a healthy diet can be used to prevent a stroke. People consuming a low meat or animal diet, little or no cheese usually do not have high blood pressure. I am 77.
@lindy9 "The risk lies at the rate of a whopping 90% from poorly flushed blood in the small pouch at the extreme left of the left atrium known as the 'left atrial appendage'. Pooling blood in the LAA happens when the atrium is fluttering or fibrillating. When a patient is in the paroxysmal and persistent and long-standing-persistent stages, not to mention if their AF is 'permanent', clots can form there soon after the arrhythmia commences, and they can be dislodged at any time, either when the heart resumes normal sinus rhythm (NSR) or just on happenstance. Those clots will then travel to the brain, the lungs, or to the heart's own blood vessels where they can lodge and cause tissue death. Believe me, you do not want a heart attack, clots in your lungs, or a stroke because of a clot in your brain." Info from another poster.
I read the posts here day after day by people most of which have jumped from med to med and treatment to treatment, many or most are frustrated because the problem has not been eliminated which is the reason they are posting. I personally had severe afib from age 14 to 21, with my heart jumping around like a ping pong ball and other scary symptoms for minutes, hours, or overnight. If I had those symptoms at my age, I probably would be history.
I discovered that eliminating caffeine, eliminated the problem, including nervous symptoms. Also, consume a lot less sugar, animal products and rarely any processed food. I am now 77 and walk up and down steep hills every day to town.
Those posters who have done all that I have done and still have problems, can keep scrolling and search for answers. I believe that most health problems blamed on genetics, are actually bad habits learned from parents and ancestors.
I do not apologize for my strong opinions based on my experiences, because I have alleviated many health problems unrelated to heart over the years, as meds etc. caused me more problems than the original. If I help a few people along the way, it is a wonderful thing. I take NO meds and have a list of 34 people that I knew, most 10 to 20 yrs younger than me who died of preventable diseases.
I am 75 back in May when they were trying out different BP meds I had Afib 4 .times the last one August 25 each event lasted a few hours. I don’t eat read meat I run 5 miles 3X a week they put me on 5 mg 2X a day it had caused me pain in the knees and ankles and back pain I see my cardiologist for 6 month follow-up on 1/8 I was thinking about asking if I could reduce or stop the medication I was wondering what the chances are if getting a stroke if I stop taking it?
I am 75 back in May when they were trying out different BP meds I had Afib 4 .times the last one August 25 each event lasted a few hours. I don’t eat read meat I run 5 miles 3X a week they put me on 5 mg 2X a day it had caused me pain in the knees and ankles and back pain I see my cardiologist for 6 month follow-up on 1/8 I was thinking about asking if I could reduce or stop the medication I was wondering what the chances are if getting a stroke if I stop taking it?
@rice Don't really think you can think in terms of percentages when dealing with a medical condition. If for whatever reason you develop a stroke it's 100% and if you never get one it's 0%. Don't really think there is anything in between.
Best to talk it over with physician and come up with maybe not a perfect plan but one that you're willing to adjust and live with.
Risk is assigned on the basis of probability, which is a field of mathematics. When I said earlier that there is an assigned risk of about 90% assigned to clots coming from the LAA, what I was implying is that...IF...one gets a clot that can legitimately and rationally be attributed to one's heart arrhythmia, like atrial fibrillation in this case, the probability that the clot came from the LAA and nowhere else in the heart runs at about 90%. It does not mean that you run a 90% risk of a stroke if you are in AF and you do not take a DOAC. That assigned risk is stated in the literature as about 'six times what the risk is for a stroke for people with the same comorbidities and at the same stage of life (age).' IOW, your risk of a stroke when you are fibrillating rises to six times what you would otherwise expect your risk to be at your age an in your condition. The AF changes everything....but only when it happens and for a few weeks afterwards.
'''and for a few weeks afterwards.' That is exceedingly important right there. The cardiology field has determined that clots can leave the LAA weeks after the last run of AF and do their damage. This is a very sobering thought! And, if we assume it's at least close to being true, then shouldn't a patient remain on a DOAC for some time after his/her last bout of AF, or after an ablation? The answer is yes, and that is why patients are told, pretty much routinely, that once they have AF they should accept a prescription for a DOAC for life. Even if a Watchman is installed and it proves to be leak-free at the six-month TEE, the conscientious EP will ask the patient to at least take a 'baby aspirin' once a day forever...the 81 mg variety of ASA.
