Fate : I had a successful ablation last... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Fate

kalgs profile image
14 Replies

I had a successful ablation last September. Some weeks later I had a discussion with my EP and requested I came off anticoagulants. According to CHADS-VASc I’m at level 2 . Regardless, he agreed with my logic for coming off them.

Last Thursday walking my large dog I slipped . Broke fingers, major cut to mouth. A significant head injury. Thank goodness I’m not on anticoagulants. Risk is dynamic isn’t it ?

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kalgs profile image
kalgs
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14 Replies
CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Sorry Kalgs but I’d much rather stay on anticoagulants- risk of stroke for me much higher than risk of bleed. I’ve had many falls & cuts and several broken bones over the last 8 years I’ve been on anticoagulants and takes a little longer to stop bleeds but nothing significant. I came off anticoagulants 12 months after successful ablation and had TIA.

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply toCDreamer

I’ve already replied

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply toCDreamer

And the anticoagulants may not have prevented it. I hope you are well.

Obviously it’s an individual’s choice but folk taking anticoagulants will generally recover from cuts, scrapes and even broken bones, even if it takes a little longer. I’m not sure the same can be said about recovering from a life changing stroke……….

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply to

Yes you are right . However, a head injury is different . There is a view amongst quite a few medical experts that if you no longer have AFIB there is no need to take anticoagulants. Obviously you need to know if you have AFIB again . I’m symptomatic when I get AFIB Anticoagulants don’t protect against all strokes.

The make it clear to anyone reading this I’m NOT trying to influence anyone . I was being philosophical. I know from my head injury I would have been in trouble

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply tokalgs

Bad luck on that fall. My wife fell a few weeks ago on a sunken manhole cover and broke her wrist - both bones! But I was thinking that only that with your fall you might have been in trouble, rather than "would have"? My elderly friend, who has permanent AF and takes warfarin, fell as I walked with him and fractured a vertebra in his neck, broke three fingers and badly cut his head. All was well.

Steve

secondtry profile image
secondtry in reply tokalgs

Agree with your approach. Hope all is healing up OK.

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply tosecondtry

Healing slowly. I feel mortal. I’m fit etc and walk the area I live in Wales everyday . Slipped and my German Shepard carried on walking with me holding the lead .Thanks

Singwell profile image
Singwell

Glad you're OK. P

momist profile image
momist

Not trying to rubbish your decision, but having watched my father in law take nearly 12 months to die after a fall causing a bleed in his head, I'd rather be anticoagulated and die quicker in an accident, and also avoid a stroke which is equally horrendous, to me.

dmack4646 profile image
dmack4646

Each to their own but I had a very serious fall which required 12 stitches with no problems on Apixiban

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply todmack4646

Well you are right. However , I had to have a CT scan . Look at my original post . It was one of those “ just think moments” which is exactly what the staff in hospital said .

Lainie2875 profile image
Lainie2875

It’s not all about strokes, I was taken off warfarin after 6 months clear of AF then had a heart attack as the AF came back with a bang and threw a clot so never say never I will gladly take them for ever more than risk that again.

I was in a car accident with chest impact injuries on Rivoraxoban but was fine no bleed luckily

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply toLainie2875

Sorry to hear about your heart attack. As I said in my post it was a “ what if moment”. Of course not taking the anticoagulant didn’t cause your heart attack .?

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