Ectopic beats(again)

[Gwersey]

Can ectopic beats cause clots to form does anybody know?

[rosyG]

No I don't think so- when in AF the atria move weakly and allow the blood to remain and so clots can be formed- ectopics are different- your heart is still pumping blood through as it's supposed to

[Gwersey in reply to rosyG]

Thank you for replying rosyg. I've been told to stop apixiban because my chads score was only 1 but I'm having continual ectopics so am a bit worried about stroke risk.

[rosyG in reply to Gwersey]

That's tricky- did you have AF previously? Also depends on your age as to how much risk there is with AF, Ectopics can be quite normal or they can be the forerunner of AF so depends on your history I think. We can't give medical advice as you know - I think it depends on whether people are 100 per cent sure you don't have Af or flutter etc.

[Gwersey in reply to rosyG]

I have been diagnosed with Afib. That was 8 months ago. And I'm 61.

[rosyG in reply to Gwersey]

I don’t understand why you have been told it’s ok to stop anticoagulation then - as you know we can’t give medical advice - why do your doctors think it’s ok to stop?

[doodle68 in reply to Gwersey]

Hi Gwersey if you have been diagnosed with AF and also have ectopics the latter are incidental , the AF is the risk factor.

Who has told you to stop anticoagulants, I thought only a consultant cardiologist or EP could prescribe them. I wouldn't stop them until you are absolutely sure that you are supposed to and preferably have it in writing.

[Gwersey in reply to doodle68]

Was the cardiologist nurse who told me to stop, with the approval of the EP, with whom I've never had a consultation. And I've been off apixiban for 2 months now.

[Hidden in reply to Gwersey]

Maybe ask for second opinion

[doodle68 in reply to Gwersey]

Hi Gwersey do you think maybe they have revised the diagnosis from AF to ectopics ? I don't think you mentioned in your earlier posts having had irregular heartbeats the main characteristic of AF just rapid heartbeats which can be due to other conditions that don't necessarily require anticoagulants.

You are clearly concerned about this, don't hesitate to go back to your GP and ask to have the reason for the change of medication explained to you

[Kingsley09 in reply to rosyG]

Hi I have afib but what are ectopics and what do they feel like if you get them please

[rosyG]

Hi again,

This is from an online medical dictionary - BUT I don't know who wrote it..

In cardiography, denoting a heartbeat that has its origin in some abnormal focus; developing from a focus other than the sinuatrial node.

[see ectopia]

You can see why these sometimes lead into AF as the electrical signal is starting from somewhere else- but these are quite normal in some people. The thing to sort out is what is the risk of you having more AF because if you do that is when the stroke risk arises.

[Gwersey in reply to rosyG]

Thanks again rosyg. I'll mention anticoagulants to my GP when I see him. I was reluctant to say anything before as the doctors in my surgery don't take kindly to self-diagnosis but hey, it's my life we're talking about here.