Anyone had mitral valve repair/replacement surgery then had AFIB ? I have had 2 episodes of AFIB , one required cardioversion and the other treated pharmacologically and reverted to NSR;I experienced these episodes within 2 years of mitral valve repair surgery; was prescribed and taking Eliquis but cardiac ablation has been recommended due to my age age (64). Anyone else have similar experience?
Anyone had mitral valve repair/replacement surgery then had AFIB ? I have had 2 episodes of AFIB , one required cardioversion and the other treated pharmacologically and reverted to NSR;I experienced these episodes within 2 years of mitral valve repair surgery; was prescribed and taking Eliquis but cardiac ablation has been recommended due to my age age (64). Anyone else have similar experience?
@lucyva Unfortunately, it's not all that uncommon. And it's also a chicken/egg conundrum where mitral valve prolapse can cause AF, and AF left to run a long time unchecked can cause mitral valve prolapse.
You are apparently in the newest, or 'paroxysmal' stage of AF where it comes and corrects itself on its own. This is the best place to be, not in the more advanced and intractable stages like persistent, long-standing persistent, and (gulp!) permanent. It is at the earliest stages that AF can be beaten into submission, for want of a bellicose term, and so an ablation is always a worthy consideration in discussion with a good electrophysiologist; the earlier the better.
Note that this is a permanent disorder and that it tends to progress, especially if not treated early. Even though it can't be 'cured', it can be stopped. The gold standard of care is currently the catheter ablation, or perhaps the MAZE or Mini-MAZE procedure done at some hospitals. It's worth reading up on all of those, plus the side effects and long-term efficacy of all the various drugs routinely prescribed to control arrhythmias.
I've had fibromyalgia since 1989. Have been taking cyclobenzaprine and it still works (except for those times I tell myself 'I'm cured' and stop. Then all the symptoms come back in full force. ) Now I've been diagnosed with AFib and prescribed Eliquis 5 mg bid.
Frankly, I'm afraid of this stuff. But I don't want a stroke and I don't want to take Eliquis and I can't have the best of both worlds. I've been a vegan 98% of my life (fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables), exercise everyday, even when my legs were broke (I could always do pilates), walk 3-5 miles a day. But I don't drink enough water. Very important. You have to drink lots of water.
I guess I'm just venting. The holistic treatment is more my speed, but even they say to combine holistic with traditional medicine. My aim is to start Eliquis tomorrow. And to get thru my anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes. It really helps to have this community. God bless you all.
@afiber I went on Eliquis for paroxysmal AF about two years ago, and had virtually no side effects, but wanted off it, perhaps to go to “pill in a pocket”, and certainly because it cost me $300/mo. after ins./Med. But an echocardiogram since then means anticoagulants, period, forever, as my two “benign congenital murmurs” have now been diagnosed as a POF, or leaky valve, which is yet another stroke risk factor. Several months ago I was switched, per my request, to Xarelto, which is only $28 after insurance, but my spontaneous bruising and eye bleeds are worse, and I’d return to Eliquis if the price were lower. Just my two cents worth. Good luck…
@justlucky No I don't. It's not a means-tested discount, your income doesn't matter. The only requirements ( listed in a questionnaire you fill out on the website when you apply) are that you 1) are a US citizen, 2) have prescription drug insurance coverage and 3) that drug coverage is through a private insurance company, not through a government carrier such as Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare ( or any other military-related coverage).
My husband and I are both on Medicare Parts A and B, with a secondary insurance coverage through the federal employees BC/BS retirement coverage. It's the FEPB coverage that provides the prescription drug coverage, it's a private, not government insurance company, so we qualify for this Eliquis discount card. Note though, that approximately two years ago this retirement FEPB coverage adopted a "FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program" (MPDP) where the premiums a Medicare subscriber paid for this insurance gets them into a Medicare prescription drug program ( Medicare must really want that Blue Cross money) similar to a Part D program, and all the subscribers, including us, were transferred without our ok into that program. We had to opt out of this program in writing to be put back into the FEPB traditional drug coverage program, but they did it. If I'd remained in the FEPB MPDP program where they moved me, I'd not have been eligible for this Eliquis discount program.
