New to Afib, blood thinners and beta blocker

Posted by debbee @debbee, Sep 4, 2016

Hello - I'm an otherwise healthy 55 year old female, diagnosed with afib 1.5 years ago. The dr. that diagnosed it immediately prescribed warfarin and metoprolol. My regular dr. was away at the time, and when she returned 3 months later, she said "I probably would have only put you on aspirin" - because I am otherwise healthy. No other risk of stroke, my bp is fine, blood sugar is fine, no history of heart attack, etc. But she decided to run the tests and try to determine my afib trigger, so I have since had an echo to check my heart's mechanical health (its good), sleep apnea test (I have mild, and am now on a device that treats it), and I've quite drinking alcohol. I saw an internist that decided I had alcohol induced afib. However, I suspect that my afib may also be triggered by hormone fluctuations caused by the peri-menopause I'm going through, but every dr. I've suggested it to says probably not, hard to prove. Ever since I was put on the 2 meds, I have been asking to get off them. "My" dr. wanted me to go through all the tests, and then decide. I live in a small remote town, and "my" dr. only works half time, so I am constantly seeing a new dr. The last new dr. I had basically said I have no choice but to stay on the drugs. She actually said the words "why do you want to get off the meds". I'm still flabbergasted. I've refused to go back and see that one. I have an appt. this week with yet another dr. to review my sleep apnea results, and maybe since it's under control, I will be able to get off the warfarin. But what about the beta blocker? Has anyone every been on warfarin and a beta blocker, and then been able to get off both of them?
I HATE being on these meds. But obviously I don't want a stroke either.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

@jmgm

Hello I am about to go on warfarin for a month and have cardioversion for afib

Has anyone had cardioversion?

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Hi did u have a cardiologist present during cardioversion and we're u on blood thinner wen u had CV done?

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@thankful

@debbee - Seems like no one has addressed your mention of sleep apnea. Although mild, I want to encourage you to take that as serious as the other things you mention. I believe that apnea is a silent (pardon the pun) killer since it is responsible for so many other health conditions that either cause or exasperate these other conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, etc.) After go through a sleep test in the hospital over 15 years ago and going over the results with the sleep doctor it reminded me of an old Woody Allen movie about all the cells dressed in white responding to an alarm about another issue... Each time we have a bout of apnea our system recognizes that we stopped breathing and the alarm goes off. This alarm is adrenalin and it shoots cortisol into our system so we take a breath. The havoc on our system repeatably being shocked this way is responsible for the myriad of other serious health issues. I want to encourage you and all Connect readers to take Sleep Apnea very serious and not blow it off. On the other side, another wonderful benefit is that my spouse sleeps well and she even says that the low sound of air she hears is very soothing to her.

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Hi @thankful, It's been a while since our paths crossed. Did you know that there is now a Sleep Health group on Connect. Check it out here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health/
I think you might like to contribute to the discussions about sleep apnea.

Hope you're having a good summer.

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Has anyone tried Dr. Sinatra’s four supplements in lieu of the Metropolol and Eliquis? Both drugs are making me break out and itch. Metropolol is causing my hair to fall out. Eliquis has trashed my digestive tract. I was diagnosed in March after an ER visit for a mystery fall. I am otherwise healthy, have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for 30 or more years.I have exercised for 25 years with 10 to 15 hours a week. I don’t have hypertension (BP of 93/65) so it takes several hours to take these drugs and a diuretic. The stroke risk is 6%, and I am such a slow clotter that I am almost not in range. Surely there has to be a better solution.

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What are Dr. Sinatra’s four supplements? My situation sounds very similar to yours and I would like to get off Wluqyis and metropolol

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@mannism

Has anyone tried Dr. Sinatra’s four supplements in lieu of the Metropolol and Eliquis? Both drugs are making me break out and itch. Metropolol is causing my hair to fall out. Eliquis has trashed my digestive tract. I was diagnosed in March after an ER visit for a mystery fall. I am otherwise healthy, have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for 30 or more years.I have exercised for 25 years with 10 to 15 hours a week. I don’t have hypertension (BP of 93/65) so it takes several hours to take these drugs and a diuretic. The stroke risk is 6%, and I am such a slow clotter that I am almost not in range. Surely there has to be a better solution.

