Ok really how much of an issue is bleeding?

[james]

I am meeting with the surgeon on Monday to talk schedule and type of valve.
I swore I would never get opened up again so I am leaning toward the mechanical but, I tend to get cut a lot. I ski, surf, do construction and have big cats. Is bleeding really an issue or not.
Thanks
James

 

[olefin]

Welcome to the forum.

Not been for me but I've never had a major cut. Tons of small cuts, sure they bleed more but not an issue.
The worse time was when I bit the end of tongue... I mean big time, I almost bit the end off. It bleed for quite a while, even packed in a tea bags. So happen my INR was over range.

My INR range is 2.5 to 3.5, I've been over 6 several times, as high as 7.1... no bleeding problems other than when I eat my tongue!

My surgeon recommended a mechanical due to my age of 56, even with history of a bleeding duodenal ulcer.

Good luck!

 

[Cooker]

I have had no big problem ... I have had one bad cut that required a pressure bandage but it also needed stitches ...

 

[bvdr]

You may well notice more bruising than normal. Your blood will take longer to clot but it will still clot. If your INR is around 2 or 3 than you figure you would bleed twice or three times longer than you would normally bleed. Of course that is countered with pressure on the site or ice on a bruise which would limit the bleeding. It really isn't a problem with everyday scrapes or even minor surgery or procedures. It becomes more of an issue when the bleeding is in a place that is inaccessible such as intestinal bleeding or bleeding inside the skull. The skull is a closed compartment so bleeding in the cranium, or in the brain can be especially dangerous and life-threatening,

 

[Cris N]

I don't really have a problem with excessive bleeding - I've had some cuts & scrapes but nothing that could be easily handled. As Betty said, the thing you need to be concerned about are head injuries - I would definitely discuss this aspect with your doctor team since you ski & surf. Oh, how BIG are the cats?

 

[Philip B]

Got Blood?

Got Blood?

Hi James,

Yes indeed, if you cut yourself and you're using coumadin, you'll bleed, but I bet you bleed when you cut yourself now. Guess what, if you bruise now you'll bruise if you're on coumadin.

I've got a St. Jude mechanical valve, maintain my INR between 2.5 & 3.5 with coumadin, and I've yet to bleed out when I cut myself. I have had a couple of nose bleeds which required a trip to the ER because my wife was concerned.

I make every effort to maintain an active lifestyle. I've crashed my mtn bike several times and been lucky to ride away. I was the victim of a hit & run while road biking in June. The accident left me with broken ribs, a brain injury, and road rash from my head to my knees, but I'm still here despite being on coumadin.

I even still use sharp power tools even though I'm on coumadin.

What do you do now when you get a bad cut? Odds are pretty good that you get stitches if you need to or simply clean it up and put pressure on it if it's not bad enough for a stitch or two. It's no different if you're on coumadin.

Coumadin doesn't make your blood run out any faster; it just takes longer to clot.

During the last ten years of his life, my grandfather took a very small daily dosage of coumadin to address potential blood clot issues in his legs. He was convinced that he would bleed to death if he cut himself while shaving. I'm sure he would be really upset if he was around to know that I take from 5 to 10 mg of coumadin on a daily basis. I'm sure he'd want that pocket knife he gave me 40 years ago back because I might cut myself with it.

The short answer to your question is that bleeding isn't a big deal for me even though I'm on coumadin, but that's just me.

-Philip

 

[westie]

bet

bet

.
i bet you will bleed more during your re ops than you ever will because of taking warfarin....

 

[catwoman]

James:

Are your cats exotic cats -- or ones like Maine Coons? (Most states and government entities require special licenses for possessing exotics.)

I've had cats for years. Today, I trained with a veteran judge and handled about 100 longhair kittens & cats at a show in Indianapolis. Some of those Maine Coon Cat adults were huge -- maybe 15-20 pounds. (Good weight-bearing exercise for osteoporosis LOL!)
But I'm sure these were not the cats you're referring to.

I have been bitten since my MVR. I try to read body language and catspeak to avoid a bite. I carry antibiotics when I travel. Can only recall needing to use them once. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! Most cat show judges -- and many people who show cats -- carry antibiotics & first-aid items. Don't know if people who show/judge dogs do the same.

Getting to your question about how much of an issue is the bleeding: not really much for me. It's more of an infection issue. The situations you mentioned are ones that anyone should take care with. Just use caution when dealing with power tools, animals, etc., and you'll be fine. You can stop bleeding -- unless you sever your arm, leg, whatever, in that case, what caused the injury was probably avoidable.

