Connect
AFib - Question about blood thinners
I am on Sotalol to control blood pressure and heart rate. It seems to be working but I am tired and week all the time. I thought with more movement and exercise, I'd feel better, but it hasn't helped. I was on Xarelto until I developed blood in my urine. Thought it might be a kidney problem, but when the Xarelto stopped, the blood also disappeared. Kidneys okay. Now, the doctor wants to put me on Eliquis. I'm truthfully really scared of it. The "Common" side effects include bleeding - in the stomach, intestines, brain, or eyes. I know also, that once on it, you shouldn't stop for fear of blood clots. I really don't want to be on any blood thinners. Still hoping for more natural solution. Anyone else have experience with this?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.
Connect
Do your doctors know about each other, your total health picture, and all of your medications? If they are on the same patient care network, they should be able to see it, but if not, it is up to you as the patient to tell each of them, at every visit.
With disconnected health care systems, it is important to be our own "best advocate" for our health. If you cannot get the answer you need from one of them, you can always ask your primary or your pharmacist for advice.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy Electrophysiologist and Hematologist(s) in unison say the aspirin and the thinner work in separate ways. As my platelets approach the high range of normal I've noticed an instance where I bled freely from a small cut. Recent reports in the media have linked aspirin to brain bleeds.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionPerhaps you could ask to take half the aspirin dosage? My Mom was a smaller person, and that is how we handled the bleeding issue with her. I have never had to deal with the issue as I took so much aspirin in early stages of arthritis that my body cannot tolerate any amount of it now.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGreat idea! I suggested taking the thinner every other day and my Electro shot that down. There was yet another recent study that people who stopped the lo-dose suffered a higher risk of heart attacks within parameters that I don't know if fit me? I have a blood draw soon and I'll question my Hematol. Thanks
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI want to be careful here. I did not say short term blood thinners are better than long term. For those who have infrequent afib, that they are aware of, short term blood thinners could be used for episodes that last less than 5.5 hours. I read this in Stat and will try to find it.
This article supports not having anticoagulation at all certain afibbers with certain CHA2DS2-VASc 0-1 scores. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32535904/#:~:text=Given%20these%20data%2C%20considering%20the%20bleeding%20risk%20unavoidably,omitted%2C%20at%20least%20in%20patients%20with%20high-bleeding%20risk.
I drink the larger size can of low sodium V-8 in the morning for potassium and take magnesium at night. I don't eat after 5pm because later eating with reclining is a trigger. I try to stay hydrated.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHow often do you have afib? My mother had a stroke when they took her off Coumadin for a procedure and failed to bridge her with Luvinox. I don't think anyone with frequent afib should avoid blood thinners. However, for those of us with low CHADS scores and very infrequent afib, long term anticoagulants present more risk than benefit, in my view.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionWhat kinds of effects do you fear? I’m probably biased since I see it as almost saving my life, but I’ve had two very large hematomas - one arm and another in my foot. Since I’ve stopped briefly before for eye surgeries, I stopped for a day or two after the second. My arm got a shot at healing and I didn’t have a stroke. The doctor doesn’t want me to do that (or his staff doesn’t) so I have an appointment to “discuss options” re blood thinners, etc.
I’ve had no other side effects with Eliquis and neither has my husband who takes the same dose but doesn’t have an autoimmune disease that makes healing difficult. In my experience, I’d be more afraid of a stroke than Eliquis.
But my risk of stroke is low since I have afib once a year. I would love to have short term blood thinners (a week or two) if my episode is longer than 5.5 hours but an echocardiogam was used to make sure no clots. My mother is on Coumadin and has so many problems with bleeding, and anemia as a result. There is risk of bleeding in GI tract or brain. But yeah, if I had more frequent afib with higher risk of stroke, I would prefer blood thinners to stroke. I am delaying them as long as I can and still have afib once a year. That could change over time. MY first episode was 2015.
Have you considered an ablation? My husband had two and each one worked for several years. My sister had one a few months ago because she didn’t want blood thinners and, like you, hers wasn’t frequent. So far she’s fine. I hope you’re right, but when the occasional AFib increased with me it was sudden. Instead of a prolonged episode I’d have many short one, so I didn’t always realize it had happened. So, please take care.
The cardiologist at the hospital told me to go home and forget it happened. However the next episode lasted 7 hours. If episodes get longer or more frequent, I would consider ablation yes. It has not come up at all with any of 3 cardiologists since my episodes self-resolve.