Sick After A Blood Clot? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Woman who looks like she is shivering with a cold or flu.

If you get sick with a cold or flu after a blood clot, it can feel more miserable than normal, and it can also feel like you don’t have options for symptomatic relief from coughing, fever, a runny nose, sore throat, or headache. Many medications – both over-the-counter and prescription – can interfere with blood thinners, especially warfarin, so many people may avoid taking them all together. However, if you are sick with an illness, it is often necessary to treat it, or to treat uncomfortable symptoms. Finding relief – and feeling better – are important. If you get sick after a blood clot, there are things you can do to feel better as soon as possible and get back to being healthy.

If You’re Sick After A Blood Clot, Talk to Your Doctor First

Being sick after a blood clot can be awful. Last year, I had the (respiratory) flu for the first time in my life, and it was the worst I have felt since my pulmonary embolism. At one point, I actually thought I may never recover, and that is how I knew something was going on beyond a normal cold. I had a fever, chills, body aches, coughing, a runny nose, sore throat, and a headache that scared me. My symptoms came on suddenly one afternoon, starting with a headache and a sore throat, while I was sitting at my desk. It felt like I was fine one minute and the next, I could barely make it to bed. Everything hurt.

After feeling this way for two days, I made an appointment to see my primary care physician. My husband drove me to the appointment, because I couldn’t do much of anything beyond make it to the car one step at a time. It was all too reminiscent of how I felt when I had my PE. My doctor confirmed I had the flu virus, and gave me some suggestions for managing my symptoms, which he said should subside in a few days to a week. We decided not to treat it with medication, since I was already halfway through it. He also told me if I wasn’t feeling any better in a week, or if my symptoms got worse, I needed to come back to see him. Being a respiratory virus, it is important to monitor the flu for further complications that may require hospitalization to treat, like bronchitis and pneumonia.

If you’re sick after a blood clot, don’t wait to talk to your doctor. Many illnesses can be treated – and their duration and severity shortened – with prompt medical care. I see my doctor if I have something that makes me ill for more than a few days. I also see him pretty quickly if I have anything respiratory going on. Talk to your doctor about when to see him or her in your situation.

Tips to Help You Feel Better When You’re Sick After A Blood Clot

Teapot and a steaming cup of tea.

In addition to working with your doctor, there are some things you can do at home to feel better when you are sick.

  1. Eat whole, healthy foods that feel good and nourish your body. That’s why, for most people, a steaming cup of soup broth tastes better when you are sick than when you are well (or when it is really cold outside – hello Midwest life). Remember, if you’re taking warfarin, don’t drastically change your diet. I make sure I am eating protein, yogurt, vegetables, broths, berries, and fruits (which are all part of my normal diet too).
  2. Stay well hydrated – with water. The last thing you want on top of an illness is more problems from dehydration. I also like hot tea with honey. and an electrolyte drink if I’m drinking larger than normal amounts of water, or for a little flavor. I try to avoid excessive sugar and caffeine. I steer clear of alcohol when I don’t feel well.
  3. Talk to your pharmacist (or doctor) about over-the-counter symptomatic relief. Chances are, there is a product you can take, even on blood thinners (even on warfarin). Your pharmacist will help you. They are a great, and often underutilized, resource. Mine gave me over-the-counter options for a clearing my sinuses that I didn’t even know I had. It worked, and my INR didn’t change.
  4. Breathe steamy water, use warm wash cloths or ice packs on your face, or saline rinses or sprays to relieve congestion and discomfort. I like to take a hot shower when I don’t feel well and breathe in all the heat and humidity.
  5. Look up over-the-counter drug interactions online, in addition to talking to your doctor or pharmacist. The information is out there and easy to access. You can use a resource like www.drugs.com. You should also read the product labels on any medications you are taking, and ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the information. They are specific instructions about contraindications and potential interactions listed on all over-the-counter drugs.

You Know What They Say About Prevention

Soapy hands being washed.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true during cold and flu season too. Take preventative measures to keep yourself from getting sick in the first place, if at all possible: Wash or sanitize your hands, wipe down the shopping cart, avoid touching your face/nose/mouth, avoid places and people where you might be exposed to illnesses or germs, and wear a mask if you think you might be exposed to illness or germs, like at a doctor’s office, hospital, or on a plane. Be sure to also ask your doctor if a flu shot would benefit you.

You can cut down on seasonal allergies and sinus issues by taking your shoes off when you enter the house, showering if you have been outside and exposed to pollens or grass, and by cleaning your home’s air vents/ducts and heating and cooling systems on a regular basis. Also, don’t wear your clothes that you wore outside and in public in your bed or to sleep in.

