Doctors and Afib

[Pat-inCO]

I have spent about a month going to a cardiologist for a-fib. Each time I get the
standard yatta-yatta-yatta about it being a problem with too fast a heart beat.
Fine . . . except that mine is too S L O W a beat. - - - WHY can't the doctors and
their assistants READ THE DING DANG SCREEN?

Had a whinie voice "assistant" going over the results of my tests and EVERY ding
dang area "of concern" was fine, with the exception of one reading which was two
tenths of a point high (4.2 v 4.0). - - - She was also upset that I was not taking one
prescription med to thin the blood, but was taking low dose aspirin in place of it.
I asked why there was a problem, since they produce the same result. - - - I was
told that NO there WAS a big difference, that one thinned the blood, while the
other reduced clotting . . . . REALLY? I guess that's why I don't profess to be a
doctor, nor do I play one on TV.

Naturally, they want you taking the prescription version (IMO) because it costs
more and generates "office visits". Said prescription med has instructions that read
(in BOLD face font) DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICATION WITHOUT
CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR! :roll: - - - At least with low dose aspirin, I can
adjust the dosage as needed, without another "office visit".

Why the heck are there so many doctors looking at their revenue rather than what
the patient can be most efficiently treated with?

I guess I'll just keep not being a doctor AND not playing one on TV. :wink:

Sigh.

 

[Jeepnik]

There are significant differences between prescription blood thinners and aspirin. One reason I opted for a tissue valve replacement over a mechanical was the issue of needing thinners. A few weeks as opposed to forever.

Folks often complain that today’s doctors are all about the money. And some are. But the vast majority I’ve dealt with put the patient first. If you feel a doctor doesn’t have your best interest at heart, find another doctor.

I will say I much prefer older more experienced doctors. What they know the kids haven’t had time to learn.

 

[JFB]

so far my cardioligist has been good, he even is trying to help me with some symtpms not heart.

as for the test not suppporting their objective, my GP, last year I spent a bunch chasing a thyroid.
where the prescription was making symptoms worse

 

[gramps]

As stated, most doctors are patient centered. They make $0 on the Rx they write. There is a big difference between Aspirin and say Coumadin/warfarin. Two separate pathways. Really 81 mg is practically nothing! We used to give Aspirin 650 mg every 4-6 hours for pain, until tinnitus set in then you skip a dose. Good luck! The doctors get paid the big bucks for their knowledge, and all the continuing education that must be done to stay current in our ever changing healthcare environment.
gramps

 

[Jimbo357mag]

My Afib is under control after two ablations but I take Eliquis, a blood thinner, as a preventative for stroke. Do you really want to mess around with the possibility of a stroke? :shock: :?

 

[caryc]

Don't forget that most doctors actually work for someone, be it themselves or some corporation and guess what? That corporation is just in business to make money and who makes them that money? Why, the doctors of course.

 

[Aqualung]

My Afib is under control after two ablations but I take Eliquis, a blood thinner, as a preventative for stroke. Do you really want to mess around with the possibility of a stroke? :shock: :?

We just got Mrs. Aqualung's afib under control with a cardioversion last month.

She's on Eliquis, too and a couple hypertension meds. She's scheduled to get a stress test to see if there was any permanent damage.

To the OP, I want to also stress that there's a *BIG* difference between aspirin and a blood thinner.

Blood thinners are developed to do just that...thin the blood and thin out clots. Aspirin is a pain medication that also thins the blood as a side effect.

Think of it as towing a loaded trailer with a Pinto...it may pull it, but wouldn't it be much better if you had it hooked up to an F-250?

Aqualung

 

[Pat-inCO]

Really 81 mg is practically nothing!

I was on that for about three months, several years ago. Then one night I cut my
finger (not very badly) while fixing a salad. It quit bleeding after about EIGHT hours.
I quit the low dose for years.

I started the low dose again a few weeks ago and within one week had a bruise
from (? :shock: ). Now I take one low dose on alternate days and the bruise has
faded away.

