My IR doctor did not put me on anticoagulant ?

[Slattery]

I am new to Afid and have many questions, this is a wonderful site. I had one Afib incident 2 months ago, met with IR doctor who put me on Diltiazem 120 mg. I am 68 year old women in good health, all tests were normal. I am interested in your ideas.

Thank you

[BobD Volunteer]

I would recommend that you read the booklets on anticoagulation on the AF Association website and also to do your own risk assessment by looking up CHADS2VASC2 there as well and working out your risk. Personally I am a great believer in anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with AF and you really should do your homework and then speak again to your doctors. It may be that if your next AF event is a long way ahead then your risk is low but the problem is that many people are not aware of every event they have so you could be having many more.

A great many people are left unprotected by doctors who are often reluctant to prescribe anticoagulation and in UK alone 8000 serious stoke a year could be avoided if this was changed.

Again as I said do you homework and don't rely on doctors to make your mind up.

[Finvola]

I agree with Bob - get informed about your risks of stroke/bleed and talk to your doctor again from that informed point of view. I had an AF episode which had terminated by the time I was taken in to hospital but was put on to Apixaban immediately as a 69 year old female in otherwise good health as my CHADS2VASC2 score was 2 (64+ and female).

[AnticoagulateNow]

Did your consultant discuss anti-coags? Did they say why you wouldn't be prescribed anti-coags?

[Slattery in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

My IR told me that I am in good health, he wants to see how I do on Dilitiazam, This may be a one time event, I will be taking a stress in one week. He want to make sure I need a anticoagulant because of the side effects that can happen with this drug. He does not think that everyone should be on anticoagulants.

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to Slattery]

Not entirely good health of course...you have AF which is probably one of the biggest causes of stroke if left untreated. You may well have hypertension too - hence the dilitiazam. He's right of course, not everyone should be on anticoagulants for a number of good reasons. But he doesn't seem to have given you a good reason why you should be excluded. If there is a good reason then fine...but do ask what that reason is. Good luck Slattery.

[KFog in reply to Slattery]

Diltiazem also increases conduction between the chambers of the heart, so Slattery may be on it for afib, not hypertension, as I am.

[Slattery in reply to KFog]

You are correct, my IR put me on DItiazem for the reasons you stated. I wish you well.

[tony85]

I would get a second opinion. Everyone with AF should be on an anti coag unless there is a valid medical problem against it like dementia

[Alan_G in reply to tony85]

If EVERYONE with AF should be on an anti coag then what would be the point of CHADS2VASC2?

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to Alan_G]

It depends which you believe is more valid Alan, Tony's point or CHADA2VASC2?

[Alan_G in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

I'd be inclined to go along with the medical experts.

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to Alan_G]

That assumes consistency which sadly is all too often absent.

[PeterWh in reply to Alan_G]

What about those medics who believe that once you have AF you should be on anticoagulation for life unless a bleed risk becomes significant?

[Alan_G in reply to PeterWh]

If they exist in numbers, them maybe more should be made of their opinions, but I haven't seen any quotes along those lines as such.