Be Smart About Changes

If you notice any changes in your health, or if you’re not getting better in a reasonable length of time, make an appointment with your doctor. If anything changes in my respiratory status (cough, congestion, breathing), or I’m not better in a few days, I make an appointment to see my primary care doctor immediately. If you can’t get a hold of your doctor, or if you have symptoms that concern you, go to an urgent care or the hospital. An urgent care is a great place to go to get immediate medical help for common illnesses and viruses that don’t require a hospital visit. If you have signs or symptoms of a blood clot in your lung, seek emergency medical care by calling 9-1-1 or going to the closest hospital.

Some illnesses require prescribed medications to treat and in some situations, it may still be necessary to take a medication, even if there are potential interactions with your blood thinner. It doesn’t mean those interactions will occur, but it does mean you need to be aware of the potential for them to occur.

Work with your doctor to identify any issues that are cause for concern, and know what symptoms to watch out for. If you’re taking warfarin, for example, you may need to have your INR monitored more frequently while you are taking a cold or flu medication or an antibiotic – and your dosage temporarily adjusted – to ensure your INR remains in range. Taking an anticoagulant should not be a reason for not taking care of your health, and your doctor can help you work through those challenges to stay, or get, healthy again.

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

Reader Writes In: Have you been sick with a cold or flu after a blood clot? If so, how did you handle it? Please remember: We can’t make medications or treatment recommendations here, but we can share personal stories.

Share your story in the comments below.

Computer keyboard and a cup of coffee.

FAQs and Contact Me

How to Prepare for Your First Follow-Up Appointment

It can be very overwhelming and scary in the hospital, much less after you are discharged and on your own. After four days in intensive care battling for my life and nearly a week total in the hospital, I was in no frame of mind to ask questions about what happened to me when the time came – much less understand what was needed in terms of follow-up care. I was on some pretty intensive pain relievers and remember everything being very cloudy.  One day, I fell asleep while talking with my father with half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my mouth. I couldn’t carry on a conversation or keep my eyes open for more than a few moments at a time. I remember my first follow-up appointment vividly.  My husband went with me and thought of a few questions I did not.  I was overwhelmed, scared and very grateful to have a hematologist who had answers to most of my questions before I even knew to ask them. I know not everyone is that fortunate so I have put together a list of questions to ask your doctor on your first follow-up appointment.

Tips for your first follow-up appointment:
  1. Take someone with you, if you can. It can be hard to remember of retain what is being discussed.
  2. Take a notepad with you for the same reasons. Do not be afraid to write things down!
  3. Carry records with you from other doctors/hospitalizations that you want your current doctor to know about or have copies of.
  4. Take your list of questions printed ahead of time (or print this list out for reference).
  5. Schedule your next visit prior to leaving. Even if you are given the option, don’t wait so you don’t forget.

Once you are ready for your follow-up appointment, here are some questions you may consider asking, especially early-on in your treatment and diagnosis.

Follow-Up Appointment Questions*

How serious is the extent of the damage from my clotting incident (PE/DVT)?
  • Were any of my organs damaged (heart, lung, etc.) and if so, do I need to take any additional steps to treat?
  • What is the extent of the damage to my veins?
  • Do I (or when do I) need to get a follow-up scan to check the status of the (above) issues?
How will my clot affect my home and work life?
  • When can I return to work?
  • Will I need any special accommodations at work like a chair, stool or the ability to move around?
  • When can I return to exercise? How often and how intense?
  • Do I have any lifting restrictions?
  • Do I have any dietary restrictions?
  • Do I have any travel restrictions?
  • Can I get pregnant and/or breastfeed?
  • What types of over-the-counter medications can I take?
  • Do I need to make any lifestyle changes? (i.e. smoking, diet, exercise, etc.)
What caused my clot?
  • Request testing for genetic and autoimmune clotting conditions? (i.e. Factor V, MTHFR, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, etc.)
  • Based on the cause, what are my chances of a reoccurrence of a clot? What do I need to be aware of if a reoccurrence should occur?
  • Do I need to see a(nother) specialist? (i.e. Hematologist, Rheumatologist, Pulmonologist, Neurologist, etc. [Please note: Based on my personal experience, I recommend seeing a Hematologist, especially if you are facing any genetic or autoimmune clotting conditions]
  • Do  I need to be concerned for any family members, including children, who may be at risk for this condition?
Who is the primary contact for my ongoing care?
  • Do I need regular blood draws (INR checks) and where should I go to get those done?
  • What is the procedure for INR checks? (i.e. Are they scheduled or walk-ins? Do you call for results or does the doctor contact you? Etc.)
What is the short-term and long-term prognosis for my condition/future clotting?
  • What can I expect to feel physically in the next month, three months, six months, etc.?
  • What can I expect to feel emotionally in the next month, three months, six months, etc.?
  • How will I know I am improving? How will I know I am not improving?
  • How long can you expect my leg to recover? My lung to recover?
  • What long-term complications do I need to be aware of?
What is the course of treatment for my diagnosis?
  • Do I need to schedule any follow-up scans or tests at this time?
  • What options do I have for treatment? (i.e. different medications)
What medications will I need to take?
  • Who manages my medication?
  • What are the benefits and risks of taking this medication?
What is your preferred method of contact? (i.e. phone, email, fax, etc.)
What types of incidents/concerns do I need to alert you of? (i.e. If I fall and hit my head; If I cut myself; If I take an over-the-counter medication, etc.)
Can you provide any resources for further reading?

