Heart Attack Support Group

Heart attack is a serious, sudden heart condition usually characterized by varying degrees of chest pain or discomfort, weakness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and arrhythmias, sometimes causing loss of consciousness. It occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted, causing death and scarring of the local heart tissue.

287 Members

1,044 Posts

0 Online

LifeChanging4Carl 01/12/2015

Hello - I had a heart attack almost one year ago (1/28/14). I've been doing well but I know that my cardiologist gave me a prescription for the blood thinner, Plavix, that would run out exactly one year after I started it and then I don't take it anymore?

I guess I am kind of freaked out. I trust the experts but if Plavix is stopped, doesn't that mean that my blood won't be so liquidy and thin anymore and does that mean I am more likely to have clogging of the arteries once again?

Have you guys also been prescribed Plavix for only 12 months and have you done just fine after stopping your Plavix per doctor's orders?

I really need to eat better now and exercise more. I know that was also part of the "prescription" for doing better w/ heart disease but fast foods have been all too convenient some days and getting to the fitness center hasn't been as high a priority for me in this cold weather as I know I should make it.

Thanks so much & may 2015 be a good year for us all! - Carl

Rangers13 01/12/2015

Carl,

There is no need to be worried about this.
A blood thinner does not "thin your blood and make it liquidy". Your type of blood thinner was an anti-coagulant. I was on the blood thinner Effient for one year following my HA and when one year was up, my cardiologist said to discontinue taking it. This seems like a pretty common approach.

As far as the fast food goes, I haven't touched a bite of it in over a year and I make it a priority to go to the gym every other day....I've been doing this for the past 16 months. I'm doing everything I can in the hopes of avoiding another cardiac event.

Best of luck.

LifeChanging4Carl 01/13/2015

Rangers13 - Thanks so much for your reply and for helping me better understand what truly the blood thinner's purpose has been. GREAT JOB going w/ your plan to DO ALL YOU CAN TO AVERT A 2ND EVENT! My "inner voice" chastises me deservedly so saying, "Carl...if you've been told that exercising is more important than your medication and that poor diet of almost 100% fast food meals for years was the cause, why aren't you cooking all your meals and exercising at least every other day?!!!"

You have inspired me. It's time for me to do everything I can to avert another event.

Thanks again & great job in how you've responded to our similar life challenges. - Carl

bethelbee 01/15/2015

Hi! My HA was Oct 11 so am still on all meds, but it scared the crap out of me enough to totally change my life. Started cardiac rehab 10/30, back to work the week of Thanksgiving. Last Monday was my last day of rehab, planned for the day before my new treadmill was delivered. I am a former couch potato who now exercises and am eating extremely healthy. I'm also diabetic which was a contributing factor to my HA; I hadn't been very compliant. I've lost 20 lbs so far and would like to lose another 30. I've got more energy than I've had in ages! By the way I'm 59.
Even if you increase your activity level a little bit, it will help.

Minor7th 01/15/2015

Plavix is typically prescribed to help prevent blood clots building up on a stent. After a year, you're past the danger period for that. I was on it for a year, and glad when that year was over -- I bruised really easily and I was afraid I would bleed out if I cut myself badly on something.

I find that many meds, although they may target a particular medical need, make me FEEL worse. Lifestyle changes, on the other hand, make you feel BETTER if you stay with them long enough.

BonTemps 01/28/2015

I have been on Plavix since my heart attack on 2/1/2008..Yes that's
more than 6 1/2 years ago and Im still on it. The original plan was to
stay on it for 2 years but my docs seem to feel that its benefits can
continue indefinitely. Im a little worried about the long term effects , but
they assure me they have patients on it even longer. They feel the downside of excessive bleeding in an accident is more than outweighed by the benefit , so I may be on it forever.

BonTemps 01/31/2015

Update to my last post..my cardiologist just took me off Plavix after 6 1/2 years when I questioned him about the continued benefit. Makes me wonder if I should have stopped years ago. Now its just an .81 mg
asprin daily. I make take one twice daily just to feel safer.
I did some reading and found out that the purpose of Plavix is to keep
blood clots from forming in newly placed stents. After a year, apparently
the risk is about the same with or without Plavix.

LDF1 05/12/2015

I was on plavix for two years then told to take an 81mg aspirin daily for the rest of my life. Exercise and diet are a must.

bethelbee 05/13/2015

An update to my reply from 1/15: I am now up to a 40 lb weight loss and up until several weeks ago was still using my treadmill. I've been having upper GI issues and once I feel better hope to get back on and, now that it's nice out, do more walking outside. By the end of the work day I am pooped!
Tomorrow I turn 60 and am starting my next decade healthier than the last one! My total weight loss goal is 60 lbs.
As far as Plavix is concerned, I am really hoping my cardiologist will D/C it in October, which will be my one-year post HA. I'm so tired of taking so many pills!

Join the Conversation