Why continue warfarin?

[Calypso4811]

Will I be okay to go off warfarin and switch back to taking 2 low dose aspirin daily? My cardiologist just shrugged and said he can't make me continue warfarin. I believe my diagnosis of AFib was erroneous.

[SpeedyH]

Your cardiologist has recommended that you continue taking Warfarin and when you said you were going to stop, he said that he can’t make you take it if you don’t want to. Which is true, he can’t.

If the people on here, who are strangers with no medical training, tell you to stop taking it, is that better advice? Would you really risk your life on the basis of a bunch of anecdotes from total strangers?

If you truly believe that the Cardiologist is wrong about your diagnosis you should be asking for a second medical opinion, not playing Russian roulette with your life.

🤔

[Calypso4811 in reply to SpeedyH]

I'm sorry if I implied that I intended to take myself off of it and was telling my cardiologist that's what I'm doing. Actually I was asking him if I could go off of it and I was asking advice here about did anybody know why I couldn't get off of it? The reason I am so flummoxed at his shrugging his shoulders and just acting like we'll do whatever you want to do, is because I was asking him when will I be able to go off of warfarin? When can I do something else because this is so intrusive in my life? And he was busy telling me right before that that he was leaving to go on vacation in 2 days for 2 weeks to Europe and I guess he had his mind on other things. Anyway I misled you if you got from my question that I had already taken myself off or intended to take myself off of warfarin. That's not something that I would do unless forced into it by some situation of which I'm not aware at this time.

[nossib in reply to Calypso4811]

Yes, I understood what you meant, a simple query as to whether there was a possibility of you being able to come off it , even at some stage.

I asked my Pulmonologist the same question [ hopeful that 'maybe' I could eventually , for it has incurred many inconveniences with diet, tests and 'if I ever get to travel again' ]etc ..his answer was at least a clear one that he wanted me to stay on it for life, as my best protectant,

I would be most annoyed if he had responded in the way your cardiologist did ...certainly doesn't inspire confidence in him We should be able to ask these questions and be given good , reassuring answers

Good luck.

[KivetonGuy in reply to Calypso4811]

Being on Warfarin is really hard that I do know as I have been on Warfarin since the 1990's , I am on for life! It is a real inconvenience so yes I agree totally in that regards . However I also accept that it's an inconvenience that is keeping me alive so in a way it's also a good inconvenience!

[Hidden]

Hi Calypso4811, it sounds as if your cardiologist's response was to your telling him of your intention to stop taking warfarin. And he's quite right. All treatment is a choice, and all our medics can do it to point out the possible consequences of not taking medical advice. If you want to take that risk, even though it's based on your own opinion of your diagnosis, then there is no-one who can or will force you. But culpability for any outcome, such as suffering a catastrophic event, like a life changing stroke, or worse, your death, will be yours.

[Calypso4811 in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry. I believe you've misunderstood. I was not saying I intended to take myself off of warfarin. What has happened is that I've asked my doctor about it and he simply shrugged. Of course, I understand he's doing that because all he could talk about was that in two days he was leaving for his 2 week European vacation. So my concerns of taking warfarin forever we're low on his list of important things. He did say that I could go ahead and eat green vegetables if I wanted to that they were just adjust my warfarin accordingly. I pointed out to him that I'm already taking 7.5 mg every day. Again a shoulder shrug and a little intake of breath and he says I will know then you don't want to do that. No suggestion of anything else. Of course he knows eliquis and Xarelto and all of those are out of the picture because I can't afford them as a retired person. I have found this to be true doctors in general really don't care as long as you got insurance that's all that matters do you have insurance okay then I'll see you. I won't take good care of you but I'll see you and collect that money. Sorry if I seem a bit jaded this is the treatment I've gotten for the last 20 years

[Hidden in reply to Calypso4811]

So sorry if I have misunderstood your meaning Calypso4811 and I feel deeply for you if you are stuck on warfarin only because of the expense of the newer NOAC drugs like Apixaban.It demonstrates how fortunate we are here in U.K. to have regulated prescription costs and more so, even free

prescriptions in retirement or with some

long term medical conditions. Conversations with our general

practitioners are generally never because of the expense of drugs. Although our system has different shortcomings we do get a very fair deal with our medications.

[Asdan05 in reply to Hidden]

I agree with that totally. I was so glad to come off Warfarin and go on to Apixaban. If the other lady isn’t convinced by the diagnosis of AF perhaps she should try another cardiologist. Good luck.

[Abi65 in reply to Calypso4811]

Dear Calypso4811, I think your question of "Will I be okay if I came off Warfarin and switch back to taking 2 low dose aspirin daily...?" is completely plausible. Unfortunately you'll never get a straight answer from your cardiologist or any other doctor other than standard and diplomatic answers like "I can 't force you, it is up to you etc..." I've been thinking to come off warfarin and have been reading up on it with regard to possible consequences if any. However, I'll need to get properly tested as to why my blood is over clotting but it's so difficult to get a proper test and Doctors appear to find it easier to just put you on a med for life.

[moo196]

Maybe ask him to write to you with the medical pros and cons of long term warfarin.I know this helped me make my decision and I referred to it lots of times since.

[nossib in reply to moo196]

Did you remain on warfarin? I am interested if you have time to let me know what you were told about the ong term effects / pros & cons of warfarin.

[moo196 in reply to nossib]

I discontinued in 2016 after 2 years on it. My blood clot was reduced as much as it was ever going to in that time and I was concerned about the disbenefits of being on it eg risk of haemorrhage and other organ damage.My consultant didn't think I had any compelling reasons to stay on it.

Definitely worth a discussion.

[nossib in reply to moo196]

Could you please tell me what were the organs at potential risk of damage and any other cons of being on warfarin. I am aware of the risk of haemorrhage.

[moo196 in reply to nossib]

Please ask your consultant. What may be right for me may not be the case for you. 🙏 Ask him /her to list the risks and benefits.

[Jomomo in reply to nossib]

I bled internally and also bled through my stomach muscles.

[Kempsh0tt]

A word in defence of Warfarin from the perspective of someone generally being in therapeutic range most of the time. I also regularly self test, adjust dosage also guided by an excellent, responsive anticoag clinical team here in South UK.

At least with Warfarin you have continuing evidence of its efficacy. That's not the case with DOACs plus there are regular reports here and elsewhere of contraindications.

[Suebo2 Moderator]

If your original diagnosis of AF was potentially wrong, then my advice, in the first instance, would be to confirm or deny the diagnosis. This should be done by wearing a monitor fir a few days which will pick up yiyr heart rhythm. Various non invasive devices - such as the Zio patch. If you have AF- will need to be anti coagulated. The drug choice should be yours.

Do let us know the outcome.

Good luck