Anticoagulant

[Freddy8448]

Hi, I am new here, after years of svt, In 2015 I was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial flutter and was put on bisoprolol, had stess echo, thinking I had chad, was told I had to have a ct anagram, results came back all ok, zero plague, so started to take bisoprolol pip, Then this year started to get Ectopic, had 24 hour ecg found I was having 600 in day, no flutter or abfib, put back on beta blocker every day, but a new GP want me to go on anticoagulant my cha2dvasc score in 1, It say in the nice guild lines do not offer people under 65 anticoagulants who have no other risks factors, do you think this is just down to cost or risk ? when I when I went to see the heart consultant he never mentioned I needed anticoagulant, I do suffer with chronic anxiety and depression, I am 56 female ,Trying to make up my mind is making my anxiety worse, I am worried about having a stroke if don't take them and bleeding if I do.

[Drounding]

I think this question goes through everyone's mind before they start taking anticoagulants. I'd recommend you watch this video by Sanjay Gupta: youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8ZC5_...(Not working as expected?)

[Mal7896 in reply to Drounding]

Thanks for posting the video. I feel better about taking Eliquis now

[Vonnieruth]

I was terrified about taking them I really don't do tablets at all I think it's something you know you have to take even if you don't want to This is the time when your heart does rule your head I have AF Due my first clinic appointment next Thursday So this is still pretty new Anxiety also kicks in with me to.Im nearly 62

[JaneFinn]

Hi Freddy and welcome

I think we all understand the dreadful anxiety around the decision to take anticoagulants - and it’s far worse I’m sure when it seems like a borderline decision.

Hope the Dr Gupta video helps.

You could also maybe ask your cardiologist for his opinion, as it seems that your GP is suggesting anticoagulation without conmunucation or advice from the consultant?

Incidentally, it’s great you’ve had so many tests and that all is looking well, other than the ectopics which are common (if unpleasant!).

Good luck with making a decision you are happy with about anticoagulation x

[MarkS]

If your only risk factor is one on the chads2vasc score as you're a woman then that doesn't count and you would be effectively zero. See:

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

"However, women younger than 65 years without other AF risk factors had a low risk for stroke, and it was concluded that those patients did not require OAC prophylaxis."

[IanMK]

Hi Freddy

It would seem that your stroke risk is low at present so please try not to worry - this can only worsen your situation. The CHADSVASc threshold advised by NICE is subjective and probably does have a cost factor included. The difference in risk is quite small. There should be no rush to decide, but since your consultant didn’t mention an anticoagulant then you should mention to him that your GP has suggested one. You will then discover his opinion. Similarly, you should ask your GP why he has recommended that you have an anticoagulant.

Regarding a bleeding risk, I have cut myself while shaving several times 😖 while on Apixaban and I’ve not noticed any changes in stemming the blood flowcompared to when not taking Apixaban. Similarly, I’ve had several cannulas fitted and removed this year and not experienced any problems. Note that an anticoagulant prevents clotting, it is not a blood thinner.

I hope this helps.

[Desanthony]

Hi,

Agree wholeheartedly with the above. I really was thinking that I would bleed like heck when ever I cut myself when put on apixaban but have noticed no difference at all. I started to take lots of care when I first started but that soon stopped as I can't live my life like that! I have had loads of blood tests too and thought I would bruise badly and bleed afterwards but actually am a little better with that than before. The only thing I have to remember to do is to tell the medics when going for any invasive procedure - cystoscopy, sigmoidoscopy colonoscopy or an operation that I am on apixaban as you would need to come off a day before and can go back on later - usually but always ask. I had a really good nurse explain apixaban to me and how it works and how quickly it works once you go back on to it if you have to come off but I still worried for those first few weeks. I find yoga breathing helped when I got anxious - but sometimes I was too anxious when I was feeling breathless from the Afib to do it - LOL!

Take care

[Freddy8448]

Thank you all for your advice, it has really helped, I have a appointment next week with the GP, I will see what she has to say

[sdalen]

I hate to be the negative person in this conversation, but you can look this up. PACs that are over 90 per day, significantly increase your future risk of atrial fibrillation. Take the anticoagulants as you will feel safer in case your heart bumps you into an afib. Do a search such as "PACs are not benign" and I think Pubmed has studies on it. It actually makes sense to me.