Question: Hi, thank you! I was recently prescribed 20 mg of Xarelto once a day for atrial fibrillation. Two weeks ago i went to ER for chest pressure, shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat, after waiting overnight , sleeping, to see if it would resolve itself(I'm a carpenter, right? And have had slight "palpitations before). Two ekg's, X-rays, blood work and an echocardiogram confirm that i'm pretty healthy, yay, I don't smoke or drink, don't get enough cardio exercise, could eat better, though I,m physically fairly active. Work had been a stressfull, anxiety producing b%#ch for some time, it's dark, it,s raining and cold, i can't do my motorcycle meditation, I'm 65, my knee's giving me problems, I've been drinking tons of coffee, and then I was unexpectedly laid off. WELL- The a-fib seems to have resolved itself, I've been still active but taking it easy(I live in the woods, it's snowing, there's firewood, plowing, shoveling), and resolving to take the opportunity to wake up again now that I'm settling down a bit. My doctor wants me to take the Xarelto for 3 months, log instances of a-fib and pulse, then if all seems well possibly wear a moniter for a day or two, before discontinuing the Xarelto. I just visited the orthopedist? who operated on my knee 12 years ago- torn meniscus, microfracture- He's cleared me for skiing with a brace, would have prescribed an anti-inflammatory but for the Xarelto, gave me a few years before at least a partial knee replacement(great guy, I've had hernia surgery too,modern medicine is amazing!). Opinion please? Am i safe with my occupation, not to mention skiing, on this drug? I'm careful, life is risky, accidents happen. I've read what's readily available about it, was a little alarmed about the idea that going off it increases the risk of stroke, would like to have the anti-inflammatory available to me, am feeling like possibly the sooner i get off it the better, and i seriously hate the thought of getting involved in the whole 'old people, their ailments and medications' paradigm. I also wish to be prudent and listen to those who are- thankfully- more informed than myself. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, sorry to be so wordy! XXXX, Hope, XXXX.

Thank you Dr.Maheshwari, for your expertise and reassurance- XXXX