Stop Eliquis or not?

I have a chads 5-6 (according to Dr Natale-one point is gender).

I have a successful watchman and reduced my Eliquis to 2.5mg BID because I had a nasty 10 day GI bleed and later needed iron IVs

I developed a 2.5cm DVT while in Eliquis half dose. Since 2.5mg didn’t stop the clot from forming or growing, the past 4- 6 months I’ve had been taking 5mg BID.

Last week I had two nasty nosebleeds. The first took 50 minutes of pressure to stop while three days later a new nosebleed wouldn’t stop. After an hour I was vomiting blood and aspirating choking blood from my lungs so I called an ambulance. I filled up a 16iz cup and those blue vomit tubes with blood. While at the hospital the bleeding increased . The hospital had to burn 6 times and I have a lovely tampon shoved and packed in my nose with no instructions how to remove it.

Saturday I started getting severe headaches after Eliquis. The hospital didn’t want me to stop taking it.

I’m on three days of black frequent diarrhea.

My father had 12 strokes and my brother 5. I’m worried with my headaches (wakes me up) that I run the risk of a brain bleed.

I’m curious if I should play doctor and stop Eliquis or reduce it. My primary doctor gave me a lecture that I should stop. He has never heard of a watchman so I don’t know if it’s a red flag.

I took a taxi to the hospital clinics this morning and am camping out at my hematologist office without an appointment plus I emailed him and described my latest bleeds and headaches . I need instructions on Eliquis dosing. Afterwards I have an appointment to see if I need Iron infusions.

If I stop Eliquis for 5 days, can a DVT form and full strength Eliquis won’t be able to dissolve it?

I really hated shooting up my stomach twice a day if I get my third DVT.

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susan.d
If I stop Eliquis for 5 days, can a DVT form and full strength Eliquis won’t be able to dissolve it?

My understanding is that Eliquis and other anticoagulants don't dissolve clots, they help prevent clots from forming or getting larger. Body mechanisms, or other meds (thrombolytics.), dissolve clots.

From WebMD: "Blood thinners don’t dissolve the clot, but they can stop it from getting bigger and keep new ones from forming. That gives your body time to break up the clot."

About a year ago, I had a slight fever and was getting out of breath more easily when working out = Bilateral pulmonary embolism (blood clots in my lungs), and testing show no source. Started taking Eliquis and got back to normal quite fast. My GP suggested staying on Eliquis forever (5mg X 2 day). Because of my history of afib (over 20 years), so Eliquis seemed like a good idea. I don't have afib after two successful ablations, but I don't want a stroke. I seem to bruise a bit more easily, but when cut or jabbed, pretty much normal coagulation.

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Ken
I seem to bruise a bit more easily, but when cut or jabbed, pretty much normal coagulation.

My experience is similar, except when I sliced my finger with a sharp knife fairly deeply cutting veggies. That did take a while to really stop bleeding - not to the point it was a problem, but certainly quite a few minutes to get it stopped.

Susan:

I am sorry for all of the health issues you are going through. I remember that a few years ago when Jackie Burgress started taking a blood thinner she started having nose bleeds, she might see this and tell you what she did.

L

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susan.d

I’m curious if I should play doctor and stop Eliquis or reduce it. My primary doctor gave me a lecture that I should stop. He has never heard of a watchman so I don’t know if it’s a red flag.

Hi Susan - FWIW, examine.com reports that nattokinase can break clots - [examine.com]

George- quite a few minutes is less of Han 3 hours until he hey cauterized the cut 6 times

Thanks liz

Tom-with cancer remission, I can’t have soy. Garden worms I actually like.
[www.consumerlab.com]

I used it for two years until I turned 67 and my cardiologist had warned me I could still get a stroke so I switched to Eliquis

I should also add that I have a history of skin cancers and just had a new basal cell cut off my leg, about nickel size. Cauterized slightly and no bleeding. It's been almost two weeks with no issues other than slow healing, the norm at my age. Eliquis had no impact on this.

I have had many skin biopsies and not one was affected by Eliquis.

I’m on day 2 of half dose. My headaches stopped.

Long time ‘no see’! think I have found you all again.
For what it’s worth I chose to stay on warfarin and monitor myself with regular reports back to hospital clinic …… nice to see some names I recognise.
Best to all, Joyce

I hope you are doing well Joyce!

Ken
Your history of bioateral pulmonary embolism is interesting to me as a physician with AF, now fortunately under control. I have often wondered whether right atrial clots can form secondary to AF and break off into the pulmonary vein into the lungs.When this occurred was there ever any discussion relating the PEs to AF? My research on this indicates it is possible but rarely discussed as a potential outcome due to AF.

Hugging,

When the embolism surfaced, it was 2 years post my last successful ablation. No episodes anywhere near the time of the embolism.

'...break off into the pulmonary vein into the lungs...'

You intended 'arteries', Hugging?