Hi everyone,
I’ve had permanent AF for past 15 Years and have been taking Warfarin for this period of time. I hate taking it, hate the fact that I have to alter my diet and even my cardiologist calls it a ‘dirty drug’! I’ve tried a couple of the NOACs (Pradaxa and Eliquis) but experienced side effects. I now want to explore Vitamin E therapy. Can I please get feedback from anyone on this forum who is taking Vit E as a blood thinner. Thanks so much, Jules 🙏
I'm on Boost CoQ10 with Vit E and Zinc. Not sure about using it as a blood thinner but it certainly helps relax svt episodes.
There is no way of reliably ensuring efficacy of any supplements which may have some anti-coagulant properties and many have been suggested on this forum in the past!
It is your right and choice to refuse any treatment offered and I can quite understand your reluctance to take Wafarin - but if you are going to go alternative I would strongly advise you to find a very experienced and qualified person with a medical degree as well as something like a nutritionist or herbalist qualification to ask advice and to alert you to the possible risks:benefits.
I don’t really think that anyone here can or should advise.
Best wishes CD
Thanks CD. You’re absolutely right about the need to find someone who is more of a holistic medical/naturopathic specialist for this sort of thing. But I thought It may be worth trying the forum just in case there are people who have gone down this road. Thx for your feedback. Jules
Because this is a AFA forum then tends to be predominantly mainstream.
There have been quite a few posts regarding this - indeed in the beginning I was very anti AC meds but I have to say I came to the reluctant conclusion that there was no alternative with enough reesearch & known benefits to outweigh inconsistencies in efficacy. Even the herbalist I consulted would not advise against medical advice.
Have you thought of Watchman? I think Irina? recently posted about having that procedure.???
Hi CDreamer. I saw Jules' post and sent him a reply. I am happy to share my experience with anyone interested as it is fairly new and not well known. I'm doing fine and I believe as time goes by anticoagulants-though at times necessary are not as innocuous as were thought in the past. Feel free to share my user name and interested people can use PM if that's what makes them comfortable. I try to not influence and it is a decision between an interested patient and his/her Electrophysiologist. I am so looking forward to completing the 'weaning off anticoagulant process. Take care. irina1975
Thanks CD, I have thought about the Watchman device but unfortunately, I have an Amplatzer device in my heart that was used to close an ASD, so the Watchman is not possible. I am seeing a Vascular Physician next month for other possible solutions similar to the Watchman. Thx again, Jules
Hi Jules. Good luck in your search for possible solutions to the AC dilemma. I did have the Watchman and just got off Coumadin. I'm now on Plavix and baby aspirin for 4 months then will be off all AC'. As the Watchman is designed to prevent A fib clots coming from the left atrial appendage leading into the atrium only, I am looking for ways (foods and supplements) to help me avoid other clots. I have an old hx of 2 episodes of DVT's in my past: the first right after a Caesarean Section in 1967 and the second post op (for hysterectomy) in 1999. Both were resolved with meds without problems. Since I have this history if I should get another DVT episode for whatever reason, I am not protected by the Watchman device (it is only for a-fib related clots.) I am looking into ways to prevent DVT's and would be interested in your findings. I plan to start taking Vit E, continuing to eat foods that I know used to raise my INR when it was low-garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, etc. These won't protect you from a-fib clots as they are a different kettle of fish, But my theory, JMO, is to keep my blood viscosity from helping DVT's to form. I am interested in anyone who has thoughts or information in lowering their DVT risk re diet and exercise. I would have to have AC's to resolve clots other than in my heart albeit temporarily. Want to avoid and prevention is better that cure. I am thrilled re the Watchman helping my heart and now looking at ways to protect the rest of me. Interested in any research/info you find out. Take care. irina1975
Hi CD. Ran across this thread just now and sent an update to Jules in case she's still interested. Thanks for mentioning me to her. Will help her any way I can. irina1975 Sorry to waste space. Just scrolled down and saw she has a Amplatzer. Should have read further before replying.
There is no natural anticoagulant which you can reliably be use for stroke prevention in AF I'm afraid. Plenty of things can " thin" blood but they are not anticoagulants.
I don't understand why you have to change your diet to any great degree. I don't have grapefruit or cranberries but that's about it. My GP' s comment was that the warfarin is adjusted for your body and that should take into account what normally goes into it. I'm in permanent AF, have been on warfarin for 5 years, take it every evening because it's a habit and get tested every couple of months. End of story and no problem at all - and certainly no stressing about it.
Some people have reported finding that taking Vitamin K every day helps to ensure that the total amount of Vitamin K in the body varies little, regardless of how much greens etc they eat, so they no longer have to worry about what they eat when taking Warfarin.
Why don't you try the rest of the DOACs and if you can't get on with them, then eat what you want on warfarin and as long as your diet is consistent then your dosage can be adjusted accordingly. You don't have to watch what you eatjust be consistent. Also a Coagucheck is worth it's weight in gold. Good luck.
Hi JulesAF. Just finished writing a post re anticoagulants. I hated being on them also and had a procedure (called a Watchman Procedure here in the US) on Jan 18, 2018 and will be weaned off all anticoagulants in several months. I requested the procedure.It is done in the cardiac cath lab. Ask your EP about it and you can obtain information and watch videoso n the net. It's nnot for everyone but I'm happy I had the procedure. I can't wait to get off the anticoagulants as they caused more problems that I felt they were worth for me. I am 73 and am counting the days to get these drugs out of my life. The internet is not a substitution for your doc but it will give you a starting place to learn what questions to ask your doc. Hope my info helps.Take care irina1975
Thanks Irina, I was very excited about the Watchman device when I first read about it, but unfortunately, I have an Amplatzer device in my heart that was used to close an ASD, so the Watchman is not possible. I am seeing a Vascular Physician next month for other possible solutions similar to the Watchman - clot catcher of some sort.
Thx again, Jules
Hi JulesAF. Sorry to hear about Watchman and hope your Amplatzer is working well. Also hope something is developed soon for you as an alternative to AC's. I know they work for many and many patients don't mind taking them. But for me I am thrilled to be getting off so I believe I understand your feelings . In fact I rarely drink anymore since meeting my friend 'A-fib'. But I plan to have some champagne on the day of my last Coumadin dose. Should be Mar 6 post EP appt. LOL-gotta have a little fun in life. Will have to be on Plavix for 3 months starting the 6th. But then off and from then on only a baby aspirin (81mg)/day. Yeah. Take care. Burma (irina1975)
Hi Jules. It's me again, Was browsing and saw your post again re anticoagulants and wanting to get off of them. Everything is going fine and while I'm very happyit's done, it isn't for everyone.Only you and your electrophysiologist can decide. It's worth the consult to get the whole picture/ I'm also in permanent a-fib with a pacemaker and an AV node ablation behind me. I'll be 74 in a couple of weeks and the thought of being on Coumadin was something that I really don't want to do. I like taking the least amt of drugs possible so whenever I have a viable alternative, I want to know more.
. Feel free to PM me.I have had the Watchman procedure which went well and will see my doc this week. Part of the process was having a TEE/TOE procedure this past Friday which tells the doc if I'm healed enough internally to stop Coumadin. Hopefully it will be time for me to move along with the process of eliminating coumadin from my life. If you're still interested I'm very happy to share info that you might find useful. Just let me know. Again, very glad to help. Take care. irina1975 (Mar 11. 2018). PS Sorry for the typing and the way this post got turned around.My Google Chromebook has a mind of it's own!
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