Blood Clots - Please be vigilant!
You could save the life of your Loved One!! After my Mom's bath yesterday morning, I was rubbing her legs down with lotion. One calf just didn't feel right - it was "tight." I can't really give a better description, but my gut told me something was wrong. She had another issue too, so I called her doc and asked if we could come in right away. Fortunately, they had an opening. We were sent to the hospital for a Doppler scan of her leg; then we were immediately transferred to the ER. She had a blood clot from her knee to her ankle!! This is our third episode with blood clots but the first time that I was the one to catch it.
Caregivers - please make sure you know your loved ones bodies, trust your gut and act immediately. I'm not a nurse and I became my Mom's caregiver on a wing and a prayer. I've learned more than I ever wanted to know about the many things that are wrong with her but I thank God every day that I have trusted my intuition and learned as much as I could about how to care for her. I know that death will eventually come, but I really don't want her to die on my watch if there is something I could have done to prevent it.
To varying degrees, any medication that thins your blood to avoid blood clots, gives the possibility of bleeding too much in a fall or an accident.
The best advice I can give you on the subject of blood thinners is to keep I contact with your primary care doctor. Any one that he recommend will likely have to be adjusted over time if you get a lot of bruises. Also, in case of falls, know that you are more likely to bleed and seek attention even for a little fall.
Knowledge is power! Ask your primary care to explain each option until you understand, and take a family member with you to help remember. I often take my spouse so that we have two sets of ears and two sets of questions. :)
A blood clot to my lung sent me straight to the emergency room three years ago. I was having trouble breathing while talking. So I was put on Coumadin and shots and then just Coumadin. For over three years I have been on Coumadin. Then it was discovered I had breast cancer, and was off Coumadin 9 days before surgery. (mastectomy). Now I am past surgery but the cancer doctor has put me on a 10 mg of xarelto..I have heard it has been discouraged due to dangers of serious bleeding, especially if I fell or was in a wreck. Some of my doctors advise Xarelto and some Coumadin. what's the answer? marymember