anti coagulants

[Trish5]

Is there anyone on the site who has Afib but can't take an anti-coagulant?

[Gilldy]

I am getting to this point. Tried 3 NOACs and now on warfarin with awful rash and pain in legs. Going to see new stroke consultant tomorrow (last one was c@*p) and haematologist in December. Not sure what the answer is.

[Hidden]

There is a device called the Watchman device which is used to close the left atrial appendage where clots are likely to form . This is often used where antigoagulants are contraindicated I believe. You can find out more by entering this in the search AFA box in the top right hand corner

Sandra

[Gilldy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - I've been to Papworth to talk about it and was told it's not as straight forward as it looks also that i am unlikely to get it in the NHS. Admittedly at that point I was still trying various NOACs and expected to find one that worked . I'm going to see a consultant tomorrow and might ask again.

[walker66 in reply to Gilldy]

Hi, I cannot take any anticoagulants due to having a stroke which was a bleed in January of this year. I have had the left atrial appendage closure procedure in August this year. Joined a new study that has been started re anticoagulants after the proceedure, so they are doing this on the nhs. I had to have a month of Clopidogrel after the proceedure and blood tests on the 1st, 3rd,5th and 7th day afterwards. Now after seeing the consultant who did the proceedure I don't need anymore anti coagulation melds ever!

I don't think they're doing the proceedure as a norm, or because people don't want to be on anticoagulants, but only as a last resort.

I hope you get want you need, and please let me know how you get on!

Best wishes

Sharon

[seasider18 in reply to walker66]

I had the left atrial appendage procedure (Amplatzer Amulet) privately at The Royal Sussex on April 20th. All went well and now on Clopidogrel and aspirin for a month and then aspirin for another five months. Cardiologist say never again do I have to take Warfarin or a NOAC under any circumstances..

A very good team there were about 8 of them in the cath lab. The anaesthetist came to see me at about 2pm. He asked when I had last eaten or drank. I said as the letter said no food for six hours before noon and nothing to drink after two hours before. He asked what I had and I said tea, With milk he asked. Yes. He said because of the milk he would have to delay it an hour. It was about 3.15 before they started

The operation report said:

"The procedure was done from the right femoral vein under general anaesthesia with TOE guidance. After trans-septal puncture the left atrial appendage was imaged and found to be relatively circular at around 20.0 mm diameter with a relatively short length. We initially took a 25.0 mm Amulet device but this was too large for the space and 22.0 mm device instead sat comfortably with the lid occluding the ostium"

Others disagree with 'under any circumstances'. I spoke to a vascular surgeon prior to the procedure and although he had not heard of the procedure he said that it would not stop clots going down. I had an appointment with my EP last week to discuss a cardioversion and pulmonary vein isolation and he said that I would need to be on Apixiban for a month before and after the procedures.

I see the Brighton cardiologist next week for a follow up and an ultrasound scan to confirm that the Amulet is in position and another scan in six months.

Since the procedure my joint pains have worsened, it seems that clopidogrel does cause that.

[AnneTS]

are you too young to have a permanent ivc filter? Google it for more info. Annel

[walker66 in reply to AnneTS]

I am 49 and apparently they do the proceedure on younger people who have had a stroke as a preventative measure against further strokes. It made no difference to my af or heart failure etc, so now have had a permanent pacemaker fitted and an AV node ablation, to try to improve my qol!

[OLdCroc]

Hi. I had an Atriclip fitted in March this year at Barts. Op was done through my back between ribs. I have not seen anyone since regarding the operation but have been into A&E for a CV for afib since. They queried the clip after seeing it on an xray.

Apart from the fractured ribs (consequence of the operation) I have had no ill effects and am back cycling etc. Just joined a. Gym as well.

The reason I was offered this solution was because I have macular degeneration and am having monthly injections to prevent leaking blood vessels in my eyes. The jury was out re anti-coags in these circumstances so was offered the clip as an alternative. This was done on the NHS and required about 6 days in hospital. As I have said I have not seen a cardiologist since and hoping for an appt in January.

I am 67ish.

[walker66 in reply to OLdCroc]

I love the 67ish! I suppose I am 49ish because only 4 weeks till the big 50! 49 definitely sounds better though!

[Nickibmibile]

I didn't know there was a surgical alternative to anticoagulation 😲 I'm very surprised and am off to Google it 😁