Is it right one has to be on warfarin... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Is it right one has to be on warfarin for 6 months?

Julia76 profile image
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Julia76
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TheStand profile image
TheStand

There is really no specific time for how long you must be on warfarin. Only that you should continue it as long as there is a risk for stroke. It could take a few months to stabilize the dosage to reach the target INR which is normally between 2 and 3.

Why do you ask?

Tim

Julia76 profile image
Julia76 in reply toTheStand

I am 76 and had a knee replacement that is when my AF occurred in the hospital and I am now on warfarin nearly 3 months now was not the result I expected- cannot remember what happened only I was kindof all wired up to a monitor and 133 was mwntioned - but my blood seems to fluctulate still i suppose I will have to be patient.

TheStand profile image
TheStand in reply toJulia76

It's been said here many times that finding out is the hardest part. It is good that they caught I when they did. Most will have AF for years and never have it documented when it's happening. Now you should have every thing that is needed to properly diagnose and treat your AF. Have they made an apt with an EP yet? Or said anything about meds?

Over time the INR will settle down and you'll get the correct dosage of warfarin. It just takes time. I bounced around quite a bit in the beginning but have been stabilized and on the same dosage now for almost 2 years.

Ask all of the questions you like. There are many here who have been exactly where you are now and are willing to answer any questions you might have.

Welcome to the forum.

Tim

ianparry profile image
ianparry

I have been on warfarin since last October, & I will be on it while I have the risk of a stoke. I have PAF, so will be on it long term. I spoke with my GP last week as I had a concern over the long term use of warfarin ie side effects esp as I taking 75mg Aspirin. He explained that the warfarin was for my AF & the Aspirin was for the mild ischaemic heart disease I have (long term use has been shown to reduce plaque build up in coronary arteries). He jokingly said the side affect of warfarin was that it kept me alive!

Hope this helps,

Ian

TheStand profile image
TheStand in reply toianparry

I really like that last comment. I have never heard it before but I will be using it from now on...

"the side affect of warfarin is that it keeps you alive!"

Tim

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toTheStand

God one Ian.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

I meant Good One of course.

TheStand profile image
TheStand in reply toBobD

Sometimes my keyboard can't keep up with my fingers either....

mumknowsbest profile image
mumknowsbestVolunteer

love that one too shall certainly use it.

Offcut profile image
Offcut

I have been on Warfarin since 1992 some times it does not want to play and can go high or variable.

swatson profile image
swatson

6 months on warfarin sounds bearable.

I'm scheduled to have an ablation in July and had expected that this would allow me to eventually stop taking warfarin. However, the consultant has said that I can never stop. I think that this is because the medical profession don't believe that ablation is necessarily effective. Is this so? I realise that AF may reoccur but I would have thought that this could be picked up by regular checkups and in the meantime warfarin could be discontinued. Does anyone have information on this?

Rellim296 profile image
Rellim296 in reply toswatson

swatson, you will find this topic admirably covered by Bob in a thread about asprin. If you click on my icon and run down my responses, you will find one that starts'I asked my INR nurse..' I found Bob's reply very helpful.

The general feeling is that warfarin is the Best Friend of the A Fibber, but personally I was appalled to find 'life long' written in my little yellow warfarin book, and I found the first 6 months very difficult.

swatson profile image
swatson

Thanks, Rellim 296 and Bob. It's good to hsve such a clear explanation. But I still have a query. My sister had an ablation in Austrslia last year but was only on Warfarin for 6 months afterwards. She is 65 and I would think that she has the same stroke risk score as me. Do you know or could you guess why Austrslian snd British practice should differ?

Rellim296 profile image
Rellim296 in reply toswatson

Don't know, but there do seem to be a lot of differing opinions.

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