Judith's Journal

Rose Madura  Hi Judith.  I'm not sure but did you talk to your cardiologist?  Hopefully yours is one with whom you can discuss things candidly.  Let us know what you find out.

Judith Daniels  Hi Rose 🌹.Thanks so much for your reply I really appreciate it. Last year I did ask my cardiologist , but he said I was still at risk for heart failure so he was it was not possible to take me off the Eliquist. I'll see him on September 14 and ask again. I'll keep you post ed

Brady Busch  Hi Judith.What is the reason for taking Eliquis,was there some atrial fibrillation after surgery?I had afib after getting a tissue aortic valve replacement and mitral repair,about nine months ago.There were quite a few episodes,the first month,but only a few after that.I just switched from Warfarin to Eliquis,in the last three weeks.With me,they want to play it safe,so that a blood clot doesn't cause a stroke,usually coming from the left atrial appendage,I'm going to be talking to my cardiologist about getting the Watchman procedure done,to close that off. 

Richard Munson  Thank you brady for bringing watchman to my attention. I had maze during my mitral valve surgery but they never did the atrial appendage while in there. No idea why, moot point. I am also on eliquis twice a day and looking to stop it or cut back hence my implant inserted in march which checks a fib incidents. Battery lasts 2 years. So far no incidents. I am waiting a year and assess things then. Watchman might be a possibility. Also on metropolol. Not sure if age is a factor with it being 80 but all these pills goes against my grain.

Brady Busch  Hi Richard.I'm also taking Metoprolol and fortunately not experiencing side effects from these drugs,like some people have been writing about.During the first talk,with my surgeon,she brought up,that the LAA was going to be plugged,but it was never done.My guess is,because of time constraints,during surgery.From the surgery notes,the mitral was complex and a hole was found between the two main chambers,known as,Ventricle Septal Defect,that needed fixing.One of the good things about the Watchman is,it can be done via a catheter.

Richard Munson  I saw that. I have this aortic aneurism they are also watching but not surgery size so i must consider that also. My next ct scan and echo are in december so i will give more thought then. I also may not have side effects but on the other hand, who knows. I had minimally invasive on right side and appendage is on left. Maybe the reason. I just have an aversion to taking all these pills if i don’t need them. Maybe cut the dosage. I’ll take that. I feel good after almost 2 years but do i feel great ? Am i asking too much?

Judith Daniels  Dear Richard. Thanks for sharing your story . After they replaced the mechanical valve, with the pig  skin my body adapted well to it. However, i was still in heart failure so they removed me from Warfarin and put me on Eliquist, Metropololl, Sipronaldactone, Valsartan all together to keep my heart rate from fluctuations my BP stable, and  the Eliquist to prevent Blood clots,  post surgically. But I had no more Afib . I have been seen the cardiologist regularly since and thank God there is no return of  the Afib. During this year 2022 I saw the cardiologist only 1 in person visit , and 1 virtual visit. I am scheduled for my second  5-6 months follow up on September 14, 2022. I am praying that’ he doesn’t hear or see any issues in my tests. I know am due  for an echocardiogram.  So I am praying that I will no longer be a risk for heart failure , Afib, or blood clots. The Eliquist is  so expensive !!’ 

Richard Munson  Judith, my issue is as follows: if i need this stuff, so be it. But if i don’t i wonder about side effects of mixing all these meds together. Yes the drug companies do a bunch of testing prior to coming on the market, i get that but how much can they do. Every combination of all these pills. I am betting not. I always say, follow the money.