Bleeding While On Blood Thinner

Perhaps your blood thinner dose is too high? Some blood thinners can be very tricky to dose correctly, and may need to be adjusted gradually with repeated blood tests. Can you consult (perhaps by phone) with whichever doctor is responsible for your blood thinner prescription?

I'm currently on Eliquis which doesn't need to be monitored like some of the other blood thinners to make sure the dosing is correct.  Maybe I'd have better luck with a different blood thinner though?  That seems to be at least worth exploring.

Hi Dharma,

In the midst of a nasty flare which ended in getting a jpouch, I had a DVT form in my right leg. The doctors think this was due to all the inflammation, lack of movement and a slight genetic predisposition. For a few months before and immediately after my first surgery (to remove the colon), I was on Enoxaparin self injections. About a month after surgery I was able to switch to 10mg/day Xarelto tablet as a maintenance dose. I never experienced bleeding from my rectum that could be contributed to the blood thinners. Additionally, I wouldn't say there's been a noticeable change in the viscosity of my blood. They didn't remove all of the clot and from my understanding it was quite large. I have no qualms being on a maintenance dose for the rest of my life. I agree with Scott that you should reach out to your doctor to inquire about a lower dose.

Hi Dharma,

I think blood thinners and IBD can be quite a challenging combination and you really need a doc that knows their stuff.

I’ve had a few challenges over the years both with medication and doctors that didn’t quite appreciate the nuances of IBD. I have also learned that what works now won’t necessarily always work for me, therefore ongoing monitoring and reviewing strategy is key.

As an example, I am currently on enoxaparin daily injections to treat another clot in my leg. I seem to have grown intolerant to Rivaroxaban, despite handling it okay for over 2 yrs it started to cause excessive gastro bleeding and moderate to severe anaemia. Dabigitran never worked for me.

After a few too many hospital admissions over this I’ve booked in to see a specialist with a good level of experience with IBD, gastrointestinal bleeding and anaemia.

I hope that helps and that you can get some good advice too.

Rob