To those saying I am paying for the doctor's knowledge and experience, yes, I
agree, but when said doctor suddenly changes what he is saying after looking at
the computer screen (see original post), I wonder . . . .

One of my problems is having programmed computers for a large blue company,
for almost thirty years, my business was minute details. Thus I tend to listen
closely and find many "fauci" isms to be offensive (contradict themselves
in the next statement).

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Pat-inCO if you are at risk for blood clots because of your Afib and you are adverse to taking blood thinners there is a surgical procedure called a 'Watchman' that can almost eliminate all clots and the need for blood thinners. My wife had it done without any complications.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Gee; They tell me that I suffer from BRADYCARDIA, which means if I sit still , I can see my pulse rate drop down to 50 bpm (or some times 47) and as a result I have a higher blood pressure. I take two meds, Losartan and Amlodpine Besylate to control the upper and lower pressure. I've been on them since around 2005/06 and seem to have reached a healthy 80+.

 

[Pat-inCO]

... and seem to have reached a healthy 80+.

CG, I think that you and I are ornery enough that we will last many more years. :wink:

 

[blume357]

I did not see a doctor for over 40 years... then one night I saw about 3 along with 8 or 10 nurses as they cut all my clothes off and proceeded to shave me in a number of places and stick things on me and in me.... some of those things they left in me for a while and some are still there two and a half years later... and will be when my wife has me toasted. I've learned that doctors are the experts and they do tend to know more than me about my body... in fact I'm headed to one in about an hour to tell me why my knee has stopped working and is hurting something terrible.... I'm sure I will be referred to a specialist and end up having to get some kind of repair work done. I'll go along with this as long as I can get some drugs to reduce the pain.

 

[Aqualung]

Pat-inCO if you are at risk for blood clots because of your Afib and you are adverse to taking blood thinners there is a surgical procedure called a 'Watchman' that can almost eliminate all clots and the need for blood thinners. My wife had it done without any complications.

Is that the filter in the leg deal?

My dad is prone to clots and they put one of those in his thigh.

Aqualung

 

[Dave P.]

Pat-inCO if you are at risk for blood clots because of your Afib and you are adverse to taking blood thinners there is a surgical procedure called a 'Watchman' that can almost eliminate all clots and the need for blood thinners. My wife had it done without any complications.

Is that the filter in the leg deal?

My dad is prone to clots and they put one of those in his thigh.

Aqualung

No it's a glorified cork that plugs off the left atrial appendage which is kind of a small pouch on the heart's
left atrium ( upper chamber ). That area is prone to collecting clots that can release and go to the
brain. The device is placed with a cath procedure.
Since I had a heart attack years ago I kind of study up on heart stuff, plus have a pretty cool
doc to talk with.
Dave

 

[Pat-inCO]

Just had another session with the cardiologist. I was asked WHY I didn't take the low dose
(sound familiar?) aspirin. I asked him if hemophilia was better than a few percentage point
reduction in the likelihood of a stroke. He muttered, grumbled, and changed the subject.

While I'm sure there are a plethora of doctors with EXCELLENT knowledge on any given
subject, I strongly suspect that there are quite a few that do not have all the knowledge we
would hope. - - - I had a lady doctor in CO (moved, is the only reason I'm not seeing her)
that was the first doctor that actually listened to what you had to say. She would sit at the
computer and take notes during the entire session. - - - The first one, here in AZ, that I had,
was one that made up her mind in the first minute, what she was going to do. - - - Funniest
thing, AARP has dropped her from their "approved provider" list. - - - I dropped her from mine
after two years.

 

[LDM]

I was diagnosed with AFib almost 10 years ago and have been on Warfarin (anti-coagulant) and Furosemide (diuretic) along with other meds to control heart rate and BP. Also had a defibrillator implanted. So far it has stabilized the situation. My cardiologist is very cautious and at my semi-annual visits will adjust medication up or down to suit circumstances. Also have annual visit with the electrophysiologist to check the condition of my "bug zapper." I have confidence in both of them.