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New to Afib, blood thinners and beta blocker
Hello - I'm an otherwise healthy 55 year old female, diagnosed with afib 1.5 years ago. The dr. that diagnosed it immediately prescribed warfarin and metoprolol. My regular dr. was away at the time, and when she returned 3 months later, she said "I probably would have only put you on aspirin" - because I am otherwise healthy. No other risk of stroke, my bp is fine, blood sugar is fine, no history of heart attack, etc. But she decided to run the tests and try to determine my afib trigger, so I have since had an echo to check my heart's mechanical health (its good), sleep apnea test (I have mild, and am now on a device that treats it), and I've quite drinking alcohol. I saw an internist that decided I had alcohol induced afib. However, I suspect that my afib may also be triggered by hormone fluctuations caused by the peri-menopause I'm going through, but every dr. I've suggested it to says probably not, hard to prove. Ever since I was put on the 2 meds, I have been asking to get off them. "My" dr. wanted me to go through all the tests, and then decide. I live in a small remote town, and "my" dr. only works half time, so I am constantly seeing a new dr. The last new dr. I had basically said I have no choice but to stay on the drugs. She actually said the words "why do you want to get off the meds". I'm still flabbergasted. I've refused to go back and see that one. I have an appt. this week with yet another dr. to review my sleep apnea results, and maybe since it's under control, I will be able to get off the warfarin. But what about the beta blocker? Has anyone every been on warfarin and a beta blocker, and then been able to get off both of them?
I HATE being on these meds. But obviously I don't want a stroke either.
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I don't think i have. Will check it out. Thx
I had quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2002 and in 2004 was put on metropolol. After about 6 months I realized that I had been feeling sluggish for sometime and so I stopped the last medication I was on which was the metropolol and the next time I saw the cardio dr. I reported that to him and he agreed that the metropolol was the problem. A couple of years ago my blood pressure was out of whack and the dr. gave me the new blood pressure medication with 3 types of medicine to treat hypertension. It also made me sluggish and my blood pressure was lower so I tried it for another 3 months and went back to valsartan which I had taken since my surgery. I still take the valsartan and of course the statin drug, atorvastatin which I have been on since before the heart bypass surgery. I went from 10mg of statin drug to 40mg after the surgery and still take 40mg Those two medications work for me with no side effects that I can tell. I do exercise regularly and it has become a lifestyle change for me. Would probably be easy to give it up but I am very sure it has more benefits than the medications I take. I have three younger brothers and we all have heart disease so I also believe it is genetic. My dad never had heart surgery, stents or anything except a statin drug and he died of congestive heart failure. We could not tell that he ever had an ekg either but now we are pretty sure he had heart disease also. Think you just have to listen to your body and of course always, always consult with your cardiologist. Most have online charts now and PA to advise you. I have learned more from the PA's than the doctors. I do not take certain cold medications with dyphenhydromine in them and many of the allergy medications are not recommended to me. It is amazing to me how many medications can interfere with blood pressure and heart disease so you always need to ask even about over the counter stuff. I also go regularly to my internal medicine dr. and my cardiologist and have all the recommended blood work and tests. I usually have an ekg and an echo test from the cardio dr. and all the blood tests from the internist. I have an oline chart called "my chart" and my doctors and nurses have access to it so they know exactly what my test results show and what medications I take. If they want to add a medication, I do question that decision and decide if I want to try it or not. When I am having problems or feeling bad and think it might be the medicine I only remove one and if that doesn't work I start taking it again and remove another one. I would never quit the statin drug. It seems to be the gold standard for heart disease and fortunately I tolerate it well. Hope this helps a little. Oh, I am 74 and was 60 when I had the bypass surgery so I say it worked. Was pretty sick before the surgery and still remember that feeling. Also had heart attack in 1991 and that is when I started a statin drug and quit smoking. Smoked for 35 years before that so I'm sure I have lasting damage from that. I believe you have to take charge of your medical care and ask lots of question of your doctors. If they do not have time for you, change doctors.<br>
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1 ReactionHello I am about to go on warfarin for a month and have cardioversion for afib
Has anyone had cardioversion?
I am also to be traveling extensively in Italy - but have put it off - I have persistent afib with no symptoms - and will gVe cardioversion in 1 month
Yes, I have had three cardioversions, two were successful, one did not work. My sinus rhythm was restored with medications. I am researching ablations now, as my doctor has recommended that as a next step. I have been on warfarin for about 9 years.
Hello
How long did
the successful cardioversion results last?
Is it risky? U was told that the procedure is calculated by computer
Was there a cardiologist attending your cardioversion?
Any info is appreciated
ThAnk you
the websites for the doctors wolfson and dr sinatra (Google them).
I need first name and what state?
The first cardioversion lasted apx 3 yrs, the second one, about 2 yrs, the third one did not work, so the doctors tried medication, which worked after trying a number of combinations, and several days in the hospital to monitor the outcome. Yes, I had an EP doctor with many years experience, during each procedure. I have been in sinus rhythm since late April, and hoping that it will continue.
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1 ReactionHello @jmgm,
Welcome back! My sincere apologies for the late reply, but your message slipped past me!
I see that you posted on Mayo Clinic Connect back in 2012, and we are so happy that you've returned to this group.
To answer your questions, I'd like to start by encouraging you to read and, if you wish, join in these discussions as you work to manage a-fib and consider cardioversion:
– AFib questions http://mayocl.in/29iD8aJ
– Should I consider ablation? http://mayocl.in/28ReaNr
– Afib after ablation http://mayocl.in/2sI4Vgs
Meanwhile, I'm also tagging @vermontrob @darrellb @2880 @grandmajan @predictable @murryone @twptrustrek and @martishka on this message so that they can share their experiences with you.
Should you wish to get a second opinion from Mayo Clinic, here is a link with all the contact information: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
@jmgm, may I ask if you could share a few more details? How are you managing the a-fib, currently?
@debbee - Seems like no one has addressed your mention of sleep apnea. Although mild, I want to encourage you to take that as serious as the other things you mention. I believe that apnea is a silent (pardon the pun) killer since it is responsible for so many other health conditions that either cause or exasperate these other conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, etc.) After go through a sleep test in the hospital over 15 years ago and going over the results with the sleep doctor it reminded me of an old Woody Allen movie about all the cells dressed in white responding to an alarm about another issue... Each time we have a bout of apnea our system recognizes that we stopped breathing and the alarm goes off. This alarm is adrenalin and it shoots cortisol into our system so we take a breath. The havoc on our system repeatably being shocked this way is responsible for the myriad of other serious health issues. I want to encourage you and all Connect readers to take Sleep Apnea very serious and not blow it off. On the other side, another wonderful benefit is that my spouse sleeps well and she even says that the low sound of air she hears is very soothing to her.
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