AF sufferer.

[Torvi]

Hi

I have been diagnosed with AF , I am extremely worried about taking blood thinners .

[Pippa1234]

Its all scary at first, took me a year to accept it. Dont be worried, I take apixiban blood thinner, candestarten blood pressure a d now changed from beta blockers to calcium channel blocker for a fib. Beta blockers vile. There are always alternatives x

[Torvi in reply to Pippa1234]

Thank you Pippa , I will talk to my Cardiologist on Tuesday .

[isobelhannah18 in reply to Pippa1234]

I was reassured by you saying it took you a year to accept it. I'm 4 months post heart attack and on loads of meds. and have been really worried that I haven't come to terms with it yet, so thank-you!

[Pippa1234 in reply to isobelhannah18]

One day your fine, next day your told you have heart problems, then given loads of tablets!! But you can have a say, if you didn't have problems before its usually side effects of pills. There are alternatives to everything ramopril gave me a dry cough, foc said persevere, I said change them, so she did!!

[Kaz747]

I would be more worried about having a debilitating stroke from AF. So many people only find out they have AF after a stroke. I’m more confident being on anticoagulants. Check out the AF Association page on this site where you’ll find lots of supportive people who understand exactly how you feel.

[Torvi in reply to Kaz747]

Thank you Kaz, I will check it out .

[Pippa1234 in reply to Kaz747]

I agree, at least we've got a chance, its just getting meds right

[Charlie3110]

I wouldn't worry. I've been taking warfarin for 38 years and don't have a problem. Just watch your drink 🥃 intake😆

[Torvi]

Thank you Charlie , my Dr wants me to take one of the more up to date treatment s, good to hear you are doing well. Have you ever had ablation?

[SuzzieQ]

Hi I was diagnosed with AF a year ago they thought it was Sepsis....!! I had the ablation at rightly successful it was... Fingers X. I was put on Apixaban (2 a day), Bisoprolol & Ramipril once a day.... Have just been taken off Apixaban ECO good, reducing Bisoprolol in a month down to 2.5mg then will eventually be on just Ramipril!! You should be fine a few side effects but really fine just a shock at first....!

I also have regularly have Reflexology and do quite a lot of exercise....recently returned from a long haul holiday..... Good Luck

[Torvi in reply to SuzzieQ]

Thank you so much, I feel more confident already .Best wishes .

[Pippa1234 in reply to SuzzieQ]

I had cardio version but it didn't work, just have permanent afib. Never been offered anything else, not bothered, just keep taking tabs

[Hidden]

I was in sept last year so scared but now 6month later on the right track now so hang in there

[Torvi]

Thank you Redbull,

[OrdinaryGuy]

Each of us is different relative to our A/F issues and the medication we have to take. I have taken blood thinners on a daily basis since last August without any problems. The medication being Apixaban - a "modern" anti-coagulant - where no regular checks are needed. As always, in my view, rely on the medical profession who are advising you but use "polite persistence" if you are not sure or they are not being as helpful as they could be.

[Torvi in reply to OrdinaryGuy]

Thank you, I appreciate your advice.

[Phil-52]

Hi Tori. I had AF post quad bypass and they put me on Warfarin when I came out of hospital. Since then I have changed to Rovaroxiban which cuts out the need for regular blood tests. I am a regular runner and swimmer and suffer no adverse effects from exercise. I personally feel a little safer knowing it reduces the risks of a stroke but ultimately it is your decision. Good luck

Phil.

[Torvi in reply to Phil-52]

Thank you Phil, I am meeting my Cardiologist tomorrow, it definitely won’t be Warfarin. Good to hear you are doing so well.

[Recoder_Bill]

Hi Torvi,

For what it's worth:-

I had an aortic valve replacement in 2005 and was put on warfarin to thin the blood. Since I earned my living as an IT consultant I found it difficult to just trot down the surgery now and again to get my INR checked as I could be in any part of the country at any time and there’s no sick pay if you work for yourself, if you don’t work you don’t get paid!

So the cardiac surgeon suggested that I get a self-test meter which I did. I’ve been taking warfarin, testing my INR myself and checking with the GP to confirm the dosage ever since with no problems at all since that time, that's 14 years.

I acknowledge that self-testing is not for everyone but it does give you a feeling of being in control and you can test yourself anytime you suspect that your INR may be outside your therapeutic range. Once you get to know how your body reacts to your life style, i.e. what foods increase/decrease your INR, you’ll soon know when to test yourself and after a while you’ll know what your dosage should be before the GP does!

Of course the above all applies to warfarin. I don’t know about other blood thinning agents.

The unfamiliar is often scary – worry not, the more experience you get of your own situation the more confident you’ll become.

Regards,

Phil.

[Torvi in reply to Recoder_Bill]

Thank you so much Phil, all the best .

[tunybgur]

You need anticoagulants if you have permanent AF, but if it's under control they are precautionary.

You don't say whether your AF is paroxysmal, persistent or permanent?

Most of us AF sufferers know when we are in AFIB and can decide whether or not to take them, although all medics will recommend taking them continually.

There are monitors which will show whether you are in AF or not, I use a Heal Force PC80B which gives a good trace and clearly shows irregularities and whether the P wave is missing from your heart rhythm, it's very simple and quick to use, just hold it against your chest and 30s later it gives you a trace. You can get them on Ebay for less than £70, well worth it from my point of view, but I have been on Warfarin for 3 years now and no problems, I'm 71 and started getting heart rhythm problems after a heart attack 6 years ago.

Good luck

[Torvi in reply to tunybgur]

Many thanks , very helpful,I will check EBay and purchase one.

I gets lots of ectopic beats and a ten day month showed some short runs of AF, seeing my Cardiologist tomorrow, will know more then . Best of luck .

[SuziCutie]

Following this post and trying not to get alarmed!

I was told I have aortic stenosis few weeks ago and am waiting for coronary angiogram. Told 2/3 months waiting list.

I also have GCA/PMR and am on prednisone plus calcichew D3forte to protect my bones.

I have learnt that calcium buildup is part of the heart problem.

I don’t think my situation is that serious as some of your stories but am I at the beginning of this journey?

[Hullensian]

Just reiterating what the other bloggers have said - it takes a while to get used to taking blood thinners, especially when one has read all the negative literature and the side effects listed in the leaflet that comes with Apixaban. I have been taking this since March 2017 and even now occasionally get the "wobbles" about the side effects. However, a quick talk with my Pharmacist each time I have a wobble puts my mind at rest as it is his view that it is far better than Warfarin and he would definitely take it if he gets AF. I sometimes do wonder if we should all stop reading stuff on the internet and just let the professionals deal with us. Plus, my dentist must be very patient as my teeth are in poor condition (nothing to do with me, just another health issue) and at some point I am going to have to have at least two teeth extracted, so each time I have a check up I witter on to him about extractions, blood thinners, and Risedronate Sodium. I wonder whether he is gritting his teeth to prevent him from telling me he is a professional and knows what he is doing!

[Torvi]

Thank you Hullensian

I have been prescribed Bisoprolol, I haven’t taken it as yet , I am in a panic every time I think about it.

I am going to get a second opinion , I have learnt a lot since joining this site , I think my Cardiologist should be organising more tests . I wish you good luck with your dental work .

Torvi