I had a surprise phone call from my GP surgery today. They are offering me blood thinners, 7 years after an ablation….apparently my chadsvasc score is 2.
Has anyone else had this offer? Am quite horrified really and have no intentions of taking anticoagulants after all this time, but it’s got me a bit worried.
Is this a new recommendation?
To be honest I very rarely think about AF these days as it has been cured to the best of my knowledge.
Any thoughts would be welcome
I'm delighted to see this actually and urge you to think long and hard about accepting. There is no evidence that succesful ablation removes stroke risk and most of us in that category accept that it is for life.
What confuses the situation is that people with a CHADS2VASC2 score of zero have to take anticoagulants prior to and for a period post procedure but often stop after say three to six months since they did not need it other than for the ablation. It really is your choice but make it from a position of full understanding please.
You have evidently moved up into the age bracket that qualifies you now as a Chad 2. If it were me before I declined the blood thinner, I would want to be certain I no longer had any signs of AFib. Most of the time I’m well aware of my AFib other times my Kardia surprises me by showing I’m in AF. A heart monitor for a week or so would be a reassuring step to consider. Keep in mind that though some ablations can last many, many years, they also can fail at any given time.
I had a successful ablation 4 years ago and was immediately put on one of the new anticoagulants rivaroxaban, I was told I would be on for the rest of my life which was fine be me after ten years of increasing severe AF which ruined my quality of life.
I have had no problems with this anticoagulant, I have even had an op, had to stop taking the anticoagulant a day before the op as the effects quickly dissipate from the body.
Thanks Brizzy, glad you’ve had a good experience, it’s reassuring…they also keep pushing me to have Statins! I’m trying to live a healthy life with good food and exercise and really don’t want to be taking medication
I am also on statins plus other medications, it's probably the only things that keep me going, I seem to wake up every morning so that's a bonus 😉
All the best
😁
Hi
My Cardiac Sp is not concerned with Cholestorol if it stays at 4.
I read that Statins help with those with sinusitis.
I take 10mg for a week if I am over. Triglycerines under 2.
cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)
I would reject the statins. They have not been shown to be of any benefit at all for primary prevention in women. Large epidemiological studies have found that women with higher cholesterol levels actually live longer and are healthier. As we age we need our cholesterol more .
Hi
I read that somewhere as well. Radcliffe Medical, BJM or something and various other medics.
But although Cardiac Specialist did not push the stain he did say 4 level in the bad cholesterol would be good.
On 10mg statin I go down to 4. Without it I linger between 5-6.
What the heck!
Also taking thyroxin tabs daily after Ca Thyroidectomy can raise ones cholesterol.
I read that Drs can make money prescribing certain drugs and one was statins.
I also read that there is NO TEST for cholesterol levels!
Cheri. JOY
Hi
Gee I had to stop PRADAXA 3 clear days prior and day of operation then 3 days after. 1 week.
I guess it depends what operation.
It takes longer than 24 hours to stop working!!!!
cheri. JOY 73. (NZ)
yes probably right, mine was to only remove a polyp from my duodenum
Hi
My operation was removing a very inflamed pelvic area as the TVT Kit with Johnson &Johnson Ugly Mesh had moved over and gone through my womans part.
The surgeon she actually said that bleeding could be a risk.
The operation before with the same regime was a Thyroidectomy and 12 lymph nodes out.
A friend also on PRADAXA 110mg twice day had 6 legions removed. She remained on it. Weighing up bleeding and clots causing Stroke but she had no AF but a replacement Valve.
cheri. JOY 73 (NZ)
Hi
A friend who has had a heart attack and is on 23.73 x 4 Metrprolol! At night keeps getting polys in his stomach.
So he did a trial. Every 3 mths at a produre the surgeon coats the stomach.
The year is gone so no more polyps and he has completed the trial.
As you can see I am in NZ.
He is also on blood thinners so I shall ask him. He is holidaying in Aussie at the moment.
He also has a condition, to much blood. He has to get that removed regularly.
Cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)
I am surprised that you have not been referred to Cardiology for further investigations, to ascertain the extent or otherwise of your AFib, before being put on to an anticoagulant.
