Coumadin to ICU - Internal Bleeding

I am not sure how long my dad was on coumadin, but it was several years. His Bleed was mistakenly called a stroke until they had open up his head and stop him from bleeding April 16, 2010. After being in and out of the hospital and into a nursing home to Hospice, He finally died July 30, 2010. I think some more research needs to be done on what causes this.

I had a St. Jude's valve put in almost 7 years ago. It's a mechanical valve - so I was put on Cumadin too. About 4 1/2 years ago I became very anemic 6.2 Hemoglobin level. I got multiple blood transfusions the first 2 years - Plus all the G. I. tract tests they could think of ( 3 different times). They were sure I was losing the 2 units of blood a week through the GI tract. WOW! imagine what I thought after going through all those tests - plus many others - to learn that they just couldn't find where the blood was going. Meanwhile I was having to get Iron infusions every week for the past 2 years ( at $1,000 each)- just to be able to produce enough blood to stay alive. I went to many Cardiologists, from Reno to SLC - none of them would even consider it was the coumadin that was causing the internal bleeding. I went to Hemotologists that said the same thing. Everyone wanted me to continue the Iron infusions for the rest of my life - they said I didn't have a realistic option. They were wrong!! I got copies of all my record - every one. I compiled them into sections - then I poured through them - guess what - I found it had to be the coumadin - there was no other explanation. I was very blessed to be put in touch with a heart surgeon in Salt Lake City that took the 2 hours to review my records, and agreed with my own assesment. It took 2 months to convince the insurance company to allow open heart surgery - but I finally got the valve replaced with a pig valve. I'm been off the coumadin for 6 weeks and haven't lost any blood. I haven't had any Iron infusions and I'm healing much faster than my last surgery. I was out of the hospital in 5 days and walking a 1/2 mile in 7. My liver is healing - and I feel better than I have in almost 10 years. Do whatever you have to and get
off coumadin. If you don't bleed to death - you will ruin your Liver, spleen, and pancrease. The doctors will never admit it when they've made a mistake. Your hospital works for the pharmasuitical companies. They are there to make lots of money - not heal you. Their goal is to make you dependant on the drugs the companies supply. Be very warry, and don't take anything they say at face value - research it out for yourself - get informed and lets help each other.

DANGER!
WARNING!!
RISK OF DEATH!!!
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS TAKING THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG;
Coumadin
BE AWARE!!!
New Warfarin (Brand Name – Coumadin) Side Effects Found: Increased Risk of a Stroke -- a Bleeding Brain Stroke
READ THE FACTS AND THE STORY @:

(For Free)
http://www.healthdiscoveries.net/WarfarinSide...

(The Full Report Costs $20.00, and is copyright protected)
http://www.neurology.org/content/71/14/1084.f...

(THIS DRUG JUST KILLED MY SISTER ON November 2, 2010, AND I AM ON A MISSION TO SEE THIS DRUG PULLED FROM DISTRIBUTION!!– L. WISE)

Newly discovered warfarin side effects include causing strokes from bleeding.

University of Cincinnati researchers have published a study in the medical journal Neurology, saying that:

• Bleeding in the brain, or bleeding strokes, increased fivefold among people who took a widely prescribed blood thinner called warfarin, known by the brand name Coumadin.

• The use of this drug, they report, has led to a soaring number of strokes caused by bleeding to the brain -- potentially offsetting warfarin's benefits, particularly among patients over the age of 80.

This research, headed by Matthew Flaherty, a UC neurologist, shows that the number of hemorrhagic strokes jumped five-fold between 1988 and 1999.

• In people over the age of 80, the rate of getting a stroke soared eighteen-fold.

I am on coumadin and I beleave strongly that the people trying to get money from the drug companys are stupid, This drug helps many people and I am a story of that. It saved my life and still year after my shooting to the stomach is still keeping me from getting a blood clot and dieing.. To all of you trying to get money from a death that could of been your family members fault. Needs to quite trying to live off of a death and get a job. Blood thiners should be monitored at least 2 times if not 3 times a month. Thank you this is all I have to say about the matter.

Angela wrote:

I do agree. Coumadin saves lives and certainly has saved mine, and continues to save mine. I do not wish any lawsuits against the drugmakers, nor do I want for my lifesaver to be banished from the market.
I think doctors and nurses need to make sure patients are well educated and continue to educate and work with them, no matter how much time that takes.
And patients need to stick to whatever their doctor and nurses tell them and if they develop problems, to speak up and head for the ER.
And unfortunately, occasionally things do go wrong, but they do that with any drug. I am very sorry for those that have to go through this kind of thing, and my heart breaks for those that have lost a loved one this way.
But please, don't fight to get this drug off the market, because for so many of us, it's the only thing we've got. Please understand our position too.
As for Manhattanite, I understand your feelings (well, I think I do) but can we please keep our language on this forum clean. I think many of us agree with what you are saying, but it would be better you didn't swear......
Thanks all and Happy New Year!

Could you tell us how long you have been taking Coumidin?

WEll I agree with Angela this drug saves my life I am 43 and will be on for life Lovenox can not help me and I keep up on my INRs but everything in life is a risk......dont go after the companys everyone know s the dangers........

Angela wrote:

I do agree. Coumadin saves lives and certainly has saved mine, and continues to save mine. I do not wish any lawsuits against the drugmakers, nor do I want for my lifesaver to be banished from the market.
I think doctors and nurses need to make sure patients are well educated and continue to educate and work with them, no matter how much time that takes.
And patients need to stick to whatever their doctor and nurses tell them and if they develop problems, to speak up and head for the ER.
And unfortunately, occasionally things do go wrong, but they do that with any drug. I am very sorry for those that have to go through this kind of thing, and my heart breaks for those that have lost a loved one this way.
But please, don't fight to get this drug off the market, because for so many of us, it's the only thing we've got. Please understand our position too.
As for Manhattanite, I understand your feelings (well, I think I do) but can we please keep our language on this forum clean. I think many of us agree with what you are saying, but it would be better you didn't swear......
Thanks all and Happy New Year!

