Which alternative to warfarine?

[Rienij70]

Had my appointment with the cardiologist yesterday. It was a very productive meeting. As you all know I need a couple of operations. So he is making it clear to all concerned with my welfare, that I need heparin injections while they stop the warfarine prior to the ops. Also my potassium and Sodium levels are very low. He advised to stop the water pills. Mind don’t know how I will react to that. Eating lots of high potassium foods hasn’t worked, it was even lower. But the best part is that after the ops. We are changing from warfarine to??? ...ban he suggested. Any ideas? And please send me some more positive thoughts as I am down the dumps. Thank you friends. Rienij

[jedimasterlincoln]

Riveroxaban? Apixaban?

I've missed what surgery you're waiting for, but in Orthopaedics its normal to stop warfarin etc 5 days before but with cardiac surgery/ablations its normal or preferred to have anticoagulants. We normally restart the warfarin in Ortho a couple of days afterwards, any inpatients normally have Clexane (heparine pretty much) in their stomach as an injection in the evening whilst inactive and in some cases they go home with it for 6 weeks too.

Normally when people have low sodium we put them on a fluid restriction, probably one of the few instances where drinking less is better for you! Ready salted crisps and bananas!

Will your GP be managing your sodium/potassium problem regularly?

[Rienij70 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thank you for your quick reply. Needing a TURBT for a bladder tumour. Once sorted a hernia repair. Not drinking is a no no at the moment as I ended up with an infection after the Cystoscope. My GP has put on the system to check kidney function again this Thursday as I go for my INR check. Problem is I get these horrible heat waves coming over me and I drip with water from head to waist. Also during the night wake up dripping. Doesn’t help I suppose. Never had it when I was in the menopause. But quite coincidental what you said. I eat bananas and dried apricots, prunes for extra potassium. And started adding extra salt on my food. Just hope I get sorted soon. It is one thing after another this year. Plus looking after my husband with vascular dementia things are not easy. Sorry about whining just feel so tired to day. Rienij xx

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Rienij70]

Being a carer for your husband must be physically and mentally exhausting anyway regardless of AF and deranged bloods! Is there someone that can give you a break for a couple of hours once a week by either sitting on or having a trip out with the husband just so you can do your own thing either at home or out and about if needed?

Keep your chin up!

[Rienij70 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Hi there, I am in the process of sorting things out. At the moment it just is hospital appointments for me, have to keep an eye on his appointments. Need cover for when I am in hospital as he can’t be left at night on his own, or for a long time in the day. He panics when I am not there.. It becomes a major exercise as you can imagine. I keep practicing with him to text me so I stay in touch. No mean feat. I thought yesterday. When I was working I looked forward to retirement hinking day trips to Stratford, Bath Etc. Now it is Oxford hospitals etc. Not the same somehow. Rienij

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Rienij70]

I suppose it depends on what entertainment Oxford hospitals have to offer.... guided tours... fancy restaurants etc

[Rienij70 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

You forgot very private pictures, at no charge. Xx

[Hidden]

Well, with things not good at all on various fronts, you are more than entitled to be down in the dumps. I'm sure we all feel for you. I suspect some of us would, in your shoes, be peeved (deep down) as much as anything by all the things queuing up to prevent you from looking after your husband.

These dark days, full of worries, tests with results that don't please and hospital appointments one after another, do not last. Believe that there will soon come a time when tests do please and the worries have started to evaporate. The appointments will diminish and the downward path will become an upward one and the horizon will start to be rosier.

[Rienij70 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, you really summed it up nicely.xx

[Hidden in reply to Rienij70]

Sorry - I've added an extra paragraph!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

P S On the plus side, it would seem that things are moving and hopefully you'll make swift progress. Cardiology seems sorted. A change from Warfarin can introduce simplicity and reduce appointments, so that looks good. Rivaroxaban - plus is that it's once a day. It needs to be taken during a proper meal. I think Apixaban is less fussy and may not need to be taken with food - but it's twice a day. Apart from grapefruit, I don't think there are dietary restrictions for either.

[Rienij70 in reply to Hidden]

Yes you are right that certainly is a plus. And things can only go up. Must stay positive! And the doctor did say the cancer was treatable. Xx

[Buffafly]

I feel for you, I too am having a thoroughly horrible year with no end in sight but at least my husband doesn't need much care so I can't imagine how you cope. The words of 'When you walk through a storm' came to me as I was thinking what to say, can't improve on them really 🌄

[Rienij70 in reply to Buffafly]

Just had a phone call from the hospital, my lymph notes are in the clear as are my lungs and kidneys. So the cancer hasn’t spread. So the quicker they operate the better. Such a tremendous relieve. Looking forward to eventually coming of the warfarine. To be able to eat what I like. 👍

[Buffafly in reply to Rienij70]

🌈 !!!

[Alfieros]

So sorry you’re going though all of this. I was my husband caretaker, but he was on dialysis, which is so, so different from being a caretaker of someone with dementia. My dad had dementia so I had a long look into that world also.

I was never on Coumadin/warfarin. I’m on xeralto/rivaroxaban and have had no side effects. The fact that you can cross out going for weekly blood tests and also regulating the meds, I think will be a big thing. Not to mention that many, if not all of the alternative anticoagulants do not necessitate dietary restrictions.

May God bless you and help you, and encamp angels around you as you go through your daily activities.

[Rienij70 in reply to Alfieros]

Thank you so very much. 🙏

[Alfieros in reply to Rienij70]

You’re so welcome 🙏🏼

[irene75359]

You are totally entitled to feel low, you have such a lot of stress in your life at the best of times, never mind now. But such positive news about your tests coming back clear. And if you haven't self injected before, it sounds grim but in fact I was amazed when I did mine how easy and relatively painfree they were.

The consultants looking after you seem to be talking to each other which is a good thing too. Hopefully in a few weeks you will be looking back and thinking 'Glad that's all over'.

My daughter gave me a little plaque during a time of great stress in my life that said 'This too will pass'. I sincerely hope this is the same for you.

[Rienij70 in reply to irene75359]

Thank you. Feel more positive today. Rienij x