aspirin or warfarin

I'm a 47 year old male permanent afib have been on warfarin for 1 year by ep doctor because he wanted to convert me and put me on flecanide I opted not to take the drug because it does'nt realy bother me and he told me I don't need to take warfarin anymore because I'm otherwise cardio healthy and to just take a 325 aspirin, but my primary doc wants me to stay on warfarin, so I have been staying on warfarin until 2 days ago went to doc for something else and his assistant looked at my last inr and told me to stop warfarin for 3 days because was at 3.1 also told me I did'nt need to be on warfarin and it was my decision but said he would not take if he was in my shoes how can there be so much controversy over the warfarin issue anybody else going through this your thoughts are apperciated
Thanks Happy New Year

[Jerry_NJ]

What one takes is generally based on how many "risk factors" the have.  I think you have only one (permanent AFib), so Aspirin should be enough.  But, don't get too comfortable as age is a risk factor too.  I don't recall where age adds another risk factor, but think it may be 60 years old.

I am mostly symptom free (if I don't try to be too physical) with permanent AFib.  I take both warfarin (5 mg) and a low dose aspinin.  I take the aspirin in the morning  and the warfarin in the evening. I have at least two risk factors, maybe three given I had mitral valve surgery a couple of years ago.

[LindaTX]

If you are truly in permanent a-fib, you should definitely be on a blood-thinner.  The possibility of having a stroke is too great.  I started on coumadin in June after a 4 1/2 day episode of a-fib and my dr said I could either go on coumadin or sit back and wait for a stroke..  I wonder too what the real ramifications of longtime coumadin use are.

[cindy707]

Boy and again the controversy on warfarin/coumadin seems to rear its ugly head.  Your doc is probably controversial because it is a little hard on our bodies and the side effects if we become injured with something that causes anything invasive thru our skin/or internally.  Personally and this is personally i do not know that i agree with the use....as Jerry posted on an earlier post we are only in a 3% high risk bracket of throwing a clot w. a fib than other healty normal humans.  I have had a fib for years and am super pro active w. my heart and in reading studies, contacting various heart docs to get their opinions and have a medical background so i think what your doc said to you leaves the door open to you....your decision just make sure its an informed decision. I like Jerry take an aspirin a day plus and antenolol each morning for insurance as i think of it.  Each one of our bodies are different and react differently  just make sure you have as many answers as you can get before you make your decision....keep talking to others and have them weigh in....

[LindaTX]

You might take a look at a similar thread that ran in this forum Dec2 entitled "Why start coumadin for atrial-fibrillation?"  Read what piddleypop had to say about having a stroke. I think you're playing with fire. You've gotten 2 Dr.s opinions, maybe you need a third, from maybe an electrophysiologist.  Do you go regularly to get your INR checked? That's an intrical part of coumadin therapy.

[LindaTX]

Sorry, I just re-read your post and saw that you do see an EP not "just" a cardiologist I still think it would be wise to stay on the coumadin. And I'm one who hates, really hates to take meds of any kind.  Better safe than sorry.