Anyone with occasional Afib NOT on a blood thinner?

Posted by yorlik @yorlik, Nov 8, 2020

Seems a gray area exists between constant Afib and no Afib: What about those with occasional Afib?

1) A couple of hours long, once every 3 months?
2) A couple days long, once every 3 months?

I am curious how folks with occasional Afib handle the blood thinner question? Personally, I talked my cardiologist (replacement cow valve) 2 years ago into letting me stop blood thinners due to going almost a year w/o an Afib episode, the ridiculously high cost, and my woodshop/powerTools/chainsaw/woodCutting/mechanical lifestyle.

Along same lines, anyone know of natural blood thinners that could be used for occasional episodes?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

@predictable

Since @amandaburnett fingered me as an Afib patient, I'll be glad to answer any questions or respond to any discussion in areas of my experience. That does not include ablation. My Afib is consciously asymptomatic; that is, I don't feel it at all and know it's there only when taking my blood pressure or when having an EKG during regular exams. Even so, on one isolated occasion I suffered a "small stroke" that was subsequently confirmed by MRI as probably caused by a blood clot developed in my heart by Afib. My favorite anticoagulant is Warfarin for its general availability of an antidote and its regular lab tests and assistance with managing it from a doctoral pharmacist. I turned down a switch to Eliquis which is aimed more restrictively to patients with specified symptoms and did not have an antidote approved or in stock at many clinics and hospitals (although that's changing recently). You should have a detailed discussion with your cardiac physician about anticoagulants in general and any suggested or recommended by your medical team. Martin

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The idea that Warfarin can be monitored makes it less scary. My nosebleed and trip to the ER while using Eliquis scared the hell out of me and I refused to take it anymore.. My isolated incident had the same result and my Doctor keeps telling me it could happen again with worse results. However, I have shown sinus rhythm at all visits for 2 years and would really like to just take aspirin. Thanks for your reply and Good Luck

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@amandaa

Hi @jmac23 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post to a similar discussion so that you can connect with other members like @phillipdobrien, @predictable, @yorlik, @thankful, and @thankful2019

Do you think you need a supplement or medication if you aren't currently having symptoms?

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Thank you for moving my post and I have connected with other members after that.. I'm thankful I found the Mayo Clinic Connect. Great idea and helpful

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@amandaburnett, jmac23 I have not had any ablations nor do I take any Warfarin or Eliquis. I guess I can't be much help with all that you are dealing with currently. @predictable (Martin) I've always found to be a fount of great information and inspiration! He assisted me with great questions when I was going to the Mayo in Scottsdale, AZ. for a 2nd opinion on my low scores of my Echo after I was told here locally that my EF remained the same after a year. Hope you are able to get some good information as I have always found on this site!
All my best! Jim @thankful

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@jmac23

I Had 2 ablations. Second successful for 16 years, Had a stroke on the golf course 2 years ago due to blood clot to brain. Fine and no AFIB episodes since but Doctor says I need to to stay on warfarin. It does not agree with me but he won't agree to aspirin. Anyone have similiar experience and off warfarin with no problems?

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Have you tried Xeralto? I was on warfarin for many years. Decided to try Eliquis but it did not agree with me. Xarelto seems to work just fine and I have no problems. Maybe you could give that a try. Good luck! I know this whole deal is such a pain!

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I was on Xarelto, then did Eliquis and the costs of these medications were beyond what anyone should have to pay. I am off of Eliquis and back to 81 mg. aspirin again. I feel fine and hopefully will stay that way.

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I have had afib for 4 years now. It has effected my daily life a lot. I was taking a daily baby aspirin before I started eliquis to thin my blood. But because I went on eliquis my doctor made me stop taking omega3 which is also a blood thinner.

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@hmccarth5

I was on Xarelto, then did Eliquis and the costs of these medications were beyond what anyone should have to pay. I am off of Eliquis and back to 81 mg. aspirin again. I feel fine and hopefully will stay that way.

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I’m in afib all the time and on 325mg aspirin no issues. Waiting for a generic thinner to come out. Hope soon doctor wants me to start thinner on my 66 th birthday in November. Trying to get plenty of exercise and reasonable on the food and beers!!

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@teddyboy

I’m in afib all the time and on 325mg aspirin no issues. Waiting for a generic thinner to come out. Hope soon doctor wants me to start thinner on my 66 th birthday in November. Trying to get plenty of exercise and reasonable on the food and beers!!

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The generics of these two meds. were supposed to come out last year, what are they waiting for? I take 81 mgs. 4x's a week, at night. I haven't been in afib for a very long time although I do take 12.5 Meteproprol 2x's a day and Digoxin 0.25 1 x a day. I have been just fine since I went off Eliquis in July, hope it stays that way! I am 68 today, and haven't had a beer in a few weeks, lol!

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@hmccarth5

The generics of these two meds. were supposed to come out last year, what are they waiting for? I take 81 mgs. 4x's a week, at night. I haven't been in afib for a very long time although I do take 12.5 Meteproprol 2x's a day and Digoxin 0.25 1 x a day. I have been just fine since I went off Eliquis in July, hope it stays that way! I am 68 today, and haven't had a beer in a few weeks, lol!

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my mother had afib and there is a device like pacemaker but different they can put in you to correct.

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@leighs2011

my mother had afib and there is a device like pacemaker but different they can put in you to correct.

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Yes, the Watchmaker, I have looked into it and am considering it!

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