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@mannism & @mrsbirns Please be VERY CAUTIOUS about ordering any supplements online to replace proven and prescribed medications. If you are having difficulty with prescribed medications, please reach out to the prescriber, and if you do not get satisfaction, find a new doctor. There are alternatives to most medications. Many will have some side effects, but the decision must be whether the benefits outweigh the negatives.

There are ZERO independent, peer reviewed studies of the Dr Sinatra's regimen being safe and effective in place of prescribed meds. Only ads and promotions by his "Healthy Directions" company. There are also a number of reports on the internet indicating problems with delivery, getting the right product, or being able to cancel.

There are studies showing that some supplements help with some medical conditions, and can improve your health. The problem is that they are not regulated by the FDA, and manufacturers can make all sorts of unsupported or even false claims. If you decide to try a regimen of supplements, you need to get completely educated first on what each ingredient does and how they interact. Supplements are not necessarily benign or safe for everyone.

Have you considered finding a local functional medicine doctor who will help you create a total healthy lifestyle program, which minimizes the number and dose of medication, and possible replaces some with exercise, diet, supplements and close monitoring?
Sue

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@sueinmn

@mannism & @mrsbirns Please be VERY CAUTIOUS about ordering any supplements online to replace proven and prescribed medications. If you are having difficulty with prescribed medications, please reach out to the prescriber, and if you do not get satisfaction, find a new doctor. There are alternatives to most medications. Many will have some side effects, but the decision must be whether the benefits outweigh the negatives.

There are ZERO independent, peer reviewed studies of the Dr Sinatra's regimen being safe and effective in place of prescribed meds. Only ads and promotions by his "Healthy Directions" company. There are also a number of reports on the internet indicating problems with delivery, getting the right product, or being able to cancel.

There are studies showing that some supplements help with some medical conditions, and can improve your health. The problem is that they are not regulated by the FDA, and manufacturers can make all sorts of unsupported or even false claims. If you decide to try a regimen of supplements, you need to get completely educated first on what each ingredient does and how they interact. Supplements are not necessarily benign or safe for everyone.

Have you considered finding a local functional medicine doctor who will help you create a total healthy lifestyle program, which minimizes the number and dose of medication, and possible replaces some with exercise, diet, supplements and close monitoring?
Sue

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I have been at health and fitness for a long time and do not need lessons. Most of these people could not do what I do every week. For 30 years, I have lived the life you described, which I worked very hard to build. It could not be healthier. My own supplements are fine.

As a veteran journalist, I simply asked if anyone had used that formula as I was curious. Julian Whitaker on that Healthy Directions site started 30 or so years ago with menopause treatments, but he was more or less discredited. Don’t try that Dr. Wolfson in Arizona as he is just hawking his products.

Of course, I check things out all the time. That is what I am trained to do.

I have had real integrative care now for a long period and don’t do anything that is not evidence based. I have studied nutrition for longer than any of this and refuse to buy things doctors sell, mostly because you can get the same thing at a less inflated price.

You can subscribe to Consumer Lab and see whether most of these are any good or not. It is basically a Consumer Reports for supplements. Also, Dr. Andrew Weil’s website is an excellent source of information. He does not support junk science. Neither do I.

We have both Duke and UNC here, so I don’t have to go far to find specialists who are highly regarded.

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You would have to look this up but it is nit evidence supported.

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@mannism

Has anyone tried Dr. Sinatra’s four supplements in lieu of the Metropolol and Eliquis? Both drugs are making me break out and itch. Metropolol is causing my hair to fall out. Eliquis has trashed my digestive tract. I was diagnosed in March after an ER visit for a mystery fall. I am otherwise healthy, have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for 30 or more years.I have exercised for 25 years with 10 to 15 hours a week. I don’t have hypertension (BP of 93/65) so it takes several hours to take these drugs and a diuretic. The stroke risk is 6%, and I am such a slow clotter that I am almost not in range. Surely there has to be a better solution.

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I had itching an diarrhea with Eliquis and I need a better solution also.

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The Watchman eliminated the need for a blood thinner.

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