Irradiated prostate & bladder bleeding: Have AFib & cancer

Posted by delcasa @delcasa, Jul 22, 2024

I had both external beam brachytherapy for prostate cancer twenty years ago and am cancer free. I take Eliquis for congestive heart failure and for permanent AFib. Last week I had urinary retention due to excessive clotting in bladder and needed a cystoscopy to clean out 500cc of organized clot in bladder. I was in the hospital for six days with continual bladder irrigation, blood loss, UTI and more. Urologist says this bleeding is due to irradiated prostate and
might recur if I got back on Eliquis. Cardiologist says I must take Eliquis due to my AFib. Does anyone have experience with this?

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delcasa | @delcasa | Mar 2 6:49pm

In reply to @grizwalsh "@jeffy1 2 years perhaps--can't remember" + (show)

@grizwalsh

I went nearly twenty years before bleeding and clotting due to radiation cystitis. I can't remember now if I posted that, after all that, I had thirty-eight sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatments and they cured my radiation cystitis completely. It's a huge hassle but it works.

bgm1157 | @bgm1157 | Mar 3 3:06pm

In reply to @delcasa "@grizwalsh I went nearly twenty years before bleeding and clotting due to radiation cystitis. I can't..." + (show)

@delcasa
Where do you get that and what exactly is it. Going through bleeding and clotting right now after proton therapy.

Thanks.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 15 11:54am

In reply to @bgm1157 "@delcasa Where do you get that and what exactly is it. Going through bleeding and clotting..." + (show)

@bgm1157, see this discussion about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- HBOT therapy for radiation cystitis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hbot-therapy-for-radiation-cystitis/

bgm1157 | @bgm1157 | Mar 17 9:08am

Hi. I guess depending where you live. I was told Sloan in Manhattan and also Stonybrook. Long Island.
I’m sorry to hear you are having that issue too. Good luck on your journey. I had mine in September

climateguy | @climateguy | Mar 18 8:20am

I had a heart ablation to address my periodic A-fib episodes, but even though I have not had any A-fib episodes in a number of years, I still am directed to take Eliquis, in case A-fib recurs.

However, some patients with "non-valvular" A-fib and congestive heart failure can qualify to have a Watchman device implanted. This procedure can allow the patient to stop taking Eliquis.

They put the Watchman into the left atrial appendage, a part of the heart where, during an A-fib episode, blood clots tend to form. Tissue forms over the device and closes off the appendage. There is now no place for these clots to form. Data shows about the same stroke risk for A-fib patients who are on Eliquis compared to those who have a Watchman who take no Eliquis. Your mileage may vary.

bgm1157 | @bgm1157 | Mar 18 4:56pm

In reply to @lsk1000 "Me: Post salvage radiation after prostatectomy. Chronic and extremely severe hemorrhagic bladder condition. Clots causing urine..." + (show)

@lsk1000
This is something I will look into. I have been having bleeding and intermittent clots since Jan/Feb. Had a catheter and did a scope in February. Radiation dr. says this is normal.
She prescribed Pentoxifylline with vitamin E. Have you ever heard of that? Any input is helpful
Glad to hear your symptomless 3 1/2 years, that's great.

lsk1000 | @lsk1000 | Mar 19 7:38am

In reply to @bgm1157 "@lsk1000 This is something I will look into. I have been having bleeding and intermittent clots..." + (show)

@bgm1157 No I haven’t; that is new to me. There have been studies done finding it takes approx. 6 months to get relief. If you’re able to evacuate the clots naturally, not experiencing urinary retention, and can hang on for 6 months it’s a less invasive treatment than the instillation of chemical agents and avoids the OR. Hope it works.