New Pacemaker

Philosophy of being a patient

by Gotrhythm - 2018-02-16 14:00:10

I have no opinion about the anticoagulant, but I do know this: it is important that you understand your condition, the rationale for treatment, and the pros and cons of any treatment offered. What will happen if you do treat. What will happen if you don't.

For good or for ill, you (not the doctor) are the one who will have to live with the results. Therefore, as much as possible it behooves you to know what you're getting into.

In these days of the eight minute doctor visit, you can't expect doctors to volunteer any information you didn't ask for. That means you need to have your questions organized and written down before you go. It's up to you to ask what are the short term and long term consequences of any treatment.

Finally, you need to a doctor you can put your trust in. Trust doesn't mean think they are nice. It means you feel that your doctor is knowledgeable, thorough, and competent, and willing to explain your options.

Clearly, for whatever reason, you don't trust this doctor's recommenations. Fine. But you do have a condition that needs treatment. Find a doctor that you do trust.

afib

by Tracey_E - 2018-02-16 14:44:58

They can also treat afib sometimes with rhythm medications rather than blood thinners. Did they discuss that as an option? You need to be on something. Untreated afib causes strokes. 

A-Fib

by Chapter - 2018-02-16 19:37:20

Thank you for all of your advice, I do appreciate it very much.  I understand the importance of knowing your condition, being prepared and ready with your questions for doctors.  My GP is a nice person Gotrythm, but that is not  why I go to see her.  This is a small community with a shortage of doctors, and the option of switching up when not completely satisfied with care is not really an option.  I can speak to her freely and ask as many questions as I want, but she is not a Cardiologist and that is nice I have referral to see one.  Another concern is we are a 5 hour drive away from Cardiologists and if I get an appointment within a month I will be surprised.  I have read everything I can find on Pacemakers (after the fact) and now on A-Fib and treatments.  Before that, seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Lupus and studied that to death until I was comfortable with my disease and knew what to watch out for and how to take care of myself.  So, I guess now, I need to know as much as I can so when I see Cardiologist I know which questions to ask.  That is why I am here I guess 😁.

It would be nice if I could get to talk to Cardiologist before starting on medication and get alternatives because, as Robin1 pointed out, she had stroke coming off of blood-thinner, so once decision is made to start then that is done I guess.

I forgot, just in case you haven’t heard enough about me, I also have micro hemaurtia (recognized for years but no cause found), and I am wondering how blood thinner will affect that.  I asked my GP, she said she didn’t “think”  that would be a problem. I think I need to know.   I know you don’t have answer for me, I just need to feel good about decision I make and commit.

Thank you for listening, if you are still there 😏!

Kindle book

by marylandpm - 2018-02-16 21:57:12

  I found this helpful.  available online. Pacemaker Made Easy  

Auther:  Carl Robinson.   

Anticoagulants

by Theknotguy - 2018-02-17 17:59:31

There are several anticoagulants out there with which people can have different results.  

Coumadin/Warfarin, in my opinion, is the most dangerous because it affects so many things.  I was on it and had many side effects.  My doctor was more interested in the numbers on his chart than what it was doing to me.  After three trips to the hospital because of internal bleeding I got a different doctor.  The other side effect was when I'd get a small cut it wouldn't stop bleeding. So I'd put a band-aid on the cut.  When I took the band-aid off, I'd have two smaller cuts from the band-aid.  They would require two band-aids to stop the bleeding - which would result in four cuts - which would require four band-aids - you get the picture.  I would often run out of places to put the band-aids but still would have bleeding cuts.  The advantage of Coumadin/Warfarin is that it is "inexpensive" per dose but you need to do frequent blood tests.  You'll frequently hear "rat poison" as references to Coumadin/Warfarin.  I un-ashamedly call it rat poison myself.  

I switched over to Eliquis/Apixaban and haven't had any problems.  I'll have trouble with deeper cuts but a little nick doesn't bleed all day.  So I'm very happy with it.   I don't seem to have any side effects either.  

I've heard Rivaroxaban / Xarelto can cause stomach problems.  However I've talked with people who are on it and don't seem to have side effects.  Since I was never on it I can't comment. 

Both Apixaban/Xarelto have a higher initial cost than Coumadin/Warfarin. 

Also remember different people will react differently to medications.  I can't take Flecanide, my wife gets along with it quite well.  Some people have stomach problems with Xarelto others get along fine with it.   

About afib.  Risk is risk.  As soon as you have afib you are at risk for getting a blood clot in the heart.  Once the heart goes back into normal rhythm you are in danger of having that blood clot pumped out.  It can cause a heart attack, stroke, and a lot of other things.  When a blood clot clogs an artery or vein it can kill you.   Just because it hasn't happened so far doesn't mean it will never happen.  That's why the doctors tell you to take blood thinners.  They have no way to predict if or when you'll have a blood clot in the heart.  

If you pick up a stone, then drop it,  That's how long it took me to hit the floor when I got a blood clot in my heart.  It felt like someone had stuck a knife in the middle of my back and my heart was bouncing all over the place.  I had to go on high doses of Warfarin for a month while the clot slowly dissolved.  I was in constant afib the whole time.  I went back to work after a week because I couldn't sit in the house worrying I might die at any moment.  I told the security guys at work not to pay attention if I was leaning against the wall gasping for breath.  But if I was on the floor, call the ambulance.  Finally,  after a month, the clot dissolved and my heart went back to normal rhythm.  So from past painful experience, I'll tell you that you don't want a blood clot in your heart.  You will need to take a blood thinner - probably for the rest of your life.  Needless to say I'm very religious about taking my Eliquis.  

I'm aware of the angst that goes with having to take a blood thinner.  But with the pacemaker and the afib it's best not to temp fate.  Even with the pacemaker, my heart drugs, and my Eliquis I lead a fairly normal life.  It isn't a restriction to the things I want to do.  (I don't free hand climb mountains and I don't jump out of perfectly good airplanes.  So I don't miss that kind of activity because I don't do it.) 

Hope everything goes well for you.  
 

Jumping out of planes

by Chapter - 2018-03-01 12:13:08

Thank You TheKnotGuy for your advice, I do appreciate your very good message.  I have been taking Baby Aspirin every day since getting A-fib diagnoses but have read that it is anti-platelet not anti-coagulant, and doesn’t do quite te same thing, even though they do prescribe to older people for A-Fib.

You have done a very good job of convincing me that I should get started on those pills in the cupboard.  I will tell you one more reason for my hesitation.  My husband works away, so I am on my own 3 weeks of the month.  I feel like  - “do you want to have a stroke on your own or bleed to death”, hard to say 🤦‍♀️,  My husband will be home on Monday, the 5th, then  I guess I better get started - I am silly but I would feel safer if he was home when I start something new like this.  I am sure if you were he would be giving you a hug right now.

Chapter 🌹