Finger prick/blood thinners

[gail2]

about 2 weeks ago i had my blood thinner increased Since then i have nocticed that every time i/nurse use needles to draw blood it bleeds like crazy and that i have to apply pressure to it for it to stop Is this normal?

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I now take a daily tab of Clopidogrel, a blood thinner prescribed after my TIA this last spring. I freely (and sometimes most unconveniently) bleed from the slightest cut, graze as well as injection sites. This does seem to not only be normal but fairly essential for my wider health needs to keep taking this medication. I rarely need to apply any pressure after that bleeding; I just give a mild wipe of the drop of blood that is appearing g and that seems to stimulate closing and healing process. Just awkward cuts, such as a paper cut on a finger, seem to need a sticking plaster. It's all slightly weird, needing a change in response to any cut, after 70+ yrs of never needing to bother.

I also now bruise, very easily; such bruises include at injection sites, particularly if I tremble or shake while injecting and counting to 10! Some of my bruises I can't explain, ie I have no recollection of bumping into something, etc.

 

[Leadinglights]

You could perhaps set your finger pricker on a less deep setting but if on blood thinners, antiplatelet meds then yes it is common to bleed more easily.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

If the finger pricker is one with variable depth then get them to decrease it as you don’t need as much power to draw blood with the thinners.

 

[gail2]

thanks guys its normal pricker when i self test but nurse/staff use those disposible lancets

 

[Proud to be erratic]

thanks guys its normal pricker when i self test but nurse/staff use those disposible lancets

Well, if your normal self administered pricker is better for you, get the nurse/staff to use your lancing device. There is no rule / legislation that says you must suffer because someone has to use their inappropriate lancing device. This sort of medical intrusion should be done using whatever is best for you.

I had an equivalent experience when I was in hospital for over 3 weeks in 2022 and my BG was being checked every 4 hrs. The hospital lance was intrusive and quite painful and sometimes they'd come and check me in the small hours of the night - when I was only half awake. Those readings became memorable for the wrong reasons. It took a few days to get each Nurse to respect my needs and either use my lance, with a shallow prick depth or just read my CGM.

 

[Barrowman]

I also now bruise, very easily. Some of my bruises I can't explain, ie I have no recollection of bumping into something, etc.

Me too.
I'm also on Clopidogrel and soluble Asprin since having a stent fitted into one of my heart arteries back in February. The problem for me is that I have the opposite issue from the OP - I have a job to get any blood out, I wash my hands in hot water, shake my hands and rub my intended finger before the finger prick. My needle is set on the deepest penetration now and I still have to squeeze my finger before the blood comes out.