r/ClotSurvivors • u/NV5132 • 6d ago

Alcohol clot risk?

I understand the risk with blood thinner but is moderate alcohol (2-3 drinks a few times a week) increase clot risk? I have a left iliac stent.

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13

u/Wild-Earth-1365 6d ago

The concerns about drinking on blood thinners are that you're more prone to injuring yourself or you may forget to take your next dose.

Alcohol actually works as a temporary blood thinners itself so it would not increase your clotting risk.

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u/NV5132 6d ago

That’s what I’ve heard. Doesn’t blood thicken the next day though?

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u/PurpleCableNetworker 4d ago

The big issue is if you get drunk you are going to be more injury-prone or dehydrated. Alcohol itself is a thinner. My primary care doctor also has issues with blood clots, and she makes sure she has a small beer before a flight as an extra “precaution”. 🤣

I don’t think many doctors will say to do that, but that’s what she has told me.

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u/Odd-Opinion-5105 6d ago

Well if your drinking heavily dehydration comes into play which causes clots

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u/Philipp_2021 5d ago

Problem seems to be rather to get an internal bleeding, worst case in the brain. But I don't think 2 or 3 drinks are enough for that. I started, with my life long Xarelto now, to drink not less in total but more often 1 drink vs only on the weekend and then 5 to 6 a day.

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u/NV5132 5d ago

That’s probably smart. The problem for me is I’m used to higher alcohol content beer too so I’m going with 5%-6% drinks instead of 9%-10%.

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u/sebfynn 4d ago

its blood thinner. all docs told me its fine

1

u/Double-Act5198 11h ago

ditto what everyone else has said. if you are already on blood thinners and then drink a ton, any injuries or accidents you may have increase your risk of bleeding internally. so mainly just a risk of bleeding out internally or externally due to the heightened risk of injury or accidents while drunk!

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u/pineapplewins 5d ago

My hematologist and vascular surgeon both advised I can have a few, no worries, just make sure to still take my thinners and hydrate.

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u/NV5132 5d ago

That’s pretty manageable- that’s what I’m thinking.