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my mom was 88 and her doctor took her off blood thinner due to her developing a cervical spinal hematoma and within 2 weeks she had a stroke and died and now I feel guilty for not pushing back more but the doctor said that ceasing blood thinner temporarily is the standard of care for treating a cervical spinal hematoma and she was too elderly and frail to have surgery. I still feel awful though

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My mom was on a blood thinner to combat small strokes from clots and had a devastating hemorrhagic stroke that took away every physical ability, and then her life. You, nor the medical community with a plethora of education and experience, can predict an outcome. Please don’t waste time and grief on this. I’m sorry for your loss. You had the blessing of a mother far longer than many of us, I’m glad you experienced this and wish you much healing and peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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I made the decision to take my mother off of blood thinners when she was 90 due to HORRENDOUS and continual nosebleeds that sent her to the ER every time. Blood clots the size of plums were coming out of her nose. She had a non lethal stroke shortly afterward.

Blood thinners are really a no win situation. You leave her on them, she dies from a cervical spine hematoma. You take her off of them, and she dies from a stroke. Either way, a bad ending. Once an elder gets on the blood thinner train, it often ends poorly.

Don't blame yourself for a doctor recommended decision. We don't have crystal balls to see how these decisions will turn out. I'm sure you feel badly, I did too when my mother had a stroke after I nodded to dxing the blood thinners.

I am very sorry for your loss and wish you peace and acceptance in knowing mom is at perfect peace now.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Second guessing is normal. Feeling guilty that you didn't know the future is normal. It's time to start to heal and forgive yourself for being human. You might have done everything right and she still would have passed away suddenly.
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Reply to JustAnon
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My fil was on thinners for a fib until he had his first hemmoragic stroke. He then had two brain operations followed by successive implantations of the watchman device and something like it. Eventually he needed a stent, necessitating resumption of thinners. He had a catastrophic brain bleed weeks later and expired. A brain bleed caused by the thinners, but it was between that and a heart attack.

Frankly, it wasn’t anyone’s fault, but it was entirely predictable. Thats what we are all paying for with these “feisty fighters” you know.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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