You're fortunate to have such great insurance coverage and be eligible to pay only $10 for Eliquis. I have a Part D plan so don't qualify -- even though my income is low enough to qualify for hospital discounts. So I'm paying $240 a month. Rather, I'm CHARGING $240 a month, because I can't possibly afford it otherwise, and that added debt load has bad consequences.
I'd really like to know how to find a reputable Canadian pharmacy where I could order it.
Re-posting from another thread if helpful, but $70/mo rather than $30 (still much better than $700/mo!):
My husband and I entered into the so called donut hole last year and both are on Eliquis. I asked my PCP about drugs from Canada and he gave me information about a pharmacy that other of his patients had used successfully. LifeRx is the one we are using to get Apixaban/generic Eliquis. They offer several options as to amount, strength and source for the drug including the UK, India and, of course, Canada. It took awhile and some calls to their help line to order from their somewhat confusing website and at the time the payment methods included American Express as the only credit card they would accept. The other option was to use wire transfer which is what we use. I received notice that they now do not accept any credit card for payment. You must provide them with a prescription from your doctor...ours gave us one on a full 8X10 sheet. Easily legible and fax-friendly. LifeRx notifies us when we are eligible for refills and the refill process is quick and easy. The cost of my 3 month supply was under $70 the first time but the cost increased the next time to $76. This included shipping. The price fluctuates. Expect a wait time between 2-3 weeks to receive. I'll admit I was nervous about ordering from them and was anxious waiting for the shipment to get here but we are very satisfied with the price and the help line is available.
@sherryzitter -- Thank very much for posting the name of the pharmacy.
I'm on the Olympic Peninsula, on the Canadian border -- we can see Victoria BC from here. If anyone knows of a legit, reliable, honest pharmacy in BC, Canada, I'd love to know about it.
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@lindy9 "The risk lies at the rate of a whopping 90% from poorly flushed blood in the small pouch at the extreme left of the left atrium known as the 'left atrial appendage'. Pooling blood in the LAA happens when the atrium is fluttering or fibrillating. When a patient is in the paroxysmal and persistent and long-standing-persistent stages, not to mention if their AF is 'permanent', clots can form there soon after the arrhythmia commences, and they can be dislodged at any time, either when the heart resumes normal sinus rhythm (NSR) or just on happenstance. Those clots will then travel to the brain, the lungs, or to the heart's own blood vessels where they can lodge and cause tissue death. Believe me, you do not want a heart attack, clots in your lungs, or a stroke because of a clot in your brain." Info from another poster.
Judy3276 And so your point is?
I read the posts here day after day by people most of which have jumped from med to med and treatment to treatment, many or most are frustrated because the problem has not been eliminated which is the reason they are posting. I personally had severe afib from age 14 to 21, with my heart jumping around like a ping pong ball and other scary symptoms for minutes, hours, or overnight. If I had those symptoms at my age, I probably would be history.
I discovered that eliminating caffeine, eliminated the problem, including nervous symptoms. Also, consume a lot less sugar, animal products and rarely any processed food. I am now 77 and walk up and down steep hills every day to town.
Those posters who have done all that I have done and still have problems, can keep scrolling and search for answers. I believe that most health problems blamed on genetics, are actually bad habits learned from parents and ancestors.
I do not apologize for my strong opinions based on my experiences, because I have alleviated many health problems unrelated to heart over the years, as meds etc. caused me more problems than the original. If I help a few people along the way, it is a wonderful thing. I take NO meds and have a list of 34 people that I knew, most 10 to 20 yrs younger than me who died of preventable diseases.
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Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsI am 75 back in May when they were trying out different BP meds I had Afib 4 .times the last one August 25 each event lasted a few hours. I don’t eat read meat I run 5 miles 3X a week they put me on 5 mg 2X a day it had caused me pain in the knees and ankles and back pain I see my cardiologist for 6 month follow-up on 1/8 I was thinking about asking if I could reduce or stop the medication I was wondering what the chances are if getting a stroke if I stop taking it?
