I am having issues with thick blood and was referred to a hemotologist. He ran some genetic tests and said I was negative for different genes that can cause high hematocrit. He said my blood isn’t bad enough to start phlebotomy (bloodletting) which can cause other problems like high iron. He wants to put me on low dose aspirin or plavix to help thin the blood. I told him I would have to check with my hepatologist. I have sent him a text through the patient portal.
I was wondering if any of you are on low dose aspirin or plavix or any other blood thinner.
Linda
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Hi, I was put on aspirin in 2008 for my thick blood, then in 2013 was sent to a hematologist/oncologist . I was then put on hydrea, so now take both aspirin and hydrea for my thick blood. My liver specialist was the one that sent me to the specialist about my blood tests.
Hi Linda, I was diagnosed with a blood disorder and the hydrea helps to reduce my platelets and red blood cells from producing to many as they don't turn off they keep producing. Be careful taking aspirin as it can cause ulcers so I take cartia it is aspirin with a coating to prevent stomach irritations, so talk to your dr about cartia. Take care Doreen
I am on one baby aspirin per day. I'm told is normally done to prevent heart attacks or strokes when you have high blood pressure. Been on it long before finding I have PBC
I know a number of people who are on baby aspirin to help with heart attacks and strokes but I hadn’t heard anyone here mention it. I wasn’t sure it would be possible. Thanks for sharing.
I think it would be better if I were on 81 mg baby aspirin besides my thick blood but also because of my family history with cardiac events. I’m still waiting to hear from my hepatologist but it has been helpful to know that others with PBC have been on it without problems.
Congratulations on your transplant! Thanks for letting me know about your experience with aspirin. I had never noticed anyone here mention being on it.
Hi again and thank you, I am thankful beyond words to be celebrating yet another Christmas, and you are right you don’t read a lot on here about the use of aspirin but I think it is quite common, I take it because I have a small hepatic vein, the only thing I have noticed is I bruise really easily and also bleed a lot from minor cuts,
There are two 2 compelling research contradictions: Here they are.
1) 1Fast facts on thick blood:
* Mostly, there are few symptoms of thick blood until a significant blood clot forms.
* Certain health conditions are linked to thick blood.
* Treatment for thick blood depends on the condition causing it.
* Normally, the liver contributes to blood clotting, so if you're taking blood thinners with a compromised liver, you could have a situation. ... Your blood thinner may not interact well with them. For example, aspirin and ibuprofen can make you bleed more. Even products like Pepto-Bismol may cause problems.——————————————————— Natural blood thinners are substances that reduce the blood's ability to form clots. Blood clotting is a necessary process, but sometimes the blood can clot too much, leading to complications that can be potentially dangerous.
* People who have certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart defects, may require blood-thinning medications to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.
* It is essential to speak with a doctor before trying these remedies, as they may not work as well as medication and may interfere with some prescription drugs.
——————————————————-
2) Contradictions
Blood Thinner Reduces Liver Vein Blood Clots, Protects Liver Functioning in People With Cirrhosis:
People with liver cirrhosis may benefit from daily therapy with a blood thinner to prevent portal vein thrombosis (PVT), a potentially serious and life-threatening complication, according to an important study presented by Italian researchers at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in San Francisco. Using the injectable agent enoxaparin—sold as Lovenox in the United States—for 12 months not only reduced the risk of PVT by nearly 80 percent, but also reduced the risk of decompensated liver disease.
The portal vein is a very large vessel in the abdomen responsible for carrying blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. People with serious liver disease, such as hepatitis B- or hepatitis C-associated cirrhosis, are prone to developing PVTs—blood clots in their portal veins. When the vein is blocked, it can cause a buildup of pressure, or portal hypertension, which can lead to life-threatening disease.
PVT is a frequent complication of advanced cirrhosis, occurring in about 8 percent to 25 percent of patients. Though blood thinners to prevent PVT have shown to be beneficial in retrospective analyses—studies that look back on patients’ experiences with the drugs—data from prospective evaluations, notably clinical trials designed to specifically look at the safety and efficacy of anticoagulant therapy, have been scarce.
Enoxaparin, prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—blood clots in the leg that can lead to pulmonary artery blockage—was therefore put to the test by a study of 70 people with advanced liver cirrhosis. Patients were randomly allotted to receive either 4,000 international units (IU) enoxaparin or placebo for 12 months and were then followed, off treatment, for another 12 months.
The study’s primary goal was to see if enoxaparin reduced the incidence of PVT. One group also wanted to find out if treatment slowed or prevented decompensation—a sign of liver failure—and improved survival. As for safety measurements, the researchers also set out to determine if enoxaparin treatment was associated with excessive bleeding, a serious risk of anticoagulant therapy.
According to report, six of the 36 patients (16.7 percent) who received placebo, compared with no patients who received enoxaparin, developed either a complete or partial portal vein blockage while on treatment during the first 12 months of the study. This difference between the two groups was statistically significant, meaning it was too great to have occurred by chance.
During the 12-month follow-up period, six additional blood clots occurred: three among those in the placebo group and three among those who originally received enoxaparin. These blood clots typically occurred within two to six months after enoxaparin was discontinued.
Liver decompensation was significantly more likely to occur among those who received placebo in the study. Nineteen (52.7 percent) in the placebo group, compared with four (11.7 percent) in the enoxaparin group, had signs of liver failure during treatment. Even after treatment was stopped, rates of decompensation remained higher among those who received placebo, compared with those who received enoxaparin.
Study noted that survival was also better among those who received enoxaparin compared with those who received placebo.
In addition, Study shows, enoxaparin treatment was well tolerated. There were no reports of excessive bleeding among any patients in the study.
“In this prospective randomized controlled study in advanced stage cirrhotics,” Villa’s group concluded, “enoxaparin was shown to be safe and effective in preventing PVT but, most importantly, was associated with greatly reduced occurrence of decompensation both during the active period of treatment and in the follow-up period.”
Thank you so much for preparing such a detailed response to my question. You must be exhausted!
They haven’t decided why my blood is thick. I don’t have the genetic markers for it. Of course I don’t have ANA or AMA either.
Hopefully I will hear from my hepatologist in the next day or two. Aneurysms run in my family so I’m also a little concerned about taking blood thinners. I was thinking there might be some food items that might help without pushing me into the really thin blood category.
Once again thank you for all that information. You’ve given me a lot to consider. I think the more we know the better off we are.
garlic, fish oil, Vit E (liver doesn’t like it), coumarin, ginger, avocado.
LETS KEEP YOU SAFE:
Clothing that compresses the veins can slow blood flow within the body and also encourage blood to pool. For instance, tight pants, shorts, socks, and tights can all cause impaired blood flow in the lower half of the body.
Even crossing your legs often, particularly if you have a desk job or lead a sedentary lifestyle can cause blood flow to decrease in certain areas of the body and leave you prone to clotting.
Thanks Sunny! All of those are good to know. I didn’t consider the leg crossing or tight garments although I don’t wear tight clothes so can cross that one off.
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