Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Sue writes: My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic proportion. A *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very possibly your ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live anything approaching a normal life . I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it poisons rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it is not Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far more worried about having that stroke than taking that pill. My opinion, and apparently your doctors' as well. I hope you will think on this one long and hard. And btw after reading your reasons for feeling confident about not taking blood thinners, you sound to be just as much at risk of having a stroke as most of us on this line who are taking coumadin. I too feel I may not really need it, but my doctor is adamant and I defer to his better knowledge and education on this. Lil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Lil Thank you for your advice. I think about my decision every day and as time goes on I AM less confident about it. But I have never been one to take every pill recommended to me. I believe Warfarin is dished out too readily to anyone with a heart/circulatory disorder. We are constantly told that as AF sufferers, we are more at risk than others of stroke. I know the percentages of stroke sufferers who also have AF. What I do not know and would be grateful if anyone can tell me is the percentages of AF sufferers who have a stroke. TAs I understand it,the vast majority of people with AF who have a stroke have AF because of an underlying heart condition. Now of course I do not mean that I am not at risk. I am just saying that figures are not always reliable and lifestyle has a lot to do with one's susceptability. Research has shown me that natural alternatives can be, and are, just as effective in preventing stroke. I hope I have not been misinformed. Thank you very much for youe concern. It means a lot Regards Sue > > > Sue writes: > > My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my > choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison > worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> > > Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic proportion. A > *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very possibly your > ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live anything > approaching a normal life . > I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it poisons > rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it is not > Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your > priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far more worried > about having that stroke than taking that pill. My opinion, and apparently > your doctors' as well. I hope you will think on this one long and hard. And btw > after reading your reasons for feeling confident about not taking blood > thinners, you sound to be just as much at risk of having a stroke as most of us > on this line who are taking coumadin. I too feel I may not really need it, but > my doctor is adamant and I defer to his better knowledge and education on > this. > Lil > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: Sue and blood thinners Sue writes that: Research has shown me that natural alternatives can be, and are, just as effective in preventing stroke. I hope I have not been misinformed. Thank you very much for youe concern. It means a lot Regards Sue Sue, I too take Coumadin but I am interested in the research you mentiion that natural alternatives can be just as effective. Can you give me some links of other info to pursue? Thanks, Brenta > > > Sue writes: > > My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my > choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison > worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> > > Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic proportion. A > *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very possibly your > ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live anything > approaching a normal life . > I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it poisons > rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it is not > Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your > priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far more worried > about having that stroke than taking that pill. My opinion, and apparently > your doctors' as well. I hope you will think on this one long and hard. And btw > after reading your reasons for feeling confident about not taking blood > thinners, you sound to be just as much at risk of having a stroke as most of us > on this line who are taking coumadin. I too feel I may not really need it, but > my doctor is adamant and I defer to his better knowledge and education on > this. > Lil > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Sue, I cannot take coumadin, I had a very harsh allergic reaction to it, and was taken off of it several months ago. I now take 81mg. aspirin, and pray alot. What do you take for alternatives? Mandyofca --------------------------------- Yahoo! Travel Find great deals to the top 10 hottest destinations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Thank you Lil. I also dislike warfarin being referred to as rat poison, suggesting that people who have to take it are so clueless about what it is that they take it without careful consideration of the risks and benefits. > > > Sue writes: > > My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my > choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison > worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> > > Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic proportion. A > *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very possibly your > ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live anything > approaching a normal life . > I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it poisons > rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it is not > Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your > priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far more worried > about having that stroke than taking that pill. My opinion, and apparently > your doctors' as well. I hope you will think on this one long and hard. And btw > after reading your reasons for feeling confident about not taking blood > thinners, you sound to be just as much at risk of having a stroke as most of us > on this line who are taking coumadin. I too feel I may not really need it, but > my doctor is adamant and I defer to his better knowledge and education on > this. > Lil > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 > > > Sue writes: > > My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my > choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison > worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> > > Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic proportion. A > *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very possibly your > ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live anything > approaching a normal life . > I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it poisons > rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it is not > Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your > priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far more worried > about having that stroke than taking that pill. > Lil Well put, Lil! Assuming someone even survives a stroke, the consequences of that stroke may be devastating. In that light, taking a daily warfarin/coumadin pill is inconsequential, for most people. We may complain about taking " rat poison " (technically, I don't think coumadin is even used for rat poison any more - they have far more effective chemicals now), but that inconvenience pales in comparison to the very real possibility of having a stoke. It's like complaining about having to buckle your seatbelt every time you drive your car. It's only inconvenient until your next accident. Then it may be a lifesaver. Mike from Minnesota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Sorry if you disliked my turn of phrase. Just my feeble sense of humour. > > > > > > Sue writes: > > > > My docs have said as long as I am aware of the risks, it is my > > choice. It does worry me but the effects of taking rat poison > > worries me more. If I have a stroke, this will change of course.>> > > > > Sue, that last sentence is a chilling understatement of epic > proportion. A > > *lot* of things will change if you have a stroke, including very > possibly your > > ability to walk, talk, work, interact with your family or live > anything > > approaching a normal life . > > I am not sure why we insist on calling coumadin a rat poison. Yes it > poisons > > rats because it is overdosed in them and they bleed to death, but it > is not > > Raid for Rats. It is a blood thinner. I respectfully submit that your > > priorities and fears may well be in the wrong place. I would be far > more worried > > about having that stroke than taking that pill. My opinion, and > apparently > > your doctors' as well. I hope you will think on this one long and > hard. And btw > > after reading your reasons for feeling confident about not taking > blood > > thinners, you sound to be just as much at risk of having a stroke > as most of us > > on this line who are taking coumadin. I too feel I may not really > need it, but > > my doctor is adamant and I defer to his better knowledge and > education on > > this. > > Lil > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Assuming someone even survives a stroke, the consequences of that stroke may be devastating. In that light, taking a daily warfarin/coumadin pill is inconsequential, for most people. ------------------ While this statement is true in some regards, it is not complete. My doctor (and the last ER doc I saw who had a long coumadin discussion with me) said that coumadin is the " gold standard " for anyone diagnosed with a-fib. BUT ... and this is a big BUT ... both he and my regular doctor said that standard is being re-examined because COUMADIN CAN CAUSE STROKES as well. Bleeds from coumadin can cause strokes that are just as devastating as those caused by a clot, so it's almost like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Both feel I do not need to be on coumadin in spite of the progression of my a-fib to (what seems to be) permament. (I still have hope of converting at some point.) In addition to the fact that there IS a stroke risk with coumadin, the other risks of bleeds from minor bangs, especially banging one's head, led both of these fine doctors to say that many doctors are now being far more cautious in recommending coumadin. They both said it can help, but can also hurt, and it can hurt in more ways than it helps (in some cases). I understand that it's a necessary thing for many people, but it is not failsafe, and the stroke risk is NOT eliminated with it at all. Just one type of stroke risk is reduced. It just changes from reducing a clot stroke risk to increasing a bleed stroke risk. That's the other side of the coin if it helps at all. Toni CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Toni, that helps a great deal. Thanks. > > Assuming someone even survives a stroke, the > consequences of that stroke may be devastating. In that light, > taking a daily warfarin/coumadin pill is inconsequential, for most > people. > > ------------------ > While this statement is true in some regards, it is not complete. My doctor (and the last ER doc I saw who had a long coumadin discussion with me) said that coumadin is the " gold standard " for anyone diagnosed with a-fib. BUT ... and this is a big BUT ... both he and my regular doctor said that standard is being re-examined because COUMADIN CAN CAUSE STROKES as well. Bleeds from coumadin can cause strokes that are just as devastating as those caused by a clot, so it's almost like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Both feel I do not need to be on coumadin in spite of the progression of my a-fib to (what seems to be) permament. (I still have hope of converting at some point.) In addition to the fact that there IS a stroke risk with coumadin, the other risks of bleeds from minor bangs, especially banging one's head, led both of these fine doctors to say that many doctors are now being far more cautious in recommending coumadin. They both said it can help, but can also hurt, and it can hurt in more ways than it helps (in some cases). I understand that it's a necessary thing for many people, but it is not failsafe, and the stroke risk is NOT eliminated with it at all. Just one type of stroke risk is reduced. It just changes from reducing a clot stroke risk to increasing a bleed stroke risk. That's the other side of the coin if it helps at all. > > Toni > CA > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 > > > > Assuming someone even survives a stroke, the > > consequences of that stroke may be devastating. In that light, > > taking a daily warfarin/coumadin pill is inconsequential, for most > > people. > > > > ------------------ > > While this statement is true in some regards, it is not complete. > My doctor (and the last ER doc I saw who had a long coumadin > discussion with me) said that coumadin is the " gold standard " for > anyone diagnosed with a-fib. BUT ... and this is a big BUT ... both > he and my regular doctor said that standard is being re-examined > because COUMADIN CAN CAUSE STROKES as well. Bleeds from coumadin can > cause strokes that are just as devastating as those caused by a clot, > so it's almost like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. > Both feel I do not need to be on coumadin in spite of the progression > of my a-fib to (what seems to be) permament. (I still have hope of > converting at some point.) In addition to the fact that there IS a > stroke risk with coumadin, the other risks of bleeds from minor > bangs, especially banging one's head, led both of these fine doctors > to say that many doctors are now being far more cautious in > recommending coumadin. They both said it can help, but can also > hurt, and it can hurt in more ways than it helps (in some cases). I > understand that it's a necessary thing for many people, but it is not > failsafe, and the stroke risk is NOT eliminated with it at all. Just > one type of stroke risk is reduced. It just changes from reducing a > clot stroke risk to increasing a bleed stroke risk. That's the other > side of the coin if it helps at all. > > > > Toni > > CA > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.