I have been diagnosised with AF and my GP has given me beater blockers which are course stopping the fibillations,however the AF occurred whilst I was having an operation and the hospital did suggest that I should go on warfarin.
I thought that being only in my late 60s may be to early,but many of my friends are saying the younger you are the better.I have always had a weight problem but have lost nearly 2 stone and hope to continue to loose further weight in the coming year.
Like so many people I would hate to suffer a stroke,would warfarin be best.
What operation were you having when going into AF?
I had AF after aortic valve replacement that was fixed by cardioversion. 18 months later I had a colonoscopy and went back into AF after the probe stimulated my vagus nerve.
Hi Pauline
Well done on the weight loss - I was under 60 when diagnosed with AF and since my BP was OK and other than the AF I had no other health issues it was decided I do not yet have to be on warfarin although I have been told it is likely in the future - glad your symptoms are under control.
I hope you are at least on daily dose of one asprin. That is dangerous to take nothing.
I have yet to find a person who had Cardioversion and it lasted . That is a money maker for the Dr. and Hospital. Waste of time and money that gives false hope.
Don't go on warfarin, you will have to have blood tests almost every week.
my private specialist put me on Rivaroxaban , one tiny tablet once a day, that's all you need its anticoagulant
You need to be informed that Warafin is the SAFER of the Two. You do not have a "reversal" for Rivaroxaban just in case you get into an Auto Accident, Break your leg or the like. You can die from Internal Bleeding. Warafin is safer in that that an accident patient is given an IV dose of a vitamin and it stops the effect of Warafin and you dont bleed to death internally. Those new substitutes for Warafin all have that common problem. You can bleed to death from them as their is no anectode to stop their blood thinning effect whereas in Warfarin their certainly alway is . Another fact on Warafin, you go for a finger stick once a MONTH once its in balance and furthermore you can get your own machine to check the Coag level yourself. So I point out the dangers of all of these new drugs that replace Warafin. I wouldnt take them . Too dangerous .
They are only suitable for patients with non valvular AF so those with a new heart valve cannot take them.
My first one lasted 18 months and my second one was 10 months ago. I expect mine to last as they did not occur naturally but because of a surgical procedure.
There are Lawsuits against the manufacturers of these classes of drugs already. Due to deaths from internal bleeding and no 'stop' mechanism available. These drugs in my opinion are not even suitable for non heart patients no matter what. Sure they developed a drug, calculated into the cost Lawsuit and payout for lawsuits but patients dont understand the rist of bleeding to death in an accident of almost any sort where internal bleeding is present and cannot be halted.
They can be sued as they are the patent holders. Who do you sue if Warfarin causes a brain haemorrhage?
Hi Pauline, I was diagnosed with AF last June, it came out of the blue as I was making tea, fast heartbeat and irregular pulse, I was given Bisoprolol, (a beta blocker and warfarin). It helped to slow down the heart but I still felt the horrible 'knocking' mostly during the night, I was eventually prescribled digoxin which seemed to calm things down a lot. In October I had a cardioversion which up to now has been successful, I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have asked if anyone has had a successful cardioversion which has lasted but so far have had no responses, I am sure that there is someone out there who has but perhaps after they have been 'done' they no longer use the site. Anyway, on to the warfarin. When first prescribed you do need to visit a warfarin clinic just to check you are on the correct dose, in my case it only took a couple of weeks, I am on 3mg for 4 days and 4mg the rest. I then went fortnightly and now go once a month, the first few visits are usually at the local hospital but again, once you are stabalised you can go to your local surgery or health centre. I am the biggest baby in the wold and don't like needles but it is not scary and does not hurt!! People say that you have to be careful about what you eat and drink, I love green leafy veg which can cause a problem if you have too much as they make vitamin K which is a blood clotting vitamin, however, the nurses told me that you can eat this but in moderation, so as long as you are not having huge portions every day it is fine. You can also have some alcohol, again in moderation if you stick to your units, don't go mad but I enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine over Christmas and I'm fine. As for warfarin itself, it has been tried and tested over years, it is indeen the best thing to take to prevent a stroke, aspirin is no where near as good. The new drugs are supposed to be as good, apparently they don't require you go for testing every few weeks but my GP tells me that there is not enough data known about their prolonged use as they are still fairly new. I am 64, 65 in a few months, never had a pill other than paracetamol in my life so having AF was a bit of a shock, however, with medication it is manageable and hopefully you will lead a full life. Cheers,
HI George I am on bisoloprol - thats it. I asked about aspirin but the GP said not necessary. Interested to hear anybody else experience?
My cardioversion lasted for 5 years came off warfarin and my thyroid went overactive which triggered afib ...but cardioversion does work and last too😊
Hi AF can caused blood clots. I was in AF and developed a mural thrombosis. I'm 44 and on warfarin. Warfarin may be your best option, look into it and speak to the anticoagultion service for advice. I hope your OK.
Out of interest what was the operation that caused it? I went into AF after having my aortic valve replaced. Long after a sucessful cardioversion my vagus nerve was stimulated during a colonoscopy and I went back into AF. Another cardioversion and then a year later after another procedure stimulated my vagus nerve and again in AF.
Hi Carroll, I have been meaning to reply to you between holidays!! I have just returned from Ireland and this Sat am off to Arran in Scotland, (not the one in Ireland)!! Anyway, I started with AF last June, came completely out of the blue, fast HR, irregular pulse, the lot. At A and E, amidorone could not bring it down and so I had the permanent AF for 4 months. However, my cardiologist put me down for a cardioversion which I had in October and 'touch wood', I have been touching a lot of it lately!, I have been ok. I still take bisoprolol and warfarin but have been fine on these meds. I did put a post on in October/November asking if anyone had had a successful cardioversion but I did not get a reply, I know that a lot of them fail during the first year but up to now I have been fine. Anyway, hope that you keep well. Cheers,
Hi the point I am trying to make is I am not in a fib and haven't been for over a year. If I was in afib regularly I Could understand being on anticoagulation all the time but I am not. Therefore I can't understand why I am. Take care Carroll x
Hi just a quickie before I go on my hols. Since my cardioversion I have also not been in AF, (not since October in fact). When I was 'signed off' by the cardiologist I thought that he would take me off the anti coagulant, in my case warfarin as I was back in sinus rhythm and therefore not prone to producing clots. He ummed and ahhed a bit and then said that in view of my age, (I was 64 at the time) and the fact that I may go back into AF, (some people apparently dont' know they have it), he wanted to keep me on warfarin. I sort of went along with it as I had no choice really and wanted to just get on with my life. However, if I am still in sinus rhythm this October, making it one year, I may go back to my GP and see if I can stop the warfarin. I also think that when my AF started I certainly knew about it, I also take my pulse daily just to check. Cheers.