Aspirin it is, then...

I went back to the doctor's today, for my check up - a month after my second AF attack (no more in between, thankfully). I went armed with lots of useful information on anti-coagulants thanks to this website, and about my family history of AF. I was hoping I could persuade the doctor to put me on Rivaroxaban.

Fat chance, as it happens. As I now have recurrent AF he had in fact decided to put me on an anti-coagulant. Because I am low risk, he said, I could take aspirin. I said helpfully that people on the AFA website tend to spit on aspirin (mostly because it's not an anti-coagulant, but you would think he would know that). However, I am but a patient and he is the Doctor so aspirin it is, apparently.

Even if I were to continue to get AF attacks I would be put on warfarin, he added, not one of the new drugs. Our health board apparently doesn't do new drugs (thank you, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board). Though the doctor did let slip that they do approve it sometimes, when the AF is not valve related (have I got that right?). As mine is a cuddly family AF, it's a possibility but a distant one I think.

But meanwhile I am on aspirin, which I presume will not be very useful in preventing stroke. I know my risks are supposedly low, but for some reason this makes me nervous...

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Eatsalottie

Sorry to hear that you doctor is not yet a convert, as you seeing a specialist for the AF? I would appeal to him/her, and if that is a while away, then honestly I would be tempted to speak to the AFA helpline tomorrow on 01789 451837 and speak to them about it. I would be willing to bet it's a really common question and worry for many patients, and they may be able to advise/re-assure or guide you in the right direction for the next steps.

What I would not do is sit and home and worry about it, you need to nail the anti-coagulant fears and information and move on to making your AF better

Best of Luck

Ian

[Hidden in reply to Beancounter]

Hi Ian,

Good idea, thank you, I will call the helpline... Our doctor isn't a specialist in the field, and as a small rural practice I don't suppose they see a great deal of AF at all. I don't think there are any plans for me to see the cardiologist again any time soon, so the AFA will be a good step and I'll report back - I bet it is a common worry!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Hi Eatsalottie, I would go further and say don't even bother to take the aspirin unless you have another underlying reason to do so. It will do nothing for stroke prevention yet still presents a health risk in possible stomach irritation/bleeding . Invite your GP to look up stopstart.com where he will find some UP TO DATE info on aspirin and anticoagulation. This is a web site aimed at medical professionals to explain to them the error of their ways. If your CHADS2 score is less than 1 then you are at low risk so don;t panic about the warfarin.

Stay well

BobD

[BobD Volunteer in reply to BobD]

Sorry that website is stopstart.org.uk

BobD

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I will have a go. I have a feeling I'm on the wrong end of an 'I'm the doctor, you're the patient' kind of thing here, but I'll suggest the website to him. Cheers.

[feejbee]

Don't let your doctor fob you off . I was told I was not at any risk of stroke. I am a 58 yrs old female with no heart disease, no medical history of any sort and always very healthy except diagnosed with A.F. Atrial flutter and Atrial Tachycardia. That was in January 2013 by February 2013 I had a T.I.A. (mini stroke) then was prescribed aspirin -absolutely useless (but I didn't know better then) and then in March 2013 had a stroke, fortunately minor and it has left me with only a few problems - Then I was prescribed Warfarin .I was very lucky but the outcome might have been different. I am now passionate at getting the message across Atrial Fibrillation can cause a stroke. Please don't let it happen to you.

[Hidden in reply to feejbee]

Hi feejbee

Thank you and sorry I have not responded earlier, we used to get email notifications and now we don't, so I didn't realise you'd posted. I am very concerned about the aspirin, I'm just a couple of years younger than you and I realise from feedback here and reading on the internet that the aspirin is probably useless. I am dithering, because I am worried about being labeled a nuisance by the doctor - I had the impression I was exasperating him a bit talking about new anticoagulants and saying that aspirin is no longer recommended. However, I'm also sure that if I have a stroke I'll regret not going back a lot more than he will regret it if I do! One big problem, if you look at the NHS website, is that they are still saying treatment is aspirin for those with low risk, so it is a very uphill task getting the message across. I expect aspirin is cheap, warfarin is the next option, and you have to be pretty lucky to be prescribed one of the new drugs.