TJ4esta wrote:

I cannot say anything bad about coumadin. On one hand, I have my father who is a stroke victom. He is on coumadin for about 18 years and never had to change dosages. On the other hand, I have my mother, who had a mitro valve put in in 1994. Her levels have not stabalized ever. And that could be why she is bleeding internally. If not for the surgery and the medicine, we probably would have lost her in 1994. So I have to be gratefull. But, I still need to get her off the medacine now. Has anyone heard of an alternate equivalent? Or, Does anyone know of a specialist in NYC?

My mom has been on coumadin for about 5 years due to atrial fib. She has had GI bleeds throughout this time and they are unable to determine where the bleed is coming from. Hello! Its coming from the coumadin, they keep saying the coumadin shouldnt cause as much bleeding as she is having. thank god she is very proactive and in tune to her body. She checks her bowel movement everytime she has one for blood (this is where she finds it) then she contacts the doctor they have been taking her off the drug and then she quits bleeding so this last time they kept her on it and had her swallow a little camera and evaluate. They saw a bleed in her lower intestines, did a colonoscopy and found nothin. Of course she wasnt on the coumadin for two days prior so they found nothing.

Anyway, I have done some research and found there is a promising alternative drug called Rivaroxaban that is suppose to decrease the risk of bleeding events.

Hope this helps.

Georgie wrote:

My husband has been taking Coumadin and has had two blood transfusions in the last few months, he's also in Afib and they are sure he is bleeding somewhere but don't know where. He's been cutting down his pills every other day as he knows himself that the coumadin isn't doing him any good. You think the drs would know how bad this drug is. Was reading that there is pomagrant extract that stops clotting anyone ever hear anything about that? We're at wits end.

I know its been a while since your post but my father-in-law was put on Coumadin for a blood clot after surgery and he is 84. He now has severe internal bleeding and they don't know where. They put an umbrella in his vein to stop the blood clot which they could have done in the beginning. It was an easy surgery lest than 20 min and instead gave him this drug that I think possibly may take his life. I was wondering if your husband's bleeding ever stopped?

I am a new zealander, been on warfarin 2 yrs after artifical aortic valve op, and I really want to stop. the hassles, constant blood tests, does anyone know what the outlook is if I just stop the drug? Iseem to be one of those who it doesnt suit. Dr was upset when I suggeted it, I am not suitable for the new drug that replaces warfarin.

anxious wrote:

<quoted text>
I know its been a while since your post but my father-in-law was put on Coumadin for a blood clot after surgery and he is 84. He now has severe internal bleeding and they don't know where. They put an umbrella in his vein to stop the blood clot which they could have done in the beginning. It was an easy surgery lest than 20 min and instead gave him this drug that I think possibly may take his life. I was wondering if your husband's bleeding ever stopped?

"They put an umbrella in his vein to stop the blood clot which they could have done in the beginning."
There is a recall on certain filters used to clot blood. Please see if this problem applies to your father-in-law's situation.
Don't wait. The clock is ticking. The statute of limitations to file suit is only 3 yrs.
Recovery IVC Filter May Splinter, Sending Deadly Shards to Heart or Lungs
http://www.filterrecall.com/

My father died last week from a massive brain hemorrhage, due directly to his INR levels being over 6.5. An increase in his coumadin caused the high levels. There should be more monitoring and strict guidelines to help in decreasing these kind of deaths. The health professionals should also be held more accountable in these situations. Coumadin probably helped my father live 15 years longer, but ultimately the way it was monitored killed him. I am hoping we can find some justice to his premature death, but it looks like they make it so difficult to file a claim that many people continue to die from the administering of this drug. Has anyone else had a similiar situation? Has anyone had a positive outcome from filing a claim against the professionals who are supposed to monitor the INR levels, and keep them at a therapeutic dose?

My husband had a gastroscopy/colonoscopy last week to find the source of internal bleeding, after a diagnosis of symptomatic anaemia. For 3 days prior to the procedure he stopped taking Coumadin. His INR dropped to something like 1.1 or 1.2 immediately prior to procedure and no bleed was found on examination during the procedure. However, 2 days later, there's blood in the stool. It absolutely has to be the medication. His original clotting was in a brachial artery 8 months ago and since then despite 4 surgical interventions plus the gastroscopy/colonoscopy last week, there's still been no diagnosis of where the clot originated from: the vascular surgeon didn't think it was thrown from the heart I am in Australia and really would appreciate someone suggesting what questions I should be asking, etc. Can he change from coumadin to something else?

carole griffiths wrote:

I am a new zealander, been on warfarin 2 yrs after artifical aortic valve op, and I really want to stop. the hassles, constant blood tests, does anyone know what the outlook is if I just stop the drug? Iseem to be one of those who it doesnt suit. Dr was upset when I suggeted it, I am not suitable for the new drug that replaces warfarin.

Carole, I took coumadin for 2 straight years and had nothing but problems. I'm not waiting until I get a stroke from this poison.

I switched to Nattokinase and Omega 3 fatty acids. I also eat as much green veg as I like.

Please look at these links to see if they may be helpful. I haven't had another episode since I STOPPED taking this stuff. My doctor is frustrated but knows better than to lecture me.

www.smart-publications.com/articles/nattokina...

www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/wuso-...

www.donabee.com/health/elderly.htm

Please let me know if they were helpful. Thanks