PFO Decision

[ArcticDiver]

Thanks for your post.

It and "debersole's" comment certainly reinforce the concept that having some symptom is the first step in deciding to be tested as the first step in a possible repair.

 

[airsix]

Doug,
Thank you for posting and sharing your insight.

-Ben

 

[Karen Cleveland]

Just an update. Mostly because when I was doing research I had a hard time determining from other PFO poster's when they actually got back in the water. It has been 6 weeks post PFO closure.

I dove this weekend, all dives above 90ft. Three scooter dives and one swimming dive. No issues at all.

The only thing I can comment on is that the blood thinners are a PIA. It seems I just bump up against somehting and I get bruised.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Are you getting regular lab draws to test the levels? I'm guessing you're on Coumadin/warfarin. That can be a difficult med to regulate and can get out of control quickly.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Actually, we usually just send people home on aspirin and Plavix for three months while the device becomes endothelialized ("covered up"). The package insert for the Amplatzer device recommends aspirin for three months but we usually addd Plavix just to be extra cautious. Coumadin should not be necessary unless there is some other condition like atrial fibrillation that warrants it.

Karen -- glad to hear you are doing well and back diving!

Doug

 

[Dive-aholic]

That's what I've seen, but I don't consider those "blood thinners". Maybe just a misconception.

 

[Karen Cleveland]

Plavix and Aspirin...not Coumadin. I thought Plavix was a blood thinner...says so on the insert? Anyway, they are still a PIA as far as bruising.

Karen

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Not that you probably care, Karen, but aspirin and Plavix are anti-platelet agents that keep platelets (your first line of defense against bleeding) from sticking together. Coumadin, on the other hand, is a Vitamin K analog which means it looks like Vitamin K which is needed as a building block for your clotting factors, but it doesn't work. Thus, your body makes clotting factors incorporating "fake" Vitamin K that won't work so you are less likely to clot. By the way, none of these agents actually "thin" your blood. That's just a term that people tend to use to describe them.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Not that you probably care, Karen, but aspirin and Plavix are anti-platelet agents that keep platelets (your first line of defense against bleeding) from sticking together. Coumadin, on the other hand, is a Vitamin K analog which means it looks like Vitamin K which is needed as a building block for your clotting factors, but it doesn't work. Thus, your body makes clotting factors incorporating "fake" Vitamin K that won't work so you are less likely to clot. By the way, none of these agents actually "thin" your blood. That's just a term that people tend to use to describe them.

It is sooo nice to see a technical person provide accurate information using people language.

You follow the rule I used to teach my students: Write to Express; not Impress.

 

[Karen Cleveland]

Not that you probably care, Karen, but aspirin and Plavix are anti-platelet agents that keep platelets (your first line of defense against bleeding) from sticking together. Coumadin, on the other hand, is a Vitamin K analog which means it looks like Vitamin K which is needed as a building block for your clotting factors, but it doesn't work. Thus, your body makes clotting factors incorporating "fake" Vitamin K that won't work so you are less likely to clot. By the way, none of these agents actually "thin" your blood. That's just a term that people tend to use to describe them.

Hey, thanks for the clarification, that makes sense.

I guess my point was that the whole bruising thing is a pain and as soon as I can get off the stuff, I will. I have to be more precise and know what the heck I am talking about when Dr's are around

Karen