Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Hi all! Hope everyone is doing well and as always I enjoy reading everyone's posts. I guess its been over a year since I went into Afib after gall bladder surgery.....since then....I went through hell with coumadin...then got put on pradaxa....got taken off pradaxa...lost my health provider....moved to Missouri to help family....Managing afib with no health insurance is not easy. Most times I wonder if I am a heartbeat from a stroke but I try to stay positive and stay on the aspirin therapy.
I have not seen a dr now in 6 mos and probably wont see one til who knows when. I cannot afford medications so it seems incredible to me to think I was taking almost a dozen meds a day at one pt....makes me wonder if we really need all these drugs? Im taking care of my health with diet and walking and dont smoke or drink....so Im trying...I still wonder if Im being degligent about this condition. In a couple of years, I can apply for Medicare....right now I have no dr....is this safe....should I tell any new dr about my afib? I dont even know if I have it anymore.
Thanks for listening and always appreciate the kind responses here.
Also I have a link to webmd slide about afib......very informative...
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/ss/slideshow-af-overview?ecd=wgt_taboola_nosp_afib_ad13
Take Care everyone.....Vinny
I have not seen a dr now in 6 mos and probably wont see one til who knows when. I cannot afford medications so it seems incredible to me to think I was taking almost a dozen meds a day at one pt....makes me wonder if we really need all these drugs? Im taking care of my health with diet and walking and dont smoke or drink....so Im trying...I still wonder if Im being degligent about this condition. In a couple of years, I can apply for Medicare....right now I have no dr....is this safe....should I tell any new dr about my afib? I dont even know if I have it anymore.
Thanks for listening and always appreciate the kind responses here.
Also I have a link to webmd slide about afib......very informative...
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/ss/slideshow-af-overview?ecd=wgt_taboola_nosp_afib_ad13
Take Care everyone.....Vinny
Get backon Coumadin if yourafib lasts more than a few hours. Learn to deal with the inconvenience. Stroke risk goes up without anticoagulation. Aspirin only reduces afib related stroke by around 20-25%. Not having a stroke so far is luck. I forget how often you are in afib, but rate control is the other thing that matters.
petey
I'm new to this forum but thought I'd throw in my two cents. Is there a free clinic in your town? I did a search under "free clinics in Missouri" and a website for a nonprofit came up. I'm not sure where you live but hopefully there's something close to you.
Also, would you be eligible for Medicaid? The Missouri Department of Human Services should give you info.
Being without a doctor and your meds can be a scary thing so I hope you're able to find some help.
Coumadin is not very expensive if you have to pay out of pocket. Depends how often and how long you are in a fib.
For sure tell any Drs you see in the future that you have a history of a fib.
IF your afib rate is controlled or you only have infrequent short episodes you are probably safe to go this long without seeing a Dr.
I see my EP yearly at this point.
Glad you checked in.