A-Fib Drug Therapy: Can I Get Off Blood Thinners All Together?Atrial Fibrillation: Resources for Patients

Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...

"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."

Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."

Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI

“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.

Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017

“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”

Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD

Doctors & patients are saying about 'Beat Your A-Fib'...

"If I had [your book] 10 years ago, it would have saved me 8 years of hell.”

Roy Salmon, Patient, A-Fib Free,
Adelaide, Australia

"This book is incredibly complete and easy-to-understand for anybody. I certainly recommend it for patients who want to know more about atrial fibrillation than what they will learn from doctors...."

Pierre Jaïs, M.D. Professor of Cardiology, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Bordeaux, France

"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Wilber Su,
Cavanaugh Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ

"...masterful. You managed to combine an encyclopedic compilation of information with the simplicity of presentation that enhances the delivery of the information to the reader. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have been very, very successful at it."

Ira David Levin, heart patient,
Rome, Italy

"Within the pages of Beat Your A-Fib, Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, provides a comprehensive guide for persons seeking to find a cure for their Atrial Fibrillation."

Walter Kerwin, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

FAQs A-Fib Drug Therapy: How to get off Coumadin?

“Is there a way to get off blood thinners all together? I hate taking Coumadin. I know I’m at risk of an A-Fib stroke.”

To get off blood thinners all together you must solve the underlying reason why you’re on the drug in the first place.

You must cure your Atrial Fibrillation and address any other contributing issues that puts you at risk of clots and stroke. For example, if you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, your EP will want you tested and put on an appropriate treatment. The same is true if you have heart valve disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or are severely overweight.

You may need to change doctors, too. You want an electrophysiologist (EP) who specializes in heart rhythm problems and Atrial Fibrillation in particular. Seek an EP whom you are comfortable with, someone who will partner with you to seek your cure. For help, see “Finding the Right Doctor.”

Your EP will evaluate you and your Atrial Fibrillation and other conditions impacting your health. You may discuss a catheter ablation procedure to become A-Fib free. To address the increased risk of stroke without being on a blood thinner, ask your EP about closing off your Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) where 90%-95% of A-Fib clots come from.

Or if you have other heart problems or you don’t qualify for an ablation, you may look at the Cox maze or Mini-maze, or a Hybrid Surgery/Ablation procedure.