tips, please, for starting anti coagulation

[janpat]

I had a successful catheter ablation in mid 2011 after ten years of paroxysmal af. Over the last year I’ve been aware of some short breakthroughs but they didn’t show up on a 24 hour monitor so I couldn’t get a cardiology referral and was not started on anti coagulation. In January this year I had a second cataract surgery to correct imbalance between the two eyes. Instead I was left with double vision and unsteadiness moving around. After 2 months trying to find out what went wrong I finally had an MRI scan which showed I’d had a stroke. I know that TIAs can go unnoticed but I was very surprised I hadn’t noticed a full stroke. I see my GP tomorrow to discuss treatment which will be sure to include anticoagulants, and would be grateful for any advice on the sort of questions to ask.

Many thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Easy to be wise after the event but most of us never stopped anticoagulation just because of a successful ablation for just the reason you discovered,. So sorry you went through this but might ask why you stopped? There are now five possibilities for tablets, with four of the newer drugs plus old faithful warfarin. Most surgeries these days prefer the DOACs (my GP tells me I am one of very few patients there still on warfarin) so you may not have much choice. Apixaban seems to be gathering pace these days.

[janpat in reply to BobD]

Thanks, BobD,

I never had an anti coagulant before my ablation, then was started on warfarin because the newer drugs hadn’t really started being used. But the surgery just couldn’t regulate the dose so after a few weeks my surgeon said I could stop as I was low risk. Sadly with the passing years I’ve accumulated risk factors, but have been dealing with several other health problems and anti coagulation has been overlooked. I’m really surprised that I had a stroke without realising, but my symptoms of double vision and lack of balance on moving were put down to the eye surgery until the surgeon insisted it wasn’t and that myGP should order a scan. I hope to get a prescription for anti coagulation tomorrow,

Thanks again

[stormy25]

I was on warfarin for several years but with a dislike of needles the weekly blood tests were horrible and, depending on the experience of the nurse, painful with extensive bruising. I now take 2.5 mg apixaban morning and night. The downside, that you should be aware of, is that there is no antidote - if you get wounded you will bleed, more and for longer than if you weren't on a blood thinner - whereas with warfarin Vit K can be IV administered in an emergency to clot the blood. You will need to carry a card and/or wear a bracelet and always remind any health care person you are seeing (ie dentist, chiropodist) that you are taking blood thinner. I find drugs.com a very useful resource but we each need to become our own expert. Hope this helps.