My EP took me off eliquis. But I’m petrified. I’ll have a stroke now.

@kmj126 Sorry, I may be more of an impediment to your self-learning and decision-making than a help. I merely wanted to help you to understand the typical risk of a stroke for most/all AF patients. There is a reason why a DOAC is prescribed: it's the ethical thing to do because it may prevent a stroke. The risk is real. But, you should follow your expert advice. If that person feels your risk is very low, then please, follow that advice and stop taking the Eliquis. And stop worrying.

@gloaming Hey gloaming, I wasn't pointing fingers at anyone specifically about good, bad, misleading or whatever information, just speaking generally. But I think we all know this happens, and FWIW, I think it's important to point out that out. I really hate seeing someone so upset and confused about what to do about their medical issues, especially when some of that comes from the mixed messages they get from others on the internet. Some of that information is good, some of it's not so good, and it can be hard for anyone not very knowledgeable on a topic to figure any of it out. Hence the best source for personalized information on a medical issue is the person's physician.

@marybird Okay, I was concerned that maybe I had overstepped and was being called out, but in an indirect way. I try very hard to present balanced and complete information so that the patient can formulate their own questions or link two-and-two together...if you know what I mean. I'm trying to facilitate, not irritate or confound people who often seem rather unhappy and desperate to hear from others with shared experience or a shared diagnosis....often not a great one.

Thanks for explaining your post. Nice to have you here, BTW.

@Problem as I see it is Afib/flutter is a complicated issues with many unknowns even with those we trust, ie EPs. There’s still a large gap in understanding the details of afib/flutter. My recommendation is to get knowledgeable and guide your treatment. They see you for 15 min whereas you see you 24/7. We don’t have the knowledge they have but their knowledge is not necessarily right for each of us.

Yes you are saying the same as I have been told and read over last 8 yrs since I recognized my first Aflutter/afib attack. However I must have a contrarian EP in that after my ablation he prescribed 81 mg aspirin instead of elliquis. This has concerned me somewhat but I’ve read some studies which cast doubt on the anticoagulant gospel that is prevalent among cardiac community. There are some studies ARTESIA et al which don’t support the anticoagulant as being better for stroke prevention. My naive opinion is that medical types issue black white rules that are simple for everyone but don’t dig into the depths of data. Some say that anticoagulant isn’t warranted for patients who have undergone successful ablations

@chickenfarmer good advice! Thank you.

@lindy9 thanks for the advice!

@gloaming Yeah, I do understand that. I'd probably have reacted the same way you did had someone else posted what I did. But honestly, I appreciate your posts and what I said in that one really was aimed generally, at no one in particular.
I just know the mishmash of good, bad, misleading or misunderstood information on a medical topic can be so confusing, and can scare the bejibbers out of a person who may be suffering from a particular condition and takes all that information to heart, making them imagine things are so much worse than they really are. I know there are many issues with the medical establishment these days, making it difficult for people to trust or believe their healthcare providers. Some folks adopt a defensive or standoffish stance with their providers, not believing anything the provider says unless it's what they want to hear- this gets to be a vicious circle as the provider may react in kind and the patient stands to gain nothing at all in the way of the help and knowledge the provider possesses. That kind of leaves the patient to his/her own devices.

I guess I am lucky in that I've developed long standing relationships with my doctors that allow for the back and forth dialogue regarding my medical issues. And I do have the education and background in healthcare to understand what I read, and to ask the questions of my providers that puts this information in context of its application to me. That makes all this confusing information make sense to me, though I know not everyone can do that.

Funny, on the topic of Eliquis ( or bloodthinner) or not, I'm one of those people who will probably be a "lifer" on Eliquis by virtue of my A-fib, risk factors for stroke and family history. My A-fib, fortunately has remained paroxysmal and the episodes not that often and generally short in duration. My cardiologist has always been the conservative type ( as am I so I appreciate this) and didn't start me on the Eliquis till I had several 2-3 hour long A-fib events. Since I have a pacemaker with a remote monitor, my cardiologist/pacemaker clinic knows exactly when, how often and how long my A-fib events are ( since the monitor rats on me when these occur) so they know my A-fib burden is low. I've asked, when they tell me my last 3 month monitor report ( or maybe two 3 month reports) showed no signs of A-fib, about my chances of discontinuing the Eliquis, and the cardiologist always tell me that 1) I know, and you know, there will be more occurrences of A-fib, and 2) my other risk factors for stroke justify the Eliquis ( my CHAD2DS2 score of 4, plus a strong family history of strokes). I know he is right, and those requests I have to reconsider the blood thinner are always followed with reports of more A-fib. I can't argue with him, especially considering how conservative he was in waiting for more evidence of A-fib to start me on the bloodthinner. Fortunately, I have had no side effects from the Eliquis, and it's not even that expensive for me as I can use the manufacturer's coupon to pay my copay for the drug. Even still, if my A-fib remains as infrequent and brief as it has, I'd still happily consider a pill in the pocket anticoagulation if that becomes feasible.

And thank you for the warm welcome.

@lindy9 there have been some recent studies which conclude that caffeine is an Afib preventer. Sorta counterintuitive after all the years of drs pushing me to cut back on coffee to reduce
Don’t trust my word check it out.

@lwools I recommend the book the Afib Cure by Bunch and Day. Full of suggestions. Sleep apnea and overweight are big targets as well as diet, exercise, etc They go to some lengths concerning’biomarkers’ we should monitor and respond to as necessary