@rice Don't really think you can think in terms of percentages when dealing with a medical condition. If for whatever reason you develop a stroke it's 100% and if you never get one it's 0%. Don't really think there is anything in between.
Best to talk it over with physician and come up with maybe not a perfect plan but one that you're willing to adjust and live with.
Risk is assigned on the basis of probability, which is a field of mathematics. When I said earlier that there is an assigned risk of about 90% assigned to clots coming from the LAA, what I was implying is that...IF...one gets a clot that can legitimately and rationally be attributed to one's heart arrhythmia, like atrial fibrillation in this case, the probability that the clot came from the LAA and nowhere else in the heart runs at about 90%. It does not mean that you run a 90% risk of a stroke if you are in AF and you do not take a DOAC. That assigned risk is stated in the literature as about 'six times what the risk is for a stroke for people with the same comorbidities and at the same stage of life (age).' IOW, your risk of a stroke when you are fibrillating rises to six times what you would otherwise expect your risk to be at your age an in your condition. The AF changes everything....but only when it happens and for a few weeks afterwards.
'''and for a few weeks afterwards.' That is exceedingly important right there. The cardiology field has determined that clots can leave the LAA weeks after the last run of AF and do their damage. This is a very sobering thought! And, if we assume it's at least close to being true, then shouldn't a patient remain on a DOAC for some time after his/her last bout of AF, or after an ablation? The answer is yes, and that is why patients are told, pretty much routinely, that once they have AF they should accept a prescription for a DOAC for life. Even if a Watchman is installed and it proves to be leak-free at the six-month TEE, the conscientious EP will ask the patient to at least take a 'baby aspirin' once a day forever...the 81 mg variety of ASA.
Anyone had mitral valve repair/replacement surgery then had AFIB ? I have had 2 episodes of AFIB , one required cardioversion and the other treated pharmacologically and reverted to NSR;I experienced these episodes within 2 years of mitral valve repair surgery; was prescribed and taking Eliquis but cardiac ablation has been recommended due to my age age (64). Anyone else have similar experience?
@lucyva Unfortunately, it's not all that uncommon. And it's also a chicken/egg conundrum where mitral valve prolapse can cause AF, and AF left to run a long time unchecked can cause mitral valve prolapse.
You are apparently in the newest, or 'paroxysmal' stage of AF where it comes and corrects itself on its own. This is the best place to be, not in the more advanced and intractable stages like persistent, long-standing persistent, and (gulp!) permanent. It is at the earliest stages that AF can be beaten into submission, for want of a bellicose term, and so an ablation is always a worthy consideration in discussion with a good electrophysiologist; the earlier the better.
Note that this is a permanent disorder and that it tends to progress, especially if not treated early. Even though it can't be 'cured', it can be stopped. The gold standard of care is currently the catheter ablation, or perhaps the MAZE or Mini-MAZE procedure done at some hospitals. It's worth reading up on all of those, plus the side effects and long-term efficacy of all the various drugs routinely prescribed to control arrhythmias.
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1 Reaction@afiber I went on Eliquis for paroxysmal AF about two years ago, and had virtually no side effects, but wanted off it, perhaps to go to “pill in a pocket”, and certainly because it cost me $300/mo. after ins./Med. But an echocardiogram since then means anticoagulants, period, forever, as my two “benign congenital murmurs” have now been diagnosed as a POF, or leaky valve, which is yet another stroke risk factor. Several months ago I was switched, per my request, to Xarelto, which is only $28 after insurance, but my spontaneous bruising and eye bleeds are worse, and I’d return to Eliquis if the price were lower. Just my two cents worth. Good luck…
@marybird
You're fortunate to have such great insurance coverage and be eligible to pay only $10 for Eliquis. I have a Part D plan so don't qualify -- even though my income is low enough to qualify for hospital discounts. So I'm paying $240 a month. Rather, I'm CHARGING $240 a month, because I can't possibly afford it otherwise, and that added debt load has bad consequences.
I'd really like to know how to find a reputable Canadian pharmacy where I could order it.
@sherryzitter -- Thank very much for posting the name of the pharmacy.
I'm on the Olympic Peninsula, on the Canadian border -- we can see Victoria BC from here. If anyone knows of a legit, reliable, honest pharmacy in BC, Canada, I'd love to know about it.