Blood thinner I have been on Xarelto for 7 months and had a successful ablation in March of this year. I have had increasing fatigue along with dizziness and am thinking this is a result of the blood thinner, and Eliquis made me feel horrible. Is the lariat for left atrial closure a good option, or might their be another DOAC that would have fewer side effects. Is there an option of a lower dose or possibly even reducing the number of times a week it’s taken? Any insights would be so helpful. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196163#msg-196163 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:33:17 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196198#msg-196198 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196198#msg-196198
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Madeline
Oops, looks like I am a 3 then. Maybe you did not add my age (which gives me a point).

Huh? I don't recall calculating your CHADS-Vasc score for you.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:48:00 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196196#msg-196196 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196196#msg-196196
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Carey
You're correct not to count the point for being female, but you should count the point for hypertension. I'm afraid the prescription for Farxiga probably means you need to count the point for CHF also. The PH isn't actually a criteria so nothing for that. I think you're a CHADS-Vasc 2. If I were you, I would stay on the half-dose Eliquis.

Oops, looks like I am a 3 then. Maybe you did not add my age (which gives me a point).

Thanks]]> Madeline AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:25:05 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196194#msg-196194 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196194#msg-196194
I could buy arm compression sleeves. I see a hematologist tomorrow. I’ll ask. Except it’s 97 degrees and I will wilt.

It’s my second DVT so I’m being tested for APS (Anti-Cardiolipin and anti B2-GP1 Ab labs)

Now my foot is bruised and swollen.

They should run these labs more often since AF in general creates clots. IMHO]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 22:21:52 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196193#msg-196193 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196193#msg-196193
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susan.d
Unfortunately Eliquis can’t dissolve or prevent a DVT. Traveling on long flights or being bedridden after an ablation or surgery could potentially cause a Dvt clot plus other factors I speculate as well. How I got screwed under my armpit is a mystery.
.

Just want to put a plug in here for compression knee socks for long flights and similar situations—they really help prevent clots.]]> Daisy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:50:39 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196189#msg-196189 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196189#msg-196189
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susan.d
Unfortunately Eliquis can’t dissolve or prevent a DVT. Traveling on long flights or being bedridden after an ablation or surgery could potentially cause a Dvt clot plus other factors I speculate as well..

If you read the drug information sheet on Eliquis it discusses the prophylactic administration of Eliquis for orthopedic patients that underwent hip and knee surgery. The results demonstrated that there were a small number of patients that developed both symptomatic and asymptomatic DVTs.]]> JakeS AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:04:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196188#msg-196188 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196188#msg-196188
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susan.d
Unfortunately Eliquis can’t dissolve or prevent a DVT. Traveling on long flights or being bedridden after an ablation or surgery could potentially cause a Dvt clot plus other factors I speculate as well. How I got screwed under my armpit is a mystery.

The newer OAC's, like Eliquis were shown to be "non-inferior" to warfarin in tests.

"Warfarin reduced the risk for ischemic stroke and systemic embolism by 67% compared to placebo (95% CI: 27-85%). " Source

My point is that none of these meds provide 100% protection, they reduce risk materially. Think seat belts & airbags in cars. They reduce the risk of death & injury in a crash. They don't provide 100% protection.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:24:37 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196187#msg-196187 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196187#msg-196187
Sorry for the hyjack.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 10:37:01 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196186#msg-196186 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196186#msg-196186 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:40:47 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196185#msg-196185 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196185#msg-196185 Dini AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 03:39:52 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196183#msg-196183 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196183#msg-196183
Nah, you didn't hijack the thread. :)]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Jun 2024 03:02:18 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196182#msg-196182 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196182#msg-196182
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Carey
The first thing you need to do is calculate your CHADS-Vasc score. You can do that here. If your score is 0 or 1, talk to your EP about stopping the Xarelto. If it's higher than 1 then you shouldn't stop it. However, you could be a candidate for an LAA closure device such as the Lariat, Watchman, or AtriClip. There's a good description of them here. You're the type of patient these devices were designed for, so again, talk to your EP and see if you would qualify.

Carey, when we calculate, if we are female, we check male for the 0 since we should not be counted for a point against us for being female, correct? Next question: If we are on a BP med, but BP is ok now, do we still check for hx of hypertension? I did not have high BP til the afib & ablations. Thirdly, I had a R heart cath that showed a pulmonary pressure of 29 & a wedge pressure of 16, both #s being very borderline for PH (pulm hypertension), but my cardiologist put me on Farxiga for Left heart failure. Do I have to say I fall in a category of CHF?

My age would give me a point, & BP & CHF tho I don't feel like I have the latter, so that would be 2 points. But doesn't left heart disease fall into a category of CHF or not? I know PH has many different classification groups, and mine is he most common form of Group 2.

Had my TeleMed visit a couple wks ago & they even said my PH was "mild to say the least". My cardio is pretty strict & keeps a close check on keeping me well, I suppose. PH is a progressive disease & incurable, but at my age & w/such low levels, I think I am pretty safe. I also tolerate a tremendous amount of exercise like usual. Funny, the TEEs had my pulm pressure at 50-55, then next one said 75 with dx of severe PH, so see how wrong they can be. The R heart cath is the gold standard with direct measurement in the heart, not estimates.

All that said, I elected to stay on Eliquis 2.5 after the watchman, bec of reading what you & others chose to do. Am I still correct in doing so? My Watchman was placed 1/31/23.

Thanks & hope all I wrote is not hijacking this thread - since it is about being on the blood thinner, even after Watchman. I am just reassessing.]]> Madeline AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Jun 2024 23:49:08 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196165#msg-196165 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196165#msg-196165 here. If your score is 0 or 1, talk to your EP about stopping the Xarelto. If it's higher than 1 then you shouldn't stop it. However, you could be a candidate for an LAA closure device such as the Lariat, Watchman, or AtriClip. There's a good description of them here. You're the type of patient these devices were designed for, so again, talk to your EP and see if you would qualify.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:49:26 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196164#msg-196164 Re: Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196164#msg-196164
This process can be tricky if anticoagulation is required, but you might start with trying another thinner. Also, depending on your CHADS score and afib burden (sounds like it's zero now?) your ep may let you off thinners either for a set period of time, or perhaps altogether to test your fatigue levels. Just don't want to see you get a Lariet (or similar) and end up still be fatigued. Feel better.

Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:46:45 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196163#msg-196163 Blood thinner https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,196163,196163#msg-196163 Any insights would be so helpful.]]> Dini AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:17:14 +0000