 

[Eva]

In the worst conditions of injuries and of serious bleedings, we, who are on ACT, will need an injection of Vitamin K. Majority of us wear a bracelet/pendant to indicate we are on anticoagulant therapy and/or carry card in the wallet to indicate this and the type of mechanical valve implanted inside our hearts.

Do not forget that whether we are on ACT or not, we all are in danger if we get in serious bleeding injury situations!

 

[catwoman]

James:

BTW, most injuries/cut/bites/whatever probably do not need professional medical attention.
You can usually stop the bleeding using pressure.

I took 2 Red Cross first-aid courses when I was a youth group leader (required for taking the kids camping). Learning how to deal with bleeding was covered very well.

 

[MarkU]

Bleeding has not been a problem for me. I also due a lot of "high risk" stuff like carpentry, triathlons, working on cars, etc.

Mark

 

[dick0236]

Excessive bleeding has never been a problem for me. Woodworking and carpentry used to be a hobby, and cuts/scrapes were not unusual. I cut myself only once, that required professional help. That help was for stitches, not bleeding. Nose bleeds, razor cuts etc. do take a little longer to clot, but not much longer.

I think doctors are most concerned about internal bleeds. Proper management, which is not difficult, will minimize that risk.

 

[Woodbutcher]

In nearly 11 months of being on Warfarin I've not had a problem with bleeding. I'm a carpenter, so often have minor cuts. I've been struck and nearly knocked out by my surf board cracking my head after a nine foot drop (one of the few times without my helmet on!), survived that ok and a couple of weeks ago I was forced off the road into a deep ditch by a fast moving truck whilst cycling, splitting my lip quite badly, that bled loads but stopped in the end. I think the French truck driver was more worried than me ! I was told about something to put onto a bad cut the other day, to absorb and coagulate the blood ... I've forgotten what it was ?
The thing is, if you give blood it's a minimum of a pint that you give and you can do just fine without it ? If you were to cut yourself quite badly (by accident of course!) and place an empty pint bottle under the dripping blood it would take a heck a long time to fill that bottle !? Infact most pretty bad cuts would barely even start to fill it. It generally looks worse than it is because it's red and a bit scary and spreads about a lot !

 

[james]

Thanks all.
I am now leaning toward asking for a mechanical valve just so I never have to get opened again. Two zippers will be enough in this lifetime.
As for the cat questions. I am a bengal guy but, I was looking at going back to school for a zoology certification at a big cat rescue in Spokane and have worked with exotics at the shelter on occasion.

 

[Lynlw]

As others said the main concern is internal bleeding, not cuts, especially as you get older than 65-70. Your plan sounds good especially since this will be your 2nd surgery, the only concern I would have is, I remember you saying you hadn't been to the cardiologist for years, so would it be a problem for you to make sure you take your meds, and keep up with seeing your doctors or whoever will be managing your coumadin?
I'm pretty sure IF a big cat hurt you it wouldn't matter all that much if you were on coumadin or not

 

[COLLEEN S]

Thanks all.
I am now leaning toward asking for a mechanical valve just so I never have to get opened again. Two zippers will be enough in this lifetime.
As for the cat questions. I am a bengal guy but, I was looking at going back to school for a zoology certification at a big cat rescue in Spokane and have worked with exotics at the shelter on occasion.

Well James, if you get bit by a big cat, coumadin or no coumadin, you are gonna bleeeed!

 

[TXGal]

I have never had much of a bleeding issue.. although I've never had a major cut. I have had a few times where my gums bled a little because I was too anticoagulated.. I'd suggest if you were going to go ski or surf to check your INR and make sure you're in range, then you should be ok. It's when you're too anticoagulated it can be dangerous, especially a head injury when your blood is too anticoagulated.

 

[catwoman]

As for the cat questions. I am a bengal guy but, I was looking at going back to school for a zoology certification at a big cat rescue in Spokane and have worked with exotics at the shelter on occasion.

Bengal cat or Bengal tiger?

 

[river-wear]

I love Bengal kitties! I had a really sweet, smart one for a few years until my allergies got so bad I had to find him a new home. (Even my vet would start sneezing the minute I brought him in.) I was heartbroken. He was so sweet, a bit talkative, and always came when I called. He wasn't that large for a Bengal though - only about 12 lbs, but he had nice spots.