Ok..I now have my own anti-coagulation question...

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Gang,
Awhile ago I was told to take 81 mg of aspirin (baby aspirin) on a daily basis, but the only thing they told me it was for was to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke..well since I have been taking it, when I go to check my blood sugar for my diabetes, I sometimes cannot stop bleeding (the blood is like water) and yet, other times, my blood seems to be as thick as mud and I cannot seem to get enough blood drawn up to check my sugar...Could the reason they put me on aspirin be to keep my blood thin? and if my blood gets so watery that it's hard to stop the bleeding, should I go off of the aspririn for a day or two? Just thought I would ask and see what the general consensus was.. Thanks. Harrybaby

 

[Guest]

Aspirin works mainly on platelets (so on clots that form in the arteries). You may notice more bleeding but it will not show up on your INR. I think that the times that you fail to bleed when you do a stick it is likely due to hitting a smaller blood vessel. I doubt that it is a true measure of anticoagulation. That has been my exoperience in doing over 30,000 fingersticks.