Welcome back Vinny,
Sorry you're having difficulty with the various anticoagulants.
I've been on Warfarin since my initial AF diagnosis in July 2010.with no adverse side effects. I'm one of the fortunate ones that with a fairly consistent diet I've had minimal problems staying within the 2-3 INR range.
Re: the title of this discussion- Are there afibbers like me, who chose not to go on medication for AF and for other health conditions. When diagnosed with AF I was on BP and a statin primarily for preventive care. After eliminating BP pills I no longer experience lightheadedness in AF. I with Dr. John on "deprescribing".
Again I'm one of the fortunate ones, experiencing few symptoms in AF.
Episodes are lasting longer, up to 30+hours. I still self convert. With asymptomatic bradycardia my HR stays under 85 in AF.
Always good to hear news from members free of AF and with meds working for them. I wish I could make a difference for those debilitated with AF and with my magical thinking bring everyone back to NSR permanently.

I have had same issuues in the past, with meds and supplements. When something works I have given it a few days with benedryl to see if my system will adjust.....if the benefit out weighs the alternative. I have several allergies to chemicals that mKes it tough sometimes.

Hope you get it resolved.
laurab

Hi Vinny it looks like youve tried almost all the blood thinners out there. Ive been on something similar to Warfarin since I had my TIA last December. My choice. (That would be my choice of anticoagulant not TIA.) Luckily I have no problems with that. Were allowed to self monitor and self manage where I live which makes life a lot easier.

What does your doctor say about this? I believe there is a procedure called the left appendage occlusion. This is a treatment strategy to prevent blood clot formation in patients who have AF and cannot take anticoagulants. I dont know anyone who has had this but I have read about it. Might be something to look into.

I hope you are doing well, too!
Carpe diem,
across the pond (atp)

Oh my Forget the LAA (Left Atrial Appendage Closure). Or at least look at it good and hard before you get something like this done, I just read this:
http://circep.ahajournals.org/content/early/2014/12/04/CIRCEP.114.001413.abstract

Maybe there is something else you could try!

So sorry to hear you are having such grief! Are you taking anything else that could maybe interact with the new thinners?

Cuzinvinny: I was just thinking about you. I watched "My Cousin Vinny" on Amazon Prime for the umpteenth time last night (while on the treadmill). Itching is better than a TIA. Just put Benadryl on your skin topically. Also Aveeno works. I get itching sometimes on my arms.

Tell us more about the TIAs... you had 2 in a row in the ER? As I recall, you were on aspirin because your INR was hard to regulate on Coumadin and the NOACs were too expensive as you didn't have a health plan that covered enough. Has that changed?

I found that with many drugs, some of the side effects wear off. I wouldn't panic yet. Do everything you can like hydrate, don't dry yourself out in the cold, use the Aveeno (give it time), have a good healthy diet with healthy oils, and use the topical Benadryl when you need it.

petey

Hi Cuzinvinny! Nice to hear from you. I am sorry to hear you had TIAs. Like Annette, I too, am well managed on warfarin for the past 2 years. My INR is within the 2-3 range consistently with the exception of only a few times it was alittle under or alittle over. I have taken Pradaxa in the past and did well on it but because of its expense, opted for warfarin. A call to your doc might be in order to ask about the benadryl to be sure it is okay to take. Maybe, benadryl will help you as your body adjusts to the Xarelto. Hopefully, the itching/burning skin is just temporary until your body adjusts to the med. Good luck to you and hope things get settled down for you so the anxiety will subside. Take care, Carrie

Annette: I love your new profile pic! What a beautiful smile!

I took eliquis for a couple months and also experienced itching. It started with my scalp and gradually progressed until my face, neck, chest and back were very itchy.....no rash just itching. I also noticed that my throat and roof of my mouth felt a little itchy too. It took me a couple months to realize that it was the eliquis. Itching stopped when I stopped the med. I have not tried pradaxa or xarelto and have been told there is a good chance I will have the same problem with them.
Medication allergies can be life threatening if you have an anaphylactic reaction and the itching of my throat and mouth was concerning.
Honestly, I think your best option is warfarin. The key to management is to be very consistent with what you do. It takes some trial and error to get the dosage right and it takes effort on your part also.
Take it at the same time, don't miss a dose, don't change any other medications that you take or supplements or otc meds. You can eat foods containing vit k but you must be consistent there also. Even if your INR bounces around some you will have more protection from stroke than without it. I think you will do fine with it Vinny. Take care.

I also love bergeram's new profile picture @ you look healthy and happy:)

Thanks Everyone for the feedback and Happy Holidays! Petey you have a good memory....I lost my health insurance a few years ago but now am on Medicare and have insurance. Ive been in the ER 3 times in the past month with a 3 day hospital stay. They did all sorts of tests and said I had an old stroke and 2 TIA.....so they put me on blood thinners....Ive had allergic reactions to Pradaxa, Eliquis, and Xarelto so ended up on warfarin....after 3 dosages Im experiencing the same side effects of itching, burning skin, tingling, pins and needles and headaches....I called the Dr. and she said that it was highly improbable that I would have allergies to all these different meds. I told her I wasnt a hypochondriac imagining my skin was itching and burning. She said I probably had a condition call Parasthesia and to continue the warfarin. I go to the warfarin clinic tommorrow. Anyone have a dx of Paresthesia??

I just had itching....no burning, pins and needles, etc. Did these feelings go away when you were totally off the meds? Or did you get switched from one to another without seeing if the parathesia went away after each one was stopped?
While I don't want to tell you to stop the anticoagulant, especially with your history, it seems like it will be difficult to know if any of these drugs are the culprit or if it is due to something else without stopping all of them. Didn't you take warfarin before without any itching or burning? Hang in there Vinny...hope this all improves for you soon.

Marikay., Thanks for your reply. In the hospital the neurologist took me off Pradaxa for a day and the symptoms cleared up almost immediately...then i was put on Eliquis twice a day....the symptoms returned....I skipped my afternoon dose and went to cardiologist she gave me samples of Xeralto and i waited til next day to take them...again the symptoms were pretty much gone....taking Xeralto and the began again after a day. I called emergency number and the called in script for warfarin......symptoms returned but not as strong...I called dr. and she said no way i could have reactions to all the meds....right now skin is itchy and burning and have headache but im continuing the warfarin. I havent made it to the clinic yet due to having extreme bladder pain....I explained this to her but she didnt see any correlation...Ive been having bladder attacks off and on for 18 mos and waiting to see urologist....I asked if maybe if my body would adjust to the side effects and she said she didnt know. I feel she sees me as a problem patient or maybe just a nut case...dunno....Vinny...