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.
I know many of you have gotten off Warfarin in the past and are back on it or have gotten off it and are living life blood therapy free. I am in need of some advice. I am finally at that 6 month marker and although I have all the fears many of you have also expressed, I am ready to be done with Warfarin. The symptoms are not worth the security. I feel like I am living half a life. Constant body pains, hair loss, aching legs and arms (whenever my INR is too high)..I am ready to (nervously) take the plunge back into a Warfarin-free life. I am doing lots of research on what types of foods and herbs are best to protect me from future blood clots. For example, eating foods that help thin your blood (strawberries, onions, ginger, garlic) on a regular basis and exercise (a requirement to prevent blood clots on every website I have looked at). I am wondering what information all of you have, or experiences you have had coming off Warfarin. What worked for you?
I have found conflicting information about whether eating vitamin k rich foods can be harmful (whether in excess or small doses). I also was thinking that if you did eat lots of vitamin k rich foods, isnt there vitamins/herbs that you can take that could counteract the vitamin k..I cant remember where I was reading about it (will have to look it back up) but there is a vitamin that counteracts vitamin ks role in blood clotting (maybe vitamin A)?
Anyways, ANY and ALL information is helpful. I am nervous about it, but I am determine to get my life back again.
I have found conflicting information about whether eating vitamin k rich foods can be harmful (whether in excess or small doses). I also was thinking that if you did eat lots of vitamin k rich foods, isnt there vitamins/herbs that you can take that could counteract the vitamin k..I cant remember where I was reading about it (will have to look it back up) but there is a vitamin that counteracts vitamin ks role in blood clotting (maybe vitamin A)?
Anyways, ANY and ALL information is helpful. I am nervous about it, but I am determine to get my life back again.
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Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
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We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
With regards to dietary measures, I think that's kind of a waste of time, personally. Eat what you normally would eat. The beauty of being off warfarin is that you don't have to worry about diet. Besides, if foods and supplements were really effective at preventing us from clotting, none of us would need to take warfarin, or possibly have clotted in the first place.
I think if you don't have to be on warfarin, get off the stuff. I know others feel secure on it, but I am of the mind that if there's no real medical justification for being on it, why take a medication. Good luck!!
I am totally with you on this one. I am scared, but sooo ready to be done with warfarin. I've had the same symptoms... hair loss, body aches, chills, fatigue, dizziness. I am at a point now where i get so angry with that dang pill I'm actually glad I can't swallow it because I get to crush the crap out of it before I take it. I am going to work with my naturopath to find out what I might be able to do to avoid future clots. Fish oil is in my future for sure, although I'm hoping I can find a vegetable variety of EFAs since I can't swallow pills and there isn't much that tastes worse than fish oil in applesauce! She also mentioned some proteolytic enzymes that help break down scar tissue and clots. Not sure it I want to go that route, but I have enough scar tissue in my body with my surgeries, dislocated knee, etc. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try. I did ask my doc about vitamin K after warfarin. She said eating too much vitamin K shouldn't make a difference. A certain amount is needed for normal clotting, excess will not cause more clotting. I have 43 more days of warfarin... getting down there, but still seems like so long. Please keep us posted once you do come off... I would love to know if some of your symptoms go away and how quickly! Good luck to you!
JennerM, WOW! Thanks for all that information. So interesting to find out what other peoples' doctors are saying and the different options and tips. I will keep you posted when I come off, please let me know if you get any other information. I have not heard of using the proteolytic enzymes.....what are the risks?
I had heard that often times the chest pain can remain. That does seem scary to me. Have you found any food, natural alternative that helps with that?
With my first DVT, I came off warfarin at six months but I still saw significant improvement in terms of pain and swelling up until two years.
Personally, I'm not convinced that the warfarin affects the healing that much. It keeps more clots from forming during the acute stage so you can start healing, but once you've been on for six months or so I think your body is pretty well on its way with that, regardless of whether you continue with the anticoagulants or not.