What is USCF?
It's UCSF.. University of California at San Franciso!! I tried to post the youtube link but it went to moderation because it's an external link. So go to Youbube and enter UCSF and atrial fibrillation in the search bar and you'll get there
At 87 ,i have been on Wafarin for three years following a heart attack six years ago plus a fib plus atrial flutter for which i had a succesful ablation three years ago.My cardiologist is a well published in the field of restoration of cardiac function as a researcher and clinician.He wants me to remain on Wafarin and that is my advice. to stay on Wafarin for the rest of my life. I eat a mediterrean diet and exercise in one hour classes for the elderly five days a week.My mind is still sharp
i conclude ththat in addition to my cardiologists advice life style and a happy marriage also contributes.My INR remains between 2.0 and 3.0 which is the desired range.
All of these efforts are well worth avoiding a stroke.
I just had a cryoablation done two days ago! I'm at home and feel fine so far. I am on pradaxa for another month or two but will be weened off after that. I'm 54 and was not taking a blood thinner with my afib because i was in such good health. The doctor put me on the blood thinner two weeks ago. It's just to get me through the procedure and the recovery.
There are countless cases of harm being caused by the NOACS and currently many lawsuits taking place in the States. It,s a personal choice to take or not to take and I would not advise anyone either way. It is clearly stated in the advice from the makers of Eliquis that stopping the drug can cause you to have a stroke. For myself I would not have started the medication had I been told this in the first place. I have said previously I suffered a life threatening PE while taking Xarelto and I certainly don't consider that a tiny risk. We would be foolish to assume these drugs are benign. I called Bayer and Bayer who manufacture the drug and they were loathe to engage in any conversation with me. I still take Eliquis but I am researching other ways to alter the viscosity and stickiness of my blood.Hopefully one day we will find a cure for this nasty affliction.
Buddha, I read with insterest your post saying magnesium and taurine are good and calm the heart. Is it ok to take it with the other medications? I'm on bisoprolol, Pradaxa, omepraxole and atorvastatin, the gps don't want to know about supplements do they. I'd be interested to know whether you checked this out. Keep well.
Hi Pauline...as far as I'm aware Magnesium and Taurine are both fairly benign but having said that I would suggest you join afibbers group as you can post there and ask the questions. a lot of very knowledgeable people will respond. I am a pill phobic and tho I have a number of chronic conditions I take only Flecainide, Eliquis and occasionally Metrpanol. I have not had a problem with any of the supplements I take.
You can you can be in excellent health and still require something to keep the viscosity of your blood at a good level. Majority of people with AFIB are in good health as I am, that doesn't stop one from suffering a stroke. I get episode 3-5 times a month. I eat well exercise and socialise as best I can under the circumstances but last year I suffered a PE because of AF. Although I hate taking Blood thinners the probably saved my life.
Your doc will of course be the one who decides if u need to stay on blood thinners for life. U r relatively young and healthy and that is in your favor so u may be able to get off them. I believe being over 65 is one of the Chad score items that would make u at higher risk.
As much as I wanted to get off of blood thinners, because I'm female and over 65' and have been diagnosed with afib, my risk of stroke is high and I have accepted the fact that I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life.
Just wondering. I had my ablation 4 wks ago and the only thing I have felt is an occ skip and flip flop. No episodes I am aware of. I felt nothing the first 2 wks. I'm running mid 70's- went to 118 . Had to walk3 blocks in 90 heat to the dentist but it came right back down. I've survived 3 grandkids this week, age 10, 7, 4. I figured that was a pretty good test of stress related afib.
Anyone else have episodes before their blanking period was up?
Yes! GPs sent me into hospital repeatedly...were not aware of the blanking period! Nor was I no one mentioned in the run up or the aftermath of the ablation! St Mary's Paddington London that was!
I suppose it makes sense that the heart needs time to recover after the scarring and will try to do what it did before giving a few bumps and jumps before it settles down
.
RHad my ablation April 20th. Saw the cardiologist a few weeks ago(3 month follow up).
Apparently the loop recorder that I have implanted in my chest picked up a three hour episode of Afib that self corrected about two weeks after my ablation. Since then it's been fine.
Hopefully it will stay that way
I just had my ablation two weeks and two days ago. My heart hadn't skipped a beat since then. The past two mornings my heart had been skipping beats but not going into full afib. The doctor told me that it was normal and they should fade over time.
Takes a while for it all to settle down. That why they don't count any Afib in the 3 month 'blanking period'.
Good luck with it all🙂
Thank you for your reply buddah, keep well, will check out afibbers.
Late only just read the post..this works for me after horrendous acid.
basically take first pill in bed with good amount of water..do not eat cereal toast ( carbs) for one to two hours...carry on as normal but confine the bread and bad carbs to the daytime, cakes chips biscuits etc. Experiment with second pill before evening meal during after etc...but no carbs..or minimal like mash boiled potato small rice dish..they swell in the stomach and the acid contained in the pill can not penetrate so comes back up. This is a bit shorthand if you want to discuss please contact. Good luck
Been on different blood thinners. Latest is eliquis. I recently took a nasty fall. Luckily not on my head. My leg had been swollen and sore for now about a months. While it is healing very slowly I think it has something to do with the blood thinner making it much worse. Has made me very leary. What if a head injury. scary...
Hi buddah.
I just joined this discussion. Wondering how your journey has been. Let me know if your still active on this forum.
I find this is a very informative thread.i have learned a lot from others that have given their advice and perspective.
As for these new pill thinners ask your doctor if he is aware of the stage three testing in the aging individuals.in the U.S.A. On some new drug trials , the test population stops at age 70.it will be several years before retroactive results are known about the correct failure rates will be published.
As for myself at now age 88, i will continue to remain on Warfarin.
The diet restrictions do require attention as to what you eat and you do have to remember to take the warfarin on time and as scheduled.
Fortunately, i have a loving wife of the same age as myself who is an excellent cook and manages my medications for me.I value living stroke free rather than the simpler use of these newer drugs .
Quite an old thread, but with some recent comments. I was diagnosed with atrial flutter last November, having had a couple of episodes of racing heart and breathlessness under exercise during 2016. Within weeks, and before I could see a specialist, I had had a stroke, and after was prescribed Eliquis as an NOAC.
I asked my GP practice why they had not prescribed an anti-coagulant upon the atrial flutter diagnosis, and the response was that my CHADs risk was deemed very low, my only score being male over 65. I lead a healthy lifestyle, plenty of exercise, non-smoker, moderate drinker, not overweight, no heart disease history in the family, but nonetheless I had a stroke which has left me with permanently impaired vision.
I had an ablation in June, and have had no serious episodes since; I have my consultant review in a couple of weeks. I still get occasional palpitations and ectopics, but am able to manage this mostly through diet and managing my stomach. However, I would take an very large amount of persuasion to stop taking the Eliquis. Having had a stroke based on a very low probability, what's to stop it happening again?
Sherpa Al