Proactive worrying..

[kevin21]

I'm probably going to have AVR surgery soon and will probably get a mech. valve due to my age, 27.

My problem with this is the coumadin prescript.

I'm clumsy by nature. I also like to do a lot of things around the house. I usually cut or nick or scratch myself a few times. Sometimes I smash my finger or bent my nails back also.

This tends to make me bleed.

My question to those on the anti-clot drugs is how bad is it when you do get cut? Is it like hours before it clots or is it just a little more noticable than usual?

Does it give you nose bleeds? I used to get those a lot when I was little but not much anymore. I do have bad alergies and tend to get dry nasal pasages from Benadryl occasionaly.

I know you become a little more "aware" of what you are doing but I know I'll never be super careful, it's not my nature.

A little off subject, but, does this affect your sex life at all? I'm not going to be redfaced about this, it's VERY important to me that it not be an issue, if you know what I mean (wink!!).

Gracias everyone!!

 

[MelissaM]

Any chance you could get a repair?

 

[Johnny Stephens]

One time, when my INR was out of whack on the high-side (4.7) I got a nosebleed that took about an hour to stop. I got nosebleeds occaisionally before I took Coumadin, and I can't actually say that I now get more. But the one I'm referring to above was just starting to get to that "hmmm I wonder if I should go to the ER" place in my mind, when it stopped. I haven't had a bad one since.

Regarding small cuts, I just notice that it takes a little longer to stop, but the bleeding rate is the same. For me the most noticeable effect of the Coumadin is bruising. I've had some really spectacular bruises on my arms and legs.

And in regard to your last question, well, er um, NO, I haven't noticed any undesirable effect from *Coumadin*. (but don't ask me about Beta Blockers )

 

[Les]

I have been on Coumadin for ten years with no noticeable increase in bleeding and I've got to tell you, if it's pointy, sharp, broken or abrasive, I'll cut myself if I get within a foot of it.
( Naturally accident-prone... but talented!)
Your sex life is affected by you and you alone. ( No pun intended...) Beta-Blockers can have an adverse effect, but Coumadin? Nah....
_________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Rain]

I?m on a beta blocker and coumadin...

I?m on a beta blocker and coumadin...

I had nose bleeds that would last for hours when I was a kid... although I don?t think I bled any longer than any other kid when I got cut. Thank goodness, as I grew up I stopped having them.

It doesn't really take me any longer to stop bleeding than it ever did either. The bruises..... now that?s another story!

Beta blockers screw up your sex life? What?s up with that? Must be a man thing. Sorry, Kevin... honestly.. it's the first I ever heard of it. My meds have not had an effect on my sex life. Although, you may find you need some pointers on sex after OHS.

 

[Ross]

Your sex life is affected by you and you alone.

Ah man, I'm a Hession with no aggression.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

What?s up with that?

Well, er, not much sometimes.

 

[Ross]

Beta blockers screw up your sex life? What?s up with that?

Nothing that the VR Thong and Viagra can't take care of.

Umm bummer, we must have sold out of VR thongs. There not listed anymore. Hank, has someone been complaining again?

 

[sylviayasgur]

ross,
you are too much. you just crack me up!!!!!
you remind me of the energizer... you keep going and going and going....

 

[Hank]

Bleeding

Bleeding

I have had my INR WAY high with no problems - I shave with a razor and cut myself about every time - it stops fairly quickly. Taking coumadin has not effected my life in any way.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Are you serious Ross? Out of thongs What will we ever wear to the reunion, lol

GO CUBS!!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[Ross]

I think Hank caught some flack over them or he just decided that it wasn't in the best interest to offer them. I don't know, but I suspect someone complained.

 

[Gnusgal]

I think the most I've noticed in bleeding change is that it can take a bit longer to stop. I get painful pimples on my back sometimes, and the only relief is to pop them (I know it sounds gross, but oh well). And those can bleed for quite some time. But the do stop eventually. Though, last night I happened to scratch a small scab by accident. When it hadn't stopped bleeding by the time I was ready to go to bed (about 5-7 minutes later) I decided to just put a bandaid on it to prevent blood from getting on the sheets. When I took the bandaid off this morning, it was completely full with blood. But the bleeding HAD stopped. That's about the most I've ever seen a small cut bleed since being on coumadin. Maybe it had something to do with the bandaid???

As for your sex life, no problems here!

 

[JimL]

I've always cut myself on this or that, and nine times out of ten I can't remember what I cut myself on. Nothing has changed since surgery and since starting coumadin. I still get cut, knicked, whatever, and it heals up, and then I notice it and wonder how I did that.
I'm sorry everyone has no change in their sex life since starting coumadin. I think it's much better. But maybe it's just the joy of being alive.

 

[Blanche]

.....and only a dog can hear it!!

.....and only a dog can hear it!!

It's hard to believe that someone got their undies in a twist over the VR thong
Respectfully yours,
Blanche

 

[csutherland]

I was very worried about Jerry's use of coumadin because he's a very active guy who has his hands, fingers & arms full of boo-boos and bandaids all the time. He'll reach across barbed wire or into a bramble bush without gloves or any thought. I was actually afraid he might hurt himself and bleed to death. My fears seem silly to me in retrospect. It may take a little longer to stop the bleeding but nothing significant.

I understand that BP meds may affect sexual performance, but coumadin has no effect.

By the way, I was concerned about a high altitude vacation but the cardio said not to worry. We just returned from Colorado (Estes Park, Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park, Ouray, Silverton, Wolf Creek Pass). We both got breathless if we walked much, especially uphill, but we just adapted and got along fine. Wonderful trip. Again, my fears were unfounded!

 

[Karlynn]

I get a little bruising from time to time, but I have always been a banana. Cuts don't seem to be a big deal. Just don't think you can go and replace John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.

Karlynn

PS - No VR Thong anymore! -Now I have to think of another Christmas present for Glenn.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Right on Blanche!

Right on Blanche!

I think it's time for a 'Resurrect the Thong' petition...

...and I'll betcha Ross ain't a gonna touch that one with a ten foot poll.

 

[Granbonny]

Kevin

Kevin

when was the last ime you went to see your dentist? You need to have a good checkup, cleaning..to make sure your gums are good. My only problem, after AV surgery was gum bleeding. Had slacked off in last few years..but after going after surgery, every 3 months..no problem with bleeding gums. 18 months on coumadin now. Nothing. No bleeding or bruises. Bonnie

 

[Guest]

I saw a sheet metal worker once who took warfarin. He said that he gets some "spectacular" cuts but that they always heal.

He also said that he was not coming back to the clinic. He had been taking warfarin for about 10 years and that this was the first time he had ever had his blood tested and it was OK so he didn't want to be bothered!

I don't know who OKs his refills but it isn't me.