topic Re: Coumidin in Wellness

Coumadin....

mishka14 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:33:34 GMT

my doctor wants me to start taking Coumadin for AFib......anyone else take it for this?

I am resisting this and feel that just an aspirin a day is enough.....thoughts out there...

Re: Coumidin

K9buddy — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:16:13 GMT

Afib increases your chances of a stroke. Aspirin isn't enough to counter a stroke of someone with afib. Most people with afib are on the new blood thinners such as xarelto which does not require regular blood work to monitor levels. Coumadin does require regular blood work. Some people try to scare you from taking the newer blood thinners but I know 4 people with afib and they're all on the newer ones with no ill effects.

Re: Coumidin

Nightowlz — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:31:54 GMT

My dad has AFib & takes Coumadin & Aspirin daily. His arms look all bruised from the Coumadin. He said it's nothing more then rat poison.

You could discuss an alternative with your doctor.

Re: Coumidin

mishka14 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:36:52 GMT

@K9buddy wrote:
Afib increases your chances of a stroke. Aspirin isn't enough to counter a stroke of someone with afib. Most people with afib are on the new blood thinners such as xarelto which does not require regular blood work to monitor levels. Coumadin does require regular blood work. Some people try to scare you from taking the newer blood thinners but I know 4 people with afib and they're all on the newer ones with no ill effects.

the new blood thinners, like Xareltro are very expensive....and I have crappy insurance.

Coumadin is cheap....this is our wonderful U.S. health system......time to move to Canada...

Re: Coumidin

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 19:26:25 GMT

It is very important for a person who has A Fib to take coumadin. I realize what a pain in the neck it is to have to get the blood drawn and all but the risk of throwing a clot and having a stroke or heart attack or pulmonary emboli are very high.

Re: Coumidin

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 19:27:49 GMT

@mishka14 wrote:
@K9buddy wrote:
Afib increases your chances of a stroke. Aspirin isn't enough to counter a stroke of someone with afib. Most people with afib are on the new blood thinners such as xarelto which does not require regular blood work to monitor levels. Coumadin does require regular blood work. Some people try to scare you from taking the newer blood thinners but I know 4 people with afib and they're all on the newer ones with no ill effects.
the new blood thinners, like Xareltro are very expensive....and I have crappy insurance.

Coumadin is cheap....this is our wonderful U.S. health system......time to move to Canada...

Some of those other drugs can have serious side effects. There are lawsuits out there.

Re: Coumidin

millieshops — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:05:48 GMT

@mishka14Why do you use a doctor you think knows less than you know? Is it time to find a new one - or at least to get a second opinion?

I haven't needed coumadin yet, but I do remember the testing it requires is an annoyance, but the aunt who used it never had even a TIA after her doctor prescribed it. (I'm thinking the newer blood thinners weren't on the market when she was alive because I really don't remember we were offered any alternatives once she went from several relatively minor TIA's to a massive, damaging stroke.)

Please do take care.

Re: Coumidin

K9buddy — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:39:18 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
My dad has AFib & takes Coumadin & Aspirin daily. His arms look all bruised from the Coumadin. He said it's nothing more then rat poison.
You could discuss an alternative with your doctor.

Why would your dad be taking both Coumadin and aspirin? Sounds like over kill.

Re: Coumidin

Shelbelle — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 21:23:49 GMT

My Mom had A Fib for years and never took Coumadin or any blood thinners , just a full size aspirin daily and Amioderone.

Way too many commercials for the so called new blood thinners and the class action law suits against them, that alone is enough to scare you to death.

Re: Coumidin

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 21:27:10 GMT

OK - let's discuss the subject of coumadin being rat poison. Sheesh. Yes, rat poison contains coumadin but that is because rats can't throw up so they eat the coumadin in a very large quantity for their body weight and it makes them get a GI bleed and they die from the GI bleed. A person would never take anywhere as much as the rats relative to their size. So - people are monitored closely to make sure they don't take too much coumadin and that their clotting times are within strict standards. The rats consume a huge dose comparatively. Any drug taken in a huge overdose would have horrible side effects.

Re: Coumidin

RedTop — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 21:56:01 GMT

My brother takes a low dose of Coumadin daily due to a history of blood clots.

Re: Coumidin

Hoovermom — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:28:19 GMT

My dear mom has AiFib and was prescribed Coumadin. She took it for years and my sisters decided that she needed to go the "health alternative" route. She had a stroke and her life changed forever.

Re: Coumidin

Vivian — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:58:35 GMT

A couple of years ago my mother had a serious health scare and was hospitalized. Tests showed she had atrial fibrillation. She was put on cumadin. She is 93 and, of course, not in the best of health, but she has her blood checked and tries to watch her diet. Her biggest problem is her spiking blood pressure but she has overcome several crises. She seems to be doing just fine in the cumadin.

