Following a Liver transplant and subsequent ischaemic stroke Four years ago I was prescribed Clopidogrel. Eight weeks ago I had a fall of which I have had many due to the weakness down my right side. I fell in my own garden and hit my right calf on a small tree stump. Five hours later I was in A+E with a deep flesh Haematoma which didnt stop due to Clopidogrel. Sorry for keep mentioning the C. word. My leg swelled till it blistered and eventually split. I spent the next Four days in hospital, being monitored and released into the care of my GP surgery. Within six weeks my leg was Necrotic and I have just undergone a flesh debridement followed by plastic surgery, which I am still being treated for Eight weeks later. The Clopidogrel was stopped during treatment but am I am now back on it on recommendation of the Hospital. Please take this as a warning that this is not just another tablet we take but it can have serious implications from what appeared to be a simple fall. Keep upright. Jerry.
That’s absolutely terrible. There must be some sort of alternative.
Wishing you better times ahead.
BobQ1
Thankyou Bob, but it seems Clopidogrel is the go to blood thinner following a bleed, just worked too well in my case. Hey ho.
I think it’s same risk factors with all brands of blood thinners, because they thin the blood and I think there’s is an alternative for that is there?
@Jerry oh my what a terrible time you went through. I hope you’re doing ok now?
I think all blood thinners would present the same risk due to the nature of what they are taken for. It just goes to show though how careful we need to be around banging ourselves etc.
Really hope you are on the mend now & thank you for sharing your experience.
Best wishes
Ann
Wow - you’ve been through a lot, Jerry. What can I say?
I hope the sun shines for you again.
Please take good care of yourself.
(By the way, keep us updated).
I’ve made an appointment with my GP as the Clopidogrel causes my skin to itch so badly. I scratch my skin during the night and I’m covered in blood in the morning. I’ve cut my fingernails as short as possible and wear little mittens like babies do but I’m still scratching like mad. Honestly I’m not sure what’s worse sometimes, the stroke or the medication they give you afterwards.
Hi all, I have a follow up appointment with the Plastic surgery team at Salisbury Hospital tomorrow, Wed. And I shall ask whether there is an alternative to Clopidogrel that does the same job but maybe with less drastic results following what appeared a simple accident, I will keep you posted. Jerry.
Hi. I also use Clopidogrel. Yes, lots of bruises. Yes, had a BIG haematoma. Was told it’s really important to take because other blood thinners cause even more problems. Was told in the hospital when first was ill, was told that if you had very large bruises, then maybe change to aspirin. Am not sure if it’s the ‘heart’ amount for aspirin. Can’t remember how much. Not the normal usage. So find out before taking. When I had the big haematoma I had been taking aspirin at the same time. NOT a good plan. Lose way too much weakened blood. Don’t do that. I have finally changed doctors, so seem to now have a brilliant one, so hopefully can work out things, including medication, including this one. But if definitely seems to cause problems. But which problem is worse? All a balance. I really do hope that things get better for you. Please speak to a doctor. If yours is not good, or listening, or allowing time to explain or process, see someone else. Don’t be with a bad doctor or bad surgery. Like I was. Our health is more important. There are good ones. But if you have a good one, then get them to really talk and try to work out which is the best one to take or change to a different type of blood thinner. Take care, Carrie
Hi Carrie, thankyou for your comments. I too am taking aspirin and Clopidogrel and as you say could be the problem. The hospital told me to go back and speak with my GP so I shall see how that pan’s out. Watch this space. Jerry.
@Carrie.T just popping by to say hi & welcome to the forum. Hope you find it a great place to be as I do.
It’s interesting reading your experience of clopidogrel too.
I had a short period of time where i was taking clopidogrel & aspirin which was following an episode that had seen me in A&E. They gave me the aspirin as a precaution until they could work out what was happening. Never even gave a thought to how it would affect my blood. Thankfully no issues.
Hope you are doing well on your recovery journey.
Best wishes
Ann x
Hi @Carrie.T just wanted to welcome you to the forum too.
I remember when I was first started on Clopidogrel and got an awful lot of bruising, and the doctor warned me of that. But the reason you’ve just jogged my memory is because I’ve just realised I don’t seem to be getting them anymore.
I wonder if that’s because my stability and coordination have improved so that I’m not constantly bumping and knocking against things or as clumsy anymore
@EmeraldEyes my bruising has settled a bit too although i do still get some pretty random ones.
I wonder if our body gets a bit more used to it.
I put his on another topic somewhere, Jerry, but I was put on Clopidogrel and was so ill - chest pains, breathing etc and the GP said I had to take them but I ended up going to a Consultant dealing with strokes etc and she said if they affect you that much then stop taking them, she said it only gave another few percentage points protection against having another stroke, so that’s what I did, but it’s individual choices. Take care Bert
Hi Bert Thankyou for your comment I will have to have the discussion with my GP if I can get an appointment. Wish me luck. Regards Jerry
Thankyou for your kind comments Ann. My skin grafts are going well, I will just have to take more care in future. Jerry x
I certainly hope your right I’m sure time will tell. Best wishes Jerry.
Thank you! Yes, I also wouldn’t have connected that. We are living (luckily) and learning! Take care, Carrie
Well I am a lot more stable now, balance is at about 85%, yes I still have foot drop but not so much when I’ve got shoes on. So there are times of the day I’m buzzing around now like I’d never had a stroke, when it comes to physical aspects of my stroke. I do go to a strength & balance class once a week and the gym a couple times a week. So yes, I definitely think there is some merit in that thought.
I was on clopidogrel after having an ischemic stroke in 2019. I was lucky that I had very few lingering effects from the stroke. Fast forward to 2022 and I had a much more severe stroke. Still dealing with brain fog and no feeling from my knee down on my right side. My MD took me off that med since as he astutely noted, it didn’t work for me. I hope everyone else who is taking it has better results than me🤞