I heard from the cardiologist today in followup to the cardiology visit last Wednesday. I am to start a blood thinner today. It’s twice daily, so it begins with dinner tonight. It’s brand name is Pradaxa, but I am using a generic version.
It’s the least expensive of the newer generation blood thinners. It’s still $60 and change every month, after Medicare Advantage pays their share. The last time I was on one it was $140 per month out of pocket. So I am happier about that part at least. I’ll admit the entire concept of a blood thinner and associated risks is not something I love.
If I were to cut myself severely, or have some form of internal bleeding, this medication makes that far more dangerous than people with normal clotting. This one has a well tested reversal agent, which is very important in such instances. It is IV administered in ER or pre-surgical settings. The previous blood thinner had no reversal agent at the time that I started it.
In other news, the increased dose of the beta-blocker (metoprolol succinate) has greatly improved both my heart rate and apparently stopped the Afib. My heart rate has not spiked since the change in medication. Prior to that, during the Afib events on 29-June, it had gone as high as 222.
Things are improving, I am happy to report. And oh, by the way, today I turned 68 years old. The journey continues.
An Aging Trans Woman 
π Happiest of birthdays to you, Janet, until the next one!π₯³ π
LikeLike