Anticoagulation

[BobD]

For those who couldn't make Patients Day I will just leave this here,

Dr Matt Fay talking about various opinions on taking anticoagulants in AF ."If somebody has a bleed you can always give a blood transfusion but you can't mend a dead part of the brain. "

Regarding an often miss-understood HASBLED score as I think I have said once or twice before this is not a directly comparable chart like CHADSVASC. It is an aide memoir of things to address to reduce bleeding risk. So for example H - reduce blood pressure!

[pottypete1]

Quite true.

I am on Warfarin and survived severing the artery in my hand with the wonderful care of my local A&E.

Pete

[KelliDoug]

I have emailed my EP after the obvious prevalence for pro anticoagulation therapy at the Patient's Day yesterday. My CHADsVASC score is 1 for being a female, which they say reverts it to a 0. I've been told I don't need to anti-coagulate.

However, if there is still a significant risk for stroke, then perhaps I should be anti-coagulated?

Having just turned 50 with no other health issues, I was hoping to not have to take medications for the next 30-40 years, as that also can't be good on your internal system.

On the waiting list for an ablation as have almost daily episodes of AF with the meds not working (now on Amiodarone) so will be taking anticoagulants prior to surgery.

Best of health to you all, Kelli

[jeremygray in reply to KelliDoug]

Hi. How long do your episodes last ? Do they bother you a lot. ?

[KelliDoug in reply to jeremygray]

My episodes can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 hours long - from 90 BPM to 200 with them mostly around the 120's. Yes, quite symptomatic.

[Vony in reply to KelliDoug]

We sound to have similar experiences. Good luck with your ablation

[Stinky1953 in reply to KelliDoug]

Good morning. Interested to hear you are on Amiodarone. I'm interested to know if you were given any base line tests before starting and what if any monitoring is being done.

I hope you get your ablation soon!

Tim

[KelliDoug in reply to Stinky1953]

I had already had initial bloods and lung X-ray done when diagnosed in June, so up to date. I just had bloods done 4 weeks after starting Amiodarone for liver and thyroid and get those results later today. Might ask for pulmonary test. I feel great on the Amiodarone compared to the horrible side effects I got from the Flecainide/Bisoprolol combo where I was in such a brain fog and so tired that I couldn't function. Not good for a very active 50yo!

[KelliDoug in reply to KelliDoug]

I have received my blood lab results after being on Amiodarone for 6 weeks. Liver is fine but thyroid numbers doubled from 1.83 to 4.08. Still barely in normal range but now concerned. No pulmonary or lung tests usually done unless you show symptoms they said. Hmmm?

[Hidden]

That's a good quote about bleed risk. Been there, listened to the EP who said don't take an anticoagulant because of the bleed risk, full stroke, now I still have the same bleed risk but have to take an anticoagulant because of the risk of a second stroke. Fortunately neuroplasticity continues to improve my abilities, but it's unlikely that I will regain sight on the right hand side.