Guest guest Posted October 8, 2003 Report Share Posted October 8, 2003 I am in the same boat as you. Age 48, LAF, normal heart and arteries. I take one 325 mg. aspirin per day, and Atenolol 50 mg. My doctor did not even suggest coumadin. I read on here a lot and am torn between deciding if he is RIGHT or WRONG!!! > I am 57 with LAF, normal heart structure and normal coronaries. I take one > 325 mg aspirina per day, along with Tikosyn and pindolol. Without other risk > factors (age, heart disease, etc) I was told it was safe to take aspirin > instead of coumadin. I guess when I get older, I will have to take it. I > experience a lot of bruising, but I guess it is a small price to pay to avoid a stroke. > > in KC > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Thanks for your response, , I have bouts of afib about twice a week it seems. Since it's more often than a few a year, I don't know.....I felt safe taking the aspirin til I started reading a lot. I see my GP today and will ask her opinion on this, among a zillion other things. I was just diagnosed in August although I am sure I have had afib for years, just couldn't get anybody to listen. Have a wonderful day. > hi cathy, Personally I think you are better off on aspirin. I am on aspirin > after my cardiologist/EP told me I don't need it ...and I think he is right > ....too many doctors seem to prescribe coumadin as a matter of course. > If you have afib all the time or often ...then coumadin is probably the > smart choice ....> > > > snip..... > >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2003 Report Share Posted October 11, 2003 Hi , When I was first diagnosed 8 years ago, my cardiologist put me on Coumadin, but when I saw the EP he referred me to, I was placed on aspirin and Atenolol. Just as a little encouragemnt...I maintain a very active lifestyle, do a lot of biking...like 50 and 60 miles bike tours, work out at the gym at least 5 days a week. My a fib-attacks are sporadic, but sometimes last more than 12 hours. I think once you are no longer frightened by them, you can live with them. Take care. Lorraine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2003 Report Share Posted October 11, 2003 Guy, I don't have a heart rate monitor on my bike, but I know from the treadmill, I have a very hard time getting my heart rate up. I can be on the treadmill for 30 minutes, walking fast at about 4.4mph and my heart rate will still be in the 70's. That's likely the effect of the Atenolol. While biking, although I do it, I find myself much more tired than before I was taking the Atenolol. A few months ago, when I was planning to do a lot of biking in a few days, I thought I would try not taking the Atenolol for a few days, just to see what happened. I figured I was safe, since I was still taking the aspirin. Well, that worked for only about two days, and then went into a fib for a few hours. Don't you miss the feeling of exercising with the increased heart rate you used to be able to get up to. I know I do. And then I have to also constantly explain to the trainers at the gym that the " maximum heart rate " stuff doesn't apply to me. Guess it's just something we have to live with. Take care. Lorraine (I'll be 57 next month...not too much behind you.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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