Blood Thinners

[bruce379]

I have had coronary heart disease now for 7 years. A stroke in 2004 left me with left side weakness due from a large blood clot. Then another stroke in 2008 from another blood clot that hit behind the left eye. I had angioplasty in 2003 for a 75% and 90% blockage but no stents. After the first stoke I was put on Coumadin and thin soon thereafter put on only two baby aspirin. In getting ready for sius surgery in 2008 I was taken off my aspirin for 8 days and the day before the surgery had the second stroke. My cardiologist put me on Plavix plus the two aspirin and had me take 4 plavix the first day I got them. Now I take one Plavix a day plus the two aspirin. After a bout with Pneumonia and Bronchitis and being in the hospital twice I was sent to a Pulmonary Dr. He said first off I should be on Coumadin because I was high risk for blood clots and they don't know where they are coming from. He told me the Plavix was not the medicine of choice with my condition. Now I don't know who to believe the Pulmonary Dr. or my Cardiologist. Can you