Share your story. Do you have any questions to add? Did you ask your doctor any of these questions? What was the hardest question for you to ask? Did your physician take the time to talk to you about your concerns or did you feel dismissed?

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

0-BLOG SIGNATURE SARA

*Please note, these questions are meant to serve as a guideline based on questions I either asked at my follow-up appointment(s) or wished I had asked. What you ultimately discuss is between you and your medical team.  

 

 

 

 

How long will I have to take blood thinners?

how long will i have to take blood thinners

It can be very overwhelming in the days, weeks and even months following initial diagnosis of a blood clot in the leg, thigh or pelvis (DVT) or lung (PE). Initial treatment generally involves extensive hospitalization; a battery of tests including blood draws, scans and X-rays; perhaps thrombolytic therapy or clot-busting drugs to break up clots inside your blood vessels; or even surgery to place a filter in the groin area or to address an underlying and more critical issue at hand. Most, if not all, patients are put on anticoagulants – or blood thinners – for some amount of time ranging from a few weeks to a lifetime. Blood thinners decrease your blood’s ability to clot. They’re used to stop blood clots from getting larger and prevent clots from forming. Blood thinners do not break up blood clots that have already formed (the body dissolves most clots with time). As time goes by, the question soon becomes just how long will I have to take blood thinners?

It was one of the first questions on my mind once I could think clearly and for me, it did not come until after I was discharged from the hospital and was sitting in my hematologist’s office for my first follow-up appointment. I was more than hesitant when I asked then and just yesterday at my 16 month follow-up appointment, how long will I have to take blood thinners?

The answer was the same then as it was yesterday – I will have to take blood thinners for the rest of my life, due Antiphospholipid Syndrome. APS is an autoimmune disorder in which the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodies against them, particularly in the blood, which causes clotting. I had slim hope that something would have changed in the last year, but it did not; while APS antibodies do come and go, the risk of them developing and producing another PE are too great to ever stop taking blood thinners.

Still, others will be on blood thinners for much less time or may go on and off blood thinners at different times in their lives. In fact, there are as many variables affecting how long a patient will have to take blood thinners as there are patients with blood clots. It all depends on the individual and most importantly, the reason for the blood clots to begin with. If you don’t know why you developed a blood clot, request a panel of tests to determine if there are any genetic or autoimmune factors that may have contributed to the clot as this can be critical in determining how long you need to take blood thinners.

In patients with an easily identified and reversible cause of a deep vein thrombosis (such as a recent surgery, strictly birth control pills, etc.) 4 to 6 weeks of therapy may be sufficient. Many patients who experience a DVT or PE with no identifiable cause (unprovoked) or strictly as a result of birth control may only be on blood thinners until initial concerns with the clot are resolved or birth control is stopped. This may be a few weeks at most.

For cases in which the risk of developing new blood clots remains high (such as in patients with certain cancers or even genetic factors, pregnancy, etc.), anticoagulant therapy may need to be continued for months to years.

In the case of someone with recurring clots (genetic or autoimmune disorders or additional medical complications that may contribute to clotting), he or she may need to take blood thinners lifelong (http://preventdvt.org).

Doctors may recheck the leg and/or lungs with a Doppler imaging scan (or ultrasound) between 3 and 6 months after the initial clot. There would not be enough change to require a scan any sooner than that and keep in mind; your clots may never completely dissolve, resulting in residual scar tissue that may always be visible through medical scanning.

Most patients who have suffered from a PE and/or DVT are placed on blood thinning medications for 3-6 months as a general guideline. Again, it is of vital importance to discuss reasons for clotting with your doctor as well as your individual risk for a recurrence. Both will help to determine what your appropriate length of treatment should be.

Share your story. How long do you have to take blood thinners and for what reason? Did you expect to take blood thinners for as long as you are/did? What have you heard about length of treatment pertaining to blood thinners?

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

0-BLOG SIGNATURE SARA