I am not a pacemaker recipient (yet), my question is will I also be using Warfarin when do go to a pacemaker? I am a bradycardia patient.

 

 

Not many implanting physicians would consider routinely placing patients on coumadin after a pacemaker unless there was another compelling reason.

If you had atrial fibrillation or a blood clot in your arm, then it would be possible, but not typical.

Good luck with the bradycardia pacing.
JV

 

Did you ask the doctor? I had bradycardia, and a pacemaker installed 3 weeks ago. The doctor said I will be on coumadin/warfarin and other medicines for life.

 

Simply having a pm is not usually a reason to be on blood thinners. Flamingo has afib, that's a reason to be on them. They're usually prescribed when you're a clot or stroke risk. Having a pm alone for bradycardia is not a clot/stroke risk.

 

I have 3rd degree heartblock and am not on coumadin or warfarin. However, I do take 1- 81mg baby aspirin daily. BTW, I am 53.

 

I had A-Fib but that went away with electro cardioversion. I don't think the pacemaker alone is the reason for staying on coumadin (and a ton of other meds). It has to do with risk factors for clotting, hence stroke. My blood has to stay water-y enough so that it can't clot. The doctor said bradycardia (slow heartbeat so the blood would not pump through the atria fast enough and had the potential to clot) was a stroke risk, but in my case having had A-Fib is one as well. I just finished taking my morning 7 medicines, and wish I didn't need to take all that stuff! I have a friend who has had a pacemaker for over 10years and he doesn't take any meds!

 

Coumadin is an anticoagulant. Please don't use the term "blood-thinner." The blood does not change viscosity (get thinner or thicker) when on an anticoagulant. Your blood is not watery from using coumadin!

Coumandin/warfarin does not prevent the blood from clotting, it merely slows the clotting. Your blood WILL clot, just not as quickly. If this were not true, then I'd have bled to death from the tiny scratch I got from smacking a door frame with my hand. Not gonna happen.

Sorry dears, but this misconception is a pet peeve of mine.

 

I personally can't stand the "rat poison" business. I'm not a rat and it hasn't poisoned me yet!

 

The others are right. I have Postural Othostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and have had for 8 years. They say it may have caused my PE in June of 2009. I died and came back for some more fun with you all. I received my PM due to the my heart stopping due to the POTS and passing out causing constant injuries. The only reason they have me on warfarin and lovenox is for the PE and some slight issues with the POTS which they are taking care of with minor tweeks every few weeks on the PM. You do not have to go on warfarin unless you have a clottnig problem or if your physician feels you may have a chance to get clots. A PM is not just cause. I am sure I can say you will have a successful surgery and will be on the road to recovery soon to join us with our discussions and tell us your experiences. And yes, you are right agilitydog, your blood is not thinned and you still have clots. You also need to realize though that blood thinning is the common term used by even physicians and please do not take offense to us that use that term. But technically blood thinning does not always have to do with meaning watery. It can also mean free of thicker bodies in the blood, by having fewer clots, so the term is technically still right. Your body will always produce clots. Warfarin does help you in reducing your clotting rate, thus resulting in fewer clots and making the blood thinner. just changes the rate at which you clot and your INR results can tell you how fast this is. If you have a home monitor it is even easier and quicker than having you blood tested by someone else. Once again, Good Luck on your pending surgery, I will say a prayer for you.

Rev. C. Callahan, D.D.

 

Agilitydog: The Mayo Clinic calls Coumadin a "blood thinner," and so for blood thinner it is, and so I shall. Asperin, warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin. Johns Hopkins' Heart Vascular Institute calls it "blood thinner" as well. Sorry if it's a "pet peeve" of yours, but I think you'll have to deal with it.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-thinners/ANO1304

http://hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/conditions_treatments/treatment/anti-coagulant_medications.html