I’d definitely be prepared for the worse. It does get easier once you know what to expect and, hopefully, you won’t even notice a difference. If you start to lose too much though, you’ll need to talk to your doctor. My haematologist told me that there were no studies on how blood thinners effect periods but that she had heard anecdotal evidence that there was a definite improvement with Apixaban.
That’s the problem you see, nobody tells you anything! I read the entire leaflet that came with the box and also have the most fantastic local chemist who went through it with me when I picked up my first prescription. NSAIDs are definitely a no no.
On some of the fb support groups, people in America are told not to eat various foods (watermelon is the only one that has stuck in my head - I can’t remember the effect it has). There’s a much more detailed standard of care there than in the UK (probably because it’s billable).
Also, Apixaban can cause problems with your liver and kidneys. If it’s just a one off you’ll probably only be on them for six months or so, but as a long term taker, I have to have blood tests every six months. I was never much of a drinker but if you are, you might want to ease up a bit (alcohol also thins the blood, as do many other things, like aspirin).
I’ll also just say that if you’ve had one, it does increase the risk of another in the future. If you ever get any similar pain or feelings of breathlessness, never ever ignore them. Some doctors are under the impression that you cannot suffer another clot if you’re taking thinners. From personal and anecdotal experience I can tell you that it can and does happen, so never let yourself be fobbed off!