Thanks Ray, as I said I haven’t had any symptoms or appointments for 7 years so it’s a bit of a bolt from the blue. It was a pharmacist that rang…sounded a bit like a box-ticking exercise
Did the pharmacist explain why you were being called or recommend contacting your GP?
We’ll he is based at my GP surgery, and he did mention age… I’m 69..
I would ask your GP if it would be appropriate for you to wear a Holter monitor for a few days, to see if you are Fibbing or Fluttering, before taking an anticoagulant.
Hi
So they are offering an anticoagulant for prevention.
Why are you, NOW after an ablation and no AF since being told you are on Level CHADS 2?
If you have no AF why take anti-co.agulants. They fill your body and change a normal function of clotting.
I would ask first why cHADS 2,
They may not have the right history for you.
Radcliffe Medical advise to keep anti-co.agulants to the minimum.
Cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)
I agree, not something I want to be taking. He did say my risk of a stroke would go down from 25/1000 to 8 out of a thousand, but it doesn’t seem a good enough reason to interfere with the body’s clotting system on the off-chance
Hi
A personal choice in your case. Why is the pharmacy ringing you and not your specialist.
Not so long ago there was a scout around to put folks on statins. I said no thanx. But relented to 10mg on stroke meds. But I have changed this to only when necessary.
People talk about stroke. Mine was mild especially when I could walk. I was singing in my Christmas group practising from late October. Right hand and dropsy a problem. Learnt how to put rings over the stick. Swallowing still have to be careful with choking. Drink slowly and cut up food. Chicken is especially bad - breast. Also potato skin.
As Stroke and AF go together if you don't have AF you shouldnt have a stroke unless you have a murmur or valve not working.
I did not agree to have Radio Active Iodine, or allow my TSH in suppression. It was low risk but I took it. I told the surgeon that I trusted him.
Now I hear of folks being over treated with RAI, I couldnt bring myself to imagine RAI to kill the thyroid. RAI can cause leukaemia and do damage to other parts of the body e.g voice box.
We all have to take risks in life.
I'm still here 3 years after stroke, now controlled H/R day, 2 years 7 months no cancer thyroid area. The scanner tells me just an empty area.
cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)
Thanks for the words of caution. It is no longer a matter of 'putting yourself in the hands of the NHS'.
Male 69yo with PAF in remission. I have declined ACs & statins. Not an easy risk free decision but, having read a lot over the last 20yrs, on balance. I am not totally anti-pills, I accepted due to QOL I had to take Flecainide and still do.
sounds like a complete c***-up! I’m afraid I no longer have blind faith in healthcare either..heard too many stories. They seem to be obsessed with charts, scores etc rather than looking at the individual. Glad your symptoms have subsided!
Also obsessed with money here in the USA. 😒
That must be a big worry. It’s getting like that here too, people being forced to go private and pay or wait years to be seen. Lots of people can’t get an NHS dentist either, and are resorting to diy dentistry as private ones cost a fortune.
Healthcare is not what it once was. Anywhere.
I Take statins 5 mg x 3 times a week. Anti coagulant 5 mg x 2 every day. I'm 78. No side effects. Had a major stroke 3 years ago. Hence the medication.
All the best.
Roy
Thanks for replying Roy, hope you have recovered well?
it could be that you’ve just turned 65, and are female? That’s enough to raise your score to 2.
I’ve only recently been diagnosed at 67, and was immediately given anticoagulants. These I welcomed with open arms - two sisters had strokes in their mid-60s before they were even aware that they had AF.
I’m on the waiting list for an ablation, but nothing is 100% successful at stopping AF - so my feeling is that I will be on anticoagulants for life now. I suppose the only proviso being if I get a lot older and start falling. Hope not! Then the risk/benefits would need recalculating.
That sounds tough, I can see why you want to take the tablets. I had an ablation for AF and A Flutter 7 years ago and have been fine since. Also retired from a very stressful job which helps too. We do hear about the ops that don’t work, but I wonder if that’s because people post about it more? All the best, hope it works for you
Thanks! I’m crossing fingers.
Ablation on anticoagulants
5 years after ablation
Reoccurrence after 7 years 
How many people are still on medication (other than anticoagulant) after ablation?
Can Flutter Return After a Successful Ablation?
