I see my heart guy in a month, and think I know the answer is yes Lou, you r over 65, have PAF, etc, anticoagulation is forever.
My question is does it matter that I’m coming up on a year since my last AFib event? Ive been on xarelto for over a year since turning 65. Pretty sure there is no asymptomatic a fib going on. A month long event monitor last fall showed all nsr. I’m hoping my new watch will alert me is anything is creeping around I don’t feel. Since a fib is staying away, do I need daily anticoagulant?
My view is yes. Having had AF is enough and not having it right now is not an excuse to stop. I haven't had AF for years but sitll love my warfarin. makes me feel safe!
Same boat, diagnosed last year at 65. Rivaroxaban is my new friend, I make sure to take it every morning with. yoghurt. The risk of stroke is just not worth it! Good Luck with all. Invest in packs of steri strips just in case , most useful things ever !!
Very slim strips, holds a wound together, or a minor bleed, eg, knocked my forearm on handrail on stairs , small skin tear but large amount of blood.... Good old steri strip hold Skin together , aids healing, plaster on top.
I have gone 3 years and then yearly with AF but wouldn't dream of stopping having seen stroke patients in the NHS when I was younger!! You can't anticipate your next episode and one consultant told our support group a clot can form after 6 minutes in af
Hi Hoski.
I know I'm prejudiced but why not look into and talk to your EP about the Watchman device? Just a suggestion and it's not for everyone but I feel so safe not taking anticoagulants anymore.
I turned 65 recently but decided to give myself until 66 before discussing anti-coags seriously. My reasoning not being reckless but just that the 65 age barrier is probably at least a year premature as medics and drug companies protect their interests. No complacency either as use supplements, more water, more exercise and no long sedentary periods in front of computer/tv etc are avoided.
I learned the hard way, and I know because of having a stroke due to A/F that I have to take anticoags for the rest of my life, have already taken them for almost 20 years and I am still here!
Had first episode when 66. Only offered aspirin. Was keen to start warfarin but didn't until third (and last up to press) episode over 6 years ago. Now on apixaban, would probebly be called a frequent faller but would be horrified if I had to stop it.
Thankyou for sharing that! I haven’t fallen off a horse in decades so hoping I don’t. I’m impressed you haven’t had a fib in over 6 yr, that’s amazing!
I think the even more amazing thing is that I still look at forum daily. I think forums tend to give a skewed view as it is often the folk with problems that reply the most.
Yes, I understand re skewed views. this forum has helped me a lot. I was on a facebook a fib group with great credentials but if you weren’t all for ablation, you were criticized. There was a lot of angst, people in panic mode... I had to get off as it was cranking up my anxiety. Here I don’t feel that. I’m a retired RN, can weed out a lot of things. I like the commraderie(?spelling) I get here.
I had my ablation on the 2nd of May last year and I will be on rivaroxaban for the rest of my life, I'm 65 now I have no problem with this anticoagulant, the odd nose bleed which might take a bit longer to stop or scratches that scab up seems to last a bit longer, but it is a easy drug to take and no constant trips to check your blood.
Yes! I was on anti coats following HÁ and multiple stents. Was fully recovered and really when i caught my foot going out of back door and fell on my head. In hospital when had subdural bleed which needed surgery. About a year later when i was still recovering I developed again. But I can't now have any anti coags as they would likely cause another bleed.
I take 5mg of Apixaban morning and night. I guess the twice daily is because it wears off quickly. I haven't noticed any problems with it at all, no excessive bleeding/bruising. Just saying it case this regime might suit you better?
May I suggest you investigate the pros and cons at some depth, then decide. Of course, anticoagulant offer potential benefits but pose a risk too, an increased chance of a bleeding stroke may be one. Presumably you are having (and will continue to have) blood clotting tests.
Once I got rid my AF, I stopped anticoagulant medication. At the end, it will be your personal (hopefully informed) decision.
By electing an open-heart surgery called Maze Procedure. It appeared to be an intervention, most likely to succeed (I was told 85% to 90% success rate). There are gentler, less invasive variants of the same. Please do your research.
I have no regrets, being free of the affliction, and of the need to take potentially dangerous drugs. Alas, be warned. An open-heart surgery is a highly invasive intervention, with associated risks. I was otherwise fit and healthy, hence a good candidate.
Once a causation of your AF is identified, you will be in a better position to make an informed choice.
I was diagnosed but probably suffering from afib long b4 the 2014 diagnosis. They put me on warfarin, digoxin, ditiezem and metropolol. I dumped the metropolo as I could barely walk across the room it put my hr so low. The warfarin also made me feel pretty low so being the natural healing sorta dude that I've always been, I researched it and my blood thinners are:
Turmeric 650/800mg capsule 1 times a day
Vitamin E 400IU x2 1 times a day
CoQ10 500mg 1 times a day
Vitamin D3 5000IU 1 every other day
Plus I take 1 Natokkinase 400FU capsule 1 times a day which besides thinning the blood, will dissolve clots if they exist per NIH in US and many other studies so I feel I am protected without any adverse side effects. Bonus! Those supplements also help me in other ways.
My only prescribed med that I still take is diltiezem with plans to wean off it it by years end. I still have the afib
Outside of the cardiologist I have been seeing (who said keep doing whatever you are doing), I do not even have a regular DR. I have seen a DR. 3 times in 12 years, mainly for lung infections my family is prone to that.
I use the "Drs' Best" brand. I buy mine at vitacost.com. Doctor's Best Nattokinase 2,000 Fu, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Vegan, Supports Cardiovascular and Circulatory Health, 90 Veggie Cap About $12.00 / 90 capsule / days at 1 per day.
Nattokinase helps thin the blood so be advised that any blood thinners may make your blood too thin if you use both all the time. One could wean off the prescribed thinners slowly EG: every other day for a week say to minimixe too much thinning. My opinion.
I think it’s a life time sentence too.Being a female over 65 .Wow who would have thought those were such terrible things to be.I hate the hair loss but I guess it’s better than a stroke.It doesn’t look like anything better will be discovered anytime soon.One good thing is no A/F and that is so awesome.
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