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Blood thinners question
Hi, I just started a blood thinner due to recently diagnosed AFib, it's been about a week so far.
This time last year, at the beach on Lake Huron, 🇨🇦, I slipped and fell back, whacking my head on rocks. All healed well, but I do have a dent in my skull.
So, today, I have an achy throb, right where the dent is... could this be caused by my blood thinner? 🤔
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I should add, the wound bled heavily, I got stitches and staples, and spent a night in the hospital. Ruined my long weekend!
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1 ReactionI'm not a medical authority, but I would have to say that something is lingering there in that damaged area, and it could very well be a slow bleed. However, the DOACs like Eliquis and Xarelto don't stop the clotting mechanism. They retard, or delay it. The idea is that simply delaying the onset of a potential clot in the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA, where most of the risk for clotting during AF lies) helps to reduce the risk of a clot forming during an arrhythmia and then becoming dislodged when the heart resumes normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and the stronger flow of blood make the clot spring loose.
I do think your medical expert advisor should know about this, or be advised if that person doesn't know yet. You may need an MRI or something to image that area to see how the tissues are holding up with the DOAC active nearby.
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3 ReactionsThank you. Yes, I was wondering about that. I see my dr. next Monday (7 days) and will definately talk to him about it. And if it seems wise to do so, l will go to Emergency before then.
Can you call you Drs office and leave a message with the nurse? 7 days is a long time if there is a problem
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I seriously doubt it but I hope that you were seen by a physician back when you fell so you know if you suffered a concussion or a fracture or any other possible injury. My husband fell on our vacation and thought he had only bruised his ribs when he hit a rock. 5 days later he was in the ED with a pneumothorax. He should have gone for an x-ray that day! Better safe than sorry. I hope you are okay!
Yes, l spent a night at hospital, but they didn't bother with xrays etc.🙄
The ach has gone away now, so, I don't know... I see my dr in 6 days, will talk to him then. If it comes back before then, l will call dr sooner.
Carol In Ontario. Go to your emergency room and have them check you out for a brain bleed. Be safe.
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You can have your left atrial appendage closed off surgically. That is where over 90%+ of blood clots form re: afib. There are "devices on the market now, ( the Watchman", and a few others) that plug the opening but they must be sized right, installed right, blood thinners while skin grows over the device to "seal it" and a blood clot could form on the device itself. ( just a money maker in my opinion).
I had mine closed surgically during an open heart surgery and am just taking Plavix and baby aspirin which I tolerate well. Too many side effects from all these DOAC's and anti arrythmic drugs. $$$?