AFib - Question about blood thinners

Has anyone had more energy when they went off xeralyo and had watchman implanted?

Just serve underhanded

You mean there is another type of serve?

I have had mitral valve repair and just switched to Eliquist because the clot in my heart is not going away! Should I be worried?

I'm sure you are aware of the common concerns like bleeding; all blood thinners have them. Mine was an uncommon (rare but severe) side effect: muscle weakness in legs. Looking back, it began a few months after going on Eliquis; legs felt like they were "jelly". My Cardiologist kept me on it even after an Ablation that cured my Afib.

For more than 4 years I needed a wheelchair if I had to travel more than a few hundred yards.

My Chiropractor (of all people) made the connection. Neither my primary nor my Cardiologist had ever heard of that side effect.

With Cardiologists OK, went off Eliquis December 23, 2022 and a week later could walk the half mile to our mail station and back w/o a problem! Six weeks later, I'm walking 2-3 miles a day at a 2 - 2.5 miles an hour pace.

Thank you for the input. All of it helps knowing I am not alone.

I never heard of Xarelto causing stomach bleeding (aggravating preexisting bleeding, yes).
That's the reason people taking it are advised not to take ibuprofen (which can cause stomach bleeding).

Have you ever investigated why you might have stomach bleeding in the first place?

I am turning 60 soon. My mom had a-fib (lived to 88). I had it off and on the last few years; then last year after the vaccine, I started getting a fib every other week. I ended up in ER. He prescribed metropolol and aspirin. I felt great. Then my cardio prescribed metropolol and Eliquis. I hate it. I am achy, swollen, joints hurt, depressed, fatigued, etc. ugh. My question is why do I have to take blood thinners if my afib is controlled and no longer occurring? Why can't I take aspirin. This is affecting my quality of life? Thank you. How do I find the risk of blood clots one v. the other?

I think MD's overprescribe blood thinners, and my cardiologist finally agreed. I have afib once a year or so, with heart rate 160-180, and always end up in ambulance. However I have declined blood thinners. I recently read that they have found short-term blood thinners for afib lasting more than 5.5 hours is better than long term blood thinners for those with infrequent afib. This has not yet been put into practice though. My last episode was 7 hours and they did an echocardiogram to check for clots in the heart. Aspirin is no longer recommended, both because it is not effective for this purpose and because of side effects. You can decline medications anytime you want to. If your afib is more frequent than mine, you could consider trying another anticoagulant.

Thank you so much for your reply. Could you point me to where you read that short term blood thinners is better than long term if you still have it? I have access to pub med, etc. and trying to do my own research. Also - to the others - My legs feel like jelly too and am having a hard time walking. This "cure" is worse than the disease. Good to know I am not alone though. I am looking to make a lifestyle change and looking into natural remedies....<} good luck everyone. Keep in touch.