which I wasn't made aware of, Yes there was a fear of me bleeding when removing what needed to be removed, to move on last month I needed a follow up Colonoscopy to check nothing else had grown, didn't need to stop the warfarin because it was a routine check up, if further 'things' needed removing I would have to stop warfarin, but I'm very happy I don't have to go through all that again, All clear😊,Hope all goes well for you.

[catlove123 in reply to Dot69]

Thanks for your info and sharing your experience. With APS you should always be on a blood thinners. I guess that's why my doc has me bridging with lovanox.

[Wittycjt in reply to catlove123]

If you don’t have a cancer history they can do a cologuard. My dr wanted to do a colonoscopy but I was apprehensive for the same reason you are. I spoke to him about doing a cologuard first and if they found anything suspicious I would be agree able to a colonoscopy but why take the chance of a bowel perforation with out having any cancer history, he agreed that was reasonable. Cologuard was done, Cologuard was negative, so no colonoscopy for this gal. Good luck

[catlove123 in reply to Wittycjt]

Thanks sooo much your information was very helpful. I had my 1st colonoscopy before 50, was having gut problems thank GOD all found to be well. My Mother passed from colon cancer which turned into lymphoma in 2010; so all my doctors advise me to do the colonoscopy. We did discuss the Cologuard but my doc said it's not accurate test. I will continue to PRAY and do my research, Thanks Again.

[Thick_Blood]

I just had mine last month. I’m on Lovenox and aspirin full-time for my anticoagulation. I stopped Lovenox 24 hours before, had the colonoscopy they found and removed two polyps, and restarted my Lovenox the same day.. I did not have any bleeding side effects associated with removing the polyps and getting right back on Lovenox.