Wellness

[Gooday]

I had a routine checkup with my PCP this morning.  We have a wonderful relationship and I have been with him for 10 years.  I asked him his thoughts about Xerelto and I also asked him if he had any patients that died or had experiences with internal bleeding.

His answer was "NO".  He also stated that the studies and discussion with cardiologists was that people who experienced internal bleeding were 80 and older.

I also asked him what the symptoms of internal bleeding are: he told me rectal bleeding and vomiting blood.  I asked if abdominal pain was a symptom and he told me no.

I just thought I would share this. I see my cardiologist next month and again,  I will ask the same questions.

So, far now, I will continue on the Xerelto and avoid the blood tests and dietary restrictions that go along with Coumadin.  Believe me, I understand that some people feel more comfortable and may have their own medical reasons for staying on Coumadin but, for me, I'll follow my cardiologist's recommendation.

[VaBelle35]

Excellent post.  Thanks for sharing.  You are doing what I would do if I were in this situation.  Talk to all of my specialists and see what they have to say.

I did this about the Shingles Vaccine.  I wanted to hear all of their opinions (all of them said "GET THE SHOT").

[hckynutjohn]

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@Gooday wrote:

I had a routine checkup with my PCP this morning.  We have a wonderful relationship and I have been with him for 10 years.  I asked him his thoughts about Xerelto and I also asked him if he had any patients that died or had experiences with internal bleeding.

His answer was "NO".  He also stated that the studies and discussion with cardiologists was that people who experienced internal bleeding were 80 and older.

I also asked him what the symptoms of internal bleeding are: he told me rectal bleeding and vomiting blood.  I asked if abdominal pain was a symptom and he told me no.

I just thought I would share this. I see my cardiologist next month and again,  I will ask the same questions.

So, far now, I will continue on the Xerelto and avoid the blood tests and dietary restrictions that go along with Coumadin.  Believe me, I understand that some people feel more comfortable and may have their own medical reasons for staying on Coumadin but, for me, I'll follow my cardiologist's recommendation.

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Hi Gooday,

And that is the right thing for you to do. My PCP has changed  twice since my PE and heart attacks, so regardless of what my current PCP might tell me about taking Xerelto, I would not do so. I've had too many life/death issues, and survived them, to go against what I know works for my body.

Internal bleeding? Believe me, I know all about what those signs look like. It of course depends on what is bleeding internally, as some is not visible until it reaches a critical stage. That is what happened to me when I had INR readings of 12.9 and 130.mgdl back in 2009.

No with my colon bleeding? All one has to do is #2 and if it is black? Unless you have eaten licorice(the black kind), chances are the stool will be black, thus leaving no doubt. My suggestion? Get to an ER ASAP.

Regardless of who my PCP may be in the coming years, or if my present Cardiologist retires, there is no way I would take any blood thinner other than Coumadin/Warfarin.

That is what I will do, but my suggestion to others, unless you have the experiences I have had with life/death situations, DO WHAT YOUR DOCTOR tells you to do, PERIOD.

[151949]

John, didn't you already have experience with GI bleeding before Xeralto? I think that would give me pause, but then I had bad experience with Xeralto.

[hckynutjohn]

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@151949 wrote:

John, didn't you already have experience with GI bleeding before Xeralto? I think that would give me pause, but then I had bad experience with Xeralto.

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Hello 151949,

My first bout with colon bleeding started on Memorial day of 2008. I have no idea when Xeralto came on the market. My 1st bout with PE was in late 2002, and that is when my Pulmonologist started me on Coumadin.

I remember because my wife dropped me off at the ER and she and her mother were going visiting several cemeteries to place flowers. My wife had no idea I would be in the hospital for close to a month and 5 Colonoscopies later. She still feels bad about not staying at the ER with me, and I keep telling her she did what I wanted her to do on that day, and to forget about it.

[LilacTree]

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

Excellent post.  Thanks for sharing.  You are doing what I would do if I were in this situation.  Talk to all of my specialists and see what they have to say.

I did this about the Shingles Vaccine.  I wanted to hear all of their opinions (all of them said "GET THE SHOT").

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BUT not if one has autoimmune diseases, as I do.  I was told specifically NOT to get the shot.

[Gooday]

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@LilacTree wrote:

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

Excellent post.  Thanks for sharing.  You are doing what I would do if I were in this situation.  Talk to all of my specialists and see what they have to say.

I did this about the Shingles Vaccine.  I wanted to hear all of their opinions (all of them said "GET THE SHOT").

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BUT not if one has autoimmune diseases, as I do.  I was told specifically NOT to get the shot.

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DH has an autoimmune deficiency in the forms of psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, 3 anti rejections drugs for his kidney transplant.  5 years ago he developed shingles while we were on a road trip.  3 days after he broke out he was able to see his PCP who prescribed pain medication/Lyrica.  He said that since he broke out, the vaccine was usless.  HOWEVER, he strongly advised ME to get the vaccine even thought I was 55 at the time.  It was for both our protection since his immune system will be forever compromised.  Of note, is that DH has had a few episodes of post-herpetic pain because at the time of the original episode, it caused nerve damage from his neck all the way down to his fingertips on one side.

[Suziepeach]

When my husband had hip replacement surgery a few weeks ago, his Ortho prescribed Lovenox per injection, which I gave him each day for 2 weeks after the surgery.  My husband asked him about Xarelto and he said, NOPE there are way too many complications.  Worked for us.