Re: Coumidin

hckynutjohn — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:01:22 GMT

@mishka14

I took Coumadin(Warfarin) for 7+ years. I have had 2 heart attacks, but do not have A-fib. I was taking it because of having 2 separate events of Blood Clots in my lungs(PE).

Is your doctor a Cardiologist? What procedures were used to diagnose this heart issue? If it were my GP wanting to put me on Coumadin? Unless I had a long term EKG(not the 30 second kind)/an Echocardiogram, ain't no way would take it.

Since you are asking this question, my suggestion would be to get a 2nd opinion from a well known Cardiologist in your area. Blood thinners can be a dangerous med. People like myself had to get a full blood draw from 3 days to 7 days a week if their INR/ProTime numbers jump all over the place. I did that for over 7 years, not fun.

hckynut(john)

Re: Coumidin

gidgetgh — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:56:47 GMT

My dad has AFib and WAS taking Eliquis and suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (brain bleed) in August. Obviously he doesn't take that anymore and they currently don't have him on anything, while his brain heals. When we go back to the doctor in April, they're going to address that. I don't know what they'll put him on- baby aspirin or something else, but he won't be going back on Eliquis. No one has mentioned Coumadin to us.

Re: Coumidin

hckynutjohn — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 03:56:12 GMT

Sorry, double post. Forum problem.

hckynut(john)

Re: Coumidin

hckynutjohn — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 04:00:38 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
My dad has AFib and WAS taking Eliquis and suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (brain bleed) in August. Obviously he doesn't take that anymore and they currently don't have him on anything, while his brain heals. When we go back to the doctor in April, they're going to address that. I don't know what they'll put him on- baby aspirin or something else, but he won't be going back on Eliquis. No one has mentioned Coumadin to us.

If I ever have to go back on a blood thinner, it will not be Eliquis or any of those new types of blood thinners. Coumadin has been around for a long time and probably saved a lot of lives. The medical profession understands Coumadin(Warfarin) and what to do if problems do occur.

These new "do everything thinners"? No thanks. Is Coumadin a pain in the butt? Yes, but unlike Plavix and some of these new thinner drugs, problems are well known as are what needs to be done to/for their patient when something happens.

hckynut(john)

Re: Coumidin

mishka14 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:23:51 GMT

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@mishka14

I took Coumadin(Warfarin) for 7+ years. I have had 2 heart attacks, but do not have A-fib. I was taking it because of having 2 separate events of Blood Clots in my lungs(PE).

Is your doctor a Cardiologist? What procedures were used to diagnose this heart issue? If it were my GP wanting to put me on Coumadin? Unless I had a long term EKG(not the 30 second kind)/an Echocardiogram, ain't no way would take it.

Since you are asking this question, my suggestion would be to get a 2nd opinion from a well known Cardiologist in your area. Blood thinners can be a dangerous med. People like myself had to get a full blood draw from 3 days to 7 days a week if their INR/ProTime numbers jump all over the place. I did that for over 7 years, not fun.

hckynut(john)

yes, she is a Cardiologist, and she and my Primary Care Dr. have suggested the Coumadin.....I am now on 1 full size aspirin a day....I just had a pacemaker put in in Dec. for sick sinus syndrome, but it does not do anything for Afib.....I am also taking Metropolol too for the AFib....my blood pressure is good on Benicar.....haven't had a major issue with the AFib since October....went I was in the ER for it and they kept me for 2 days doing lots of blood work and test....I have had a lot of EKG since getting the pacemaker....

Dr. said they can't make me take the Coumadin but strongly suggest it... I will not take the new meds out either....just don't know enough about them....

I guess when taking just the aspirin I am taking my chances....but the coumadin does not come with a 100% guarantee that I will not have a blood clot to the brain either....

Just looking for other's imput....thank you for yours.....I agree with you about the new meds.....even my Dr. is not crazy about them...

Re: Coumidin

Alajane — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:37:09 GMT

I resisted taking a blood thinner for a year until my primary doc, my cardiologist, and the surgeon who did my pacemaker all insisted on it. I've been on the blood thinner (not coumadin because non of them recommended that) for 2.5 years with no problems at all. I've always bruised easily and that hasn't gotten any worse than it always was.

When I argued with my primary doc about being afraid of getting a cut while on a blood thinner, he agreed with me and said he would have the same fear but he was much more afraid of having a blood clot go to his brain, so that pushed me over the indecisive edge.

Re: Coumidin

Nightowlz — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:42:28 GMT

@K9buddy wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
My dad has AFib & takes Coumadin & Aspirin daily. His arms look all bruised from the Coumadin. He said it's nothing more then rat poison.
You could discuss an alternative with your doctor.
Why would your dad be taking both Coumadin and aspirin? Sounds like over kill.

I don't know I never asked him. Probably because has had mini strokes years ago plus has a blockage in his brain. He decided against surgery years ago. He said he would rather live out his life as is instead of laid up in a bed if you know what I mean. They also have him on a statin drug even though he does not have high cholesterol.