Blood Thinners.

Gidday from New Zealand.

I have had my PM for just over 12 months now and feel great.

My condition was Atrial Flutter and I was prescribed Aspirin 100mg as a blood thinner to reduce the risk of Blood Clotting.

I am 64 years young, workout at the Gym most days and walk my dog every day.

I don't carry any extra weight - due to an active lifestyle.

The Doctor at the Pacemaker Clinic seems to think that I should be taking Warfarin instead of Aspirin.

What are your thoughts on this - I've heard that Warfarin can have bad side effects and feel that if the Aspirin is doing it's job and has no side effects why change it...

I would prefer to leave things as they are as I've had no issues???

What do you think??? - any advice would be appreciated.

4 Comments

Aspirin?

by AgentX86 - 2018-06-05 08:33:58

In no way is aspirin enough of an anticoagulant for someone with AF/AFL.  Warfarin is a PITA but there are alternatives.  I was on it, on and off (whenever I was in AF) for a couple of years but was switched to Eliquis once it was clear that the AF was with me for the long term.  Eliquis has a lot fewer bleed problems and is much easier to deal with (no INR testing).  There are other drugs that work just as well.  Your EP can recommend them.  They aren't as cheap as warfarin (rat poison ;-) but they're a lot easier to take and safer. 

Hi

by Bionic Beat - 2018-06-05 22:00:59

AFib and AFlutter can lead to stroke.  If your Pacemaker doctor thinks you should be on warfarin, you should be on warfarin in my opinion.

As others have posted, there are other choices but I would do as your doctor suggests as he knows your case and we are all different.

I have been on Warfarin for many years with no problems at all.  Once you get it to therapeutic levels, you just cannot go hog wild with broccoli.  Some?  Yes.  A lot?  No.

I have had my INR (reading of thinned blood) go too high and I knew because I get small bruises that just show up or my gums will bleed a bit.  Then, I just cut back for a day or two and get it rechecked.

You are safer on Coumadin (Warfarin) than off it.   If you do bleed, they can give you some Vitamin K to stop it.  If you dont take it and have a stroke, there is no way to reverse any damage.   You might get better but you might not.

All the best,

Bionic Beat

Blood Thinners.

by Growla - 2018-06-05 23:24:20

Hi all - many thanks for your comments and advice.

I'm off to visit my Doctor on Friday afternoon for a discussion about all the options so hopefully we will be able to sort something out.

There are alot of newer drugs out now which seem to be alot more effective than Warfarin and with less side effects - after all Warfarin is a form of Rat poisin. :-(

Will let you know the outcome (if any)

Regards

Kev (Turbo-Ticker)

How not to treat your pet rat !

by IAN MC - 2018-06-06 13:03:12

Yes warfarin was used as a rat poison but I promise you all of the newer blood-thinners could also be used as rat poison if the dose was high enough. Warfarin just happened to come along first !

I was on warfarin but stopped it immediately after having a highly successful cardiac ablation for atrial flutter... something you may want to consider rather than being on blood-thinners for life ?

Ablation cure-rates for atrial flutter are around 95 %

Best of luck

Ian

 

You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.