Pulmonary Embolism Support Group

By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory instability and death.

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Body Changes

lifeat27
lifeat27
Hi Forum Family -

I am going on week four of Coumadin, but haven't hit a therapeutic level yet. My current INR is 1.8. I am still on the Lovenox shots and taking a beta blocker. All of this being said, I am noticing some interesting changes in my body and I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing anything similar.

I'm noticing that my veins are more visible, as if my skin has become more transparent, and I am getting more broken capillaries. Of course, I am not stoked about this. As if this entire experience isn't hard enough, additional battery of my self esteem is really not necessary!

I am wondering if anyone else experienced this. I know not being able to clot and repair broken capillaries could explain the broken capillaries and their visibility, but I seem to have so much more now. As for the visible veins through my skin....I can't think of any logical explanation for that to start happening.

A few other changes I have noticed is constant bags under my eyes, peeling of skin randomly on my body and my hair feels more brittle, but I haven't been losing more hair than usual. Actually, it almost seems like I have been losing less hair than usual this last week, which seemed strange.....

I would also love to hear what other people are experiencing physically and what they have done to remedy any of it. Thanks!
deleted_user
deleted_user
yep it took 3 months for my i.n.r to get stable.
my veins are doing the same thing and even tho they are easy to be seen the doc still has trouble getting blood out of them.
i feel so much more tyred since i started warfrin and have these hudge bags under my eyes....i found coffee helps with the tyredness.

once my i.n.r got stable i got diorea i have had it for two months now so watch out for it
TossNTurn
TossNTurn
I have visible veins on my legs where my DVT was. Mostly it was just the development of collateral veins so my body could move blood past my clot (which is still there, BTW). Can't say I've had any of these other symptoms, although I know I let a lot of things go in terms of personal care until I felt well enough to do them again.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've definitely noticed my veins seem way more visible. I thought I was just crazy, so it's nice to know someone else is experiencing that too. I also seem to be losing my hair a bit more than usual, but that could be stress. I've had that happen before. I have noticed my skin is really dry, but not sure if it's just because it's winter or if it's the meds. Who knows.
Lynnedz56
Lynnedz56
My hair is a lot dryer. I haven't noticed the veins, but I was on prednisone and was told that can make the skin "thinner". Actually, the hematologist told me that broken veins are a sign of someone more prone to DVTs. Never heard that before. But I have many broken veins on my feet and have had them. He said vericose veins are also a sign of someone prone to DVTs. You learn something new every day.
deleted_user
deleted_user
my hair is falling out LIKE CRAZY!!!!
lifeat27
lifeat27
My skin was definitely more dry than normal, too, but I have been really diligent about putting lotion on everyday. It is a pain in the butt, but seems to be paying off.

As for the dry/brittle hair. I have only been washing my hair every other day in hopes of helping remedy that. :( Ugh
deleted_user
deleted_user
I most definitely have drier skin and am becoming paler by the day (if that's possible - I was pale to begin with). I also have this really weird sensation of my skin crawling? Maybe that's not the right word... Random twitches?

I'm a week into my shots (still haven't hit the therapeutic range) and have decided to mostly ignore the strange sensations but be vigilant with the painful/uncomfortable ones.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've certainly noticed the dry skin thing. My face felt and looked like I had a chemical burn for about a week. It seems to be doing better now using Nivea skin cream and hydrocortisone ointment. Just one more extra little joy thrown on top of this whole mess.

I really haven't noticed any vein changes or hair loss, but my eyes do seem a little baggier. I think the eye bags are more a symptom of the sheer exhaustion that comes along with the healing process, especially only being about a month out from diagnosis.
rmb
rmb
Warfarin has caused my hair to thin a little bit, but keeping it trimmed regularly makes it look and feel healthy. My nails also got ridges in them after the PE, but that may have been from another health issue I have.

To be honest, I think right after the PE, we notice EVERYTHING including stuff we'd probably never notice had we not been on warfarin.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The most lingering and consistent change I have noticed whilst on warfarin (been on it for almost 9 months now) is that my arms and legs often feel cold to the touch.
deleted_user
deleted_user
For me my hair has gotten super thin but I also have PCOS which causes hair loss so it could be that along with the lovenox shots. Since I've been on the shots I am always super cold. My mom told me today to turn the heater down in the car because I was burning her out, opps my bad, lol. For me it's mainly the thinning hair, coldness and exhaustion. Blah the exhaustion is the worse.
Jean1014
Jean1014
When I first started, I had hives and also really dry skin. My face was literally flaking. Disgusting. However, all of that disappeared after about 3 months.

I do think my hair is a bit thinner, but that could also very well be because I have gotten lazy and always just throw it up in a pony tail. :o)

Definitely have the exhaustion/fatigue but I lean towards it being the whole ordeal as oppossed to just the warfarin.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been on warfarin for two years and have noticed thinning of the hair and dry skin along with chronic fatigue. I have wondered if part of that was now being in my 70s. Also have many more tag end warts.

I try to get the sleep I need, bought a humidifier and am using more enriched body creams after a shower. Can't do much more but I would rather be called a "lifer" on warfarin than to have more PEs.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Just over two months on Warfarin and I've noticed lots of changes as well. My hair is very brittle and falling out like mad. I can see my scalp in a few places and it's really freaking me out. However, I was told that when the Warfarin leaves my body, my hair should thicken back up. I sure hope so. Also, I have dark circle and bags under my eyes, and am always tired. Never had those before. Skin is dry, veins...nice and purple..Oh and I get cold very easily too.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Just over two months on Warfarin and I've noticed lots of changes as well. My hair is very brittle and falling out like mad. I can see my scalp in a few places and it's really freaking me out. However, I was told that when the Warfarin leaves my body, my hair should thicken back up. I sure hope so. Also, I have dark circle and bags under my eyes, and am always tired. Never had those before. Skin is dry, veins...nice and purple..Oh and I get cold very easily too.
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