On anticoagulants for cardiac issues. Concerned.

I just came home from the hospital after experiencing a rapid irregular heart rate up to 205/min. Cardiology started me on an oral blood thinner and a cardiac drug, Flecainide.

I must have been a real problem for the docs because I would not take the blood thinner until it got the OK from my GI. I have not actively bled for a year and think my disease is controlled on my medication & diet program.

I continue to have concerns. I had to cancel my colonoscopy for next month due to to drug, Xarelto. Anyone have experience with being on anticoagulants?

Ima... I had four cardiac tests including a echo, and nuclear test and some others. I was to have a trans esophageal cardiogram yesterday to shock my heart into thythm since I was barfing and other signs of blood going to essential areas like the brain. Luckily the IV drug changed my heart rhythm to normal.

I, unfortunately, have been cursed with multiple medical issues including fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple allergies along with UC. Most of the vitamins were ordered by my GI and rheumy.

I'm concerned that if I start a flare the bleeding will be too much.

You did the right thing asking the cardiologist to get your GI's approval before taking these new drugs. As for the pending colonoscopy, it's standard practice NOT to do that scoping 'til the patient gets off anti-coagulants for at least 7-10 days. Try to keep calm, but notify your GI ASAP if you start having colon changes. Hopefully, your UC meds + the probiotics will continue to help you stay in remission. Best wishes & please keep us posted about this. / Old Hat (33 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

I just had a colonoscopy last week and I am on Xeralto. I only skipped it the day of my colonoscopy. I had no issues and my GI was well aware of my blood thinner. Discuss it with your GI and see if they think it is an issue. Not all blood thinner are the same either.

I have a cardiac condition call atrial fibrillation, which is a type of arrhythmia which occurs in in the upper chambers of the heart (atria). It causes rapid irregular heartbeat and a slightly lower blood pressure. The danger is that since the atria aren’t pumping properly, blood clots can form in them; which can then break loose and travel to my brain causing a stroke.

The cardio doc was able to perform a procedure called electro cardioversion where he uses a defibrillator to stop the heart then restart it. I’ve had to have that done twice now, and both times were successful. I’ve mostly been in normal sinus rhythm for the past several years. During the time that my AFib was active, I took an anticoagulant drug called warfarin, with the same concerns for my UC as you have. When I checked with my GI his comment was “Cardio trumps GI! Take your warfarin.” My cardio doc still wants me to take 325 mg of aspirin daily, and the same applies, I take my aspirin.

There has been great advances in anticoagulant drugs in the past few years, and the modern ones are much better than the warfarin that I took, I wouldn’t worry to much but as always, caution is advised; it sounds like you’re doing everything right.

I didn't read every response, but...
It sounds like you had atrial fibrillation with RVR (rapid ventricular response). The top part of the heart sort of "quivers," and doesn't preform a full pump. Unfortunately, this causes the blood in the heart to just sit there and create blood clots...these can go to your heart, brain, lungs causing strokes, heart attacks, or pulmonary embolism, thus the reason for Xarelto.

Typically for an invasive procedure you will want your cardiologist to okay being off the anticoagulant for a few days. I don't know any GI doc that would proceed without cardiac clearance. Of course, stopping an anticoagulant has its risks as well.

While it can be scary..please also know that every single person in that room is trained in knowing what to do if something should happen, and the colonoscopy wouldn't proceed if they felt it was high risk, since it's not an "emergency."

I had a heart attack on 11/26/13. I had two stents implanted into my artery and was placed on Effident (prasugrel). After a month, I switched to Plavix (Clopidogrel). In conjunction I am now taking 81mg of aspirin. There was no questions asked about the effects of the Anti-platelet drugs on my UC because if my stent clogs, it is another heart attack and maybe worse.

I experienced increased rectal bleeding during the first month. At one point I had black stools and went to the ER. By the time I went to the ER the black stools passed. I was given some stomach Meds because my GI thought that I could have a bleeding ulcer. After taking the Stomach meds the black stools stopped.

The rectal bleeding has stopped. I still experience prolonged bleeding from cuts and scrapes. Also healing is taking longer now. You learn to adapt just as we learned to adapt to the effects of UC.

I hope they gave you Effient for your heart attack, as I'm pretty sure Effident is used to clean dentures!

Hehe...so cute, I couldn't resist!

Sorry for the typo. It is Effient.

Anytime I make someone smile it's a good thing.