New member & “bloody” question

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buckmeister64

buckmeister64

New member
Joined
Feb 15, 2023
Messages
4
Location
Richmond
Hello everyone.

Proud owner here of a Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve (I’ll forgo the Model Number!) since January 12, 2021. I’ve had the usual ups and downs (warfarin dosage worries, a TIA 2 months after surgery, terrible Levinox prep for a colonoscopy etc) but overall, I’m doing pretty well . . . until now . . . and here I am.

So . . . I’m currently experiencing something that has gotten worse since even before my heart procedure - large amounts of blood (clots) seem to be showing up in my saliva. At first it would appear in the AM, might last a day or two but I’d get some relief for days, weeks or even months before it would kick in again. Unfortunately, now the bleeding is happening 24/7 with no relief in sight.

I’ve talked to my dentist about the above, as I wear a mouthguard, and he can find nothing to explain all the blood. He thought that maybe I was biting my tongue while sleeping but the mouthguard fits perfectly and would prevent that from happening. When I tried making an appointment with my rather ineffectual (new) GP, I was told via his nurse that the culprit was the warfarin, keep monitoring it, but he didn’t have time to see me. I guess he’s a magician since he has the ability to diagnose me without a face to face appointment. My cardiologist is aware of the situation and I see him in early December but not sure I can wait until then.

The blood seems to be coming from underneath my tongue but I can’t be sure since my GP won’t see me as he obviously thinks it isn’t serious. I need a new GP.

Has anyone here experienced something like this? There has to be an answer to what’s going on with me. Too much warfarin? I’m getting tired of constantly spitting out blood. Help? Suggestions? Thanks everyone!
 
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buckmeister64 said:
Hello everyone.

Proud owner here of a Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve (I’ll forgo the Model Number!) since January 12, 2021. I’ve had the usual ups and downs (warfarin dosage worries, a TIA 2 months after surgery, terrible Levinox prep for a colonoscopy etc) but overall, I’m doing pretty well . . . until now . . . and here I am.

So . . . I’m currently experiencing something that has gotten worse since even before my heart procedure - large amounts of blood (clots) seem to be showing up in my saliva. At first it would appear in the AM, might last a day or two but I’d get some relief for days, weeks or even months before it would kick in again. Unfortunately, now the bleeding is happening 24/7 with no relief in sight.

I’ve talked to my dentist about the above, as I wear a mouthguard, and he can find nothing to explain all the blood. He thought that maybe I was biting my tongue while sleeping but the mouthguard fits perfectly and would prevent that from happening. When I tried making an appointment with my rather ineffectual (new) GP, I was told via his nurse that the culprit was the warfarin, keep monitoring it, but he didn’t have time to see me. I guess he’s a magician since he has the ability to diagnose me without a face to face appointment. My cardiologist is aware of the situation and I see him in early December but not sure I can wait until then.

The blood seems to be coming from underneath my tongue but I can’t be sure since my GP won’t see me as he obviously thinks it isn’t serious. I need a new GP.

Has anyone here experienced something like this? There has to be an answer to what’s going on with me. I’m getting tired of constantly spitting out blood. Help? Suggestions? Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
what is the color of the blood?
 
buckmeister64 said:
Hi Jeff.

It’s bright red. I could take a photo but not sure if that’s necessary. Thanks for responding!
Click to expand...
you wrote that there is nothing wrong with your mouth. In this case, there may be a trauma in your throat, bleeding due to ulcer or erosion in the stomach and intestines. Maybe you have a lung infection or pulmonary embolism. I think you should go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital without losing time.
 
The Warfarin may be causing the bleeding to continue, but they need to identify the source of the bleeding. Is it a sublingual hematoma? They're usually painful and swollen, along with bleeding, and can be serious if not treated.

Yes, the PCP is useless and you need a new one, but until then, a trip to the ED might be in the cards. They can do a blood test to determine if you're anemic, which will give them an idea if the amount of blood loss is signficant.
 
buckmeister64 said:
Hello everyone.

Proud owner here of a Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve (I’ll forgo the Model Number!) since January 12, 2021. I’ve had the usual ups and downs (warfarin dosage worries, a TIA 2 months after surgery, terrible Levinox prep for a colonoscopy etc) but overall, I’m doing pretty well . . . until now . . . and here I am.

So . . . I’m currently experiencing something that has gotten worse since even before my heart procedure - large amounts of blood (clots) seem to be showing up in my saliva. At first it would appear in the AM, might last a day or two but I’d get some relief for days, weeks or even months before it would kick in again. Unfortunately, now the bleeding is happening 24/7 with no relief in sight.

I’ve talked to my dentist about the above, as I wear a mouthguard, and he can find nothing to explain all the blood. He thought that maybe I was biting my tongue while sleeping but the mouthguard fits perfectly and would prevent that from happening. When I tried making an appointment with my rather ineffectual (new) GP, I was told via his nurse that the culprit was the warfarin, keep monitoring it, but he didn’t have time to see me. I guess he’s a magician since he has the ability to diagnose me without a face to face appointment. My cardiologist is aware of the situation and I see him in early December but not sure I can wait until then.

The blood seems to be coming from underneath my tongue but I can’t be sure since my GP won’t see me as he obviously thinks it isn’t serious. I need a new GP.

Has anyone here experienced something like this? There has to be an answer to what’s going on with me. Too much warfarin? I’m getting tired of constantly spitting out blood. Help? Suggestions? Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
From what I read if you are spitting up blood while on warfarin you should immediately see your doctor. Since your doctor is a moron, I second, or third, the trip to the ER. If you weren't on the anti-coagulant it wouldn't be emergent, but because you are... Well, the risk is too great. As they say, better safe than sorry.
 
Hi and welcome

this is definately a cause for seeing a Dr or a trip to ER ...

buckmeister64 said:
So . . . I’m currently experiencing something that has gotten worse since even before my heart procedure - large amounts of blood (clots) seem to be showing up in my saliva. At first it would appear in the AM, might last a day or two but I’d get some relief for days, weeks or even months before it would kick in again. Unfortunately, now the bleeding is happening 24/7 with no relief in sight.
Click to expand...

Keep us posted if you can about the outcomes.

Best Wishes
 
I put in a call to my terrific cardiologist (not my terrible GP) and he had me rush in for an immediate CBC. All test results came back normal. I have an appointment with an ENT next week as my cardiologist believes it’s the next step in figuring out what’s going on in my mouth. He’s promised to help guide me to finding a solution to my current dilemma. One step at a time, right? Thanks for all the suggestions and support!
 
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buckmeister64 said:
I put in a call to my terrific cardiologist (not my terrible GP) and he had me rush in for an immediate CBC. All test results came back normal.
Click to expand...
That means that although you're losing blood, it's not enough to make you anemic, which is a good thing, but doesnt mean there's not a problem. Glad to hear you'll be following up with an ENT and hope they find the root cause of the bleed.
 
You’re not having coughing right? Def seems to be coming from your mouth?

When I was coughing up blood no one took it seriously until I said “it is bright red splots the size of a quarter” (from the then undiagnosed severe mitral stenosis). So the degree of bleeding as well as the color may be helpful to describe.
 
dornole said:
You’re not having coughing right? Def seems to be coming from your mouth?

When I was coughing up blood no one took it seriously until I said “it is bright red splots the size of a quarter” (from the then undiagnosed severe mitral stenosis). So the degree of bleeding as well as the color may be helpful to describe.
Click to expand...
Definitely not coughing up blood. This bleeding in my mouth began a couple of years prior to my heart operation. It’s just gotten a lot worse in the last 2 months. I’m actually not bleeding at all today. Looking forward to my ENT appointment so we can get to the bottom of this.
 
My uneducated guess is that it's your sinuses - the blood drains into the back of your mouth, making it seem as if it's an oral issue.

A good ENT should be able to isolate the source -- but if it's not warfarin-related, there may be something that's actively bleeding, and cutting out warfarin may not help.

Good luck.
 
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