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AFib - Question about blood thinners
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Mar 7, 2022 | Replies (126)Comment receiving replies
How 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.
Replies to "How often do you have afib? My mother had a stroke when they took her off..."
I agree, especially for older patients who are at fall risk. Brain bleeds are a real thing, and if you're on a blood thinner you're pretty much a goner.
As for hemorrhagic strokes, although they only constitute 15% of all strokes, for those on a blood thinner, they are much more lethal than without blood thinners. One has to do a careful cost-benefit analysis considering the various odds and risks.
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What 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.