Has anyone been taken off blood thinner and put on aspirin?

[angelkisses50]

7 months after my ablation  my EP/Cardiologist has taken me off Xarelto and put me on a regular aspirin.  I have hypertension and am diabetic and I have still gone into A-fib every two months.  Does this seem right?

[BobD Volunteer]

Frankly no. Depending on your age you already have a CHADSVASC score of 2 or 3 and as such should be on anticoagulants.   Aspirin has little value in stroke prevention in AF yet can still cause harm in the form of stomach bleeding. and here in UK has been removed from the recommended drugs list. Unless you have another condition which makes bleeding a real risk you should be anticoagulated. I recommend that you write to your cardio and put this to him,/her. Ask if his insurance will cover your claim for malpractice if you have a stroke as a result of him taking you off this valuable drug..

[angelkisses50 in reply to BobD]

Well I think first I will just ask him to put me back on the blood thinner..lol  I was really wondering about it as his nurse said I would have to stay on the Xarelto because of the HTN and DM but when he came in he said aspirin.  I was having no problems with the Xarelto and had been on warfarin for many many years.  So will contact him regarding this.

  I am sorry I have so many questions, but I have been alone in this AF boat for 40+ years (I am 67) and now all of a sudden I have people that go thru the same thing!!!  

[djroute66]

i was on anticoagulants when first diagnose, and then put  on aspirin, and now zero just a pill in the pocket my chad score is zero. and i only have a few bout of af a year. but having said that i feel you would sleep easier if you were on anticoagulants and if things start getting worse for me i will certainly ask for them ( i know bobD hates the term blood thinners alas i think hes fighting a losing battle on that one 

[tony85]

I would agree. You should be on anticoagulation

[AnticoagulateNow]

AF and diabetic?   And no anticoagulation?    I don't want to worry you but I'd be sorting this out today rather than leaving it till after Easter.   There really is an urgency about getting yourself back on Xarelto.   Unless there are overwhelming reasons why you can't take an anticoagulant - and if there is, this should have been spelled out to you - then I would certainly be firing off a complaint to the GMC.   

However, he/she firstly deserves to know how you feel (or how fellow posters feel!) so today (Thursday) you should ring his/her secretary and ask to be put back on anticoags or be given a thoroughly good reason why this is not advised.   If you don't get a reply before the holiday shuts everything down, his/her level of negligence will have significantly risen.

Good luck Angelkisses.

[angelkisses50]

I just wanted to post that I took all this great info, called my EP/Cardiologist, told him what I had found on the internet and from all my fellow AF sufferers and I felt I should go back on an anticoag and he said he felt good about that and called me in a script.  So I am back on Xarelto and feeling better about it.  Thanks for all you good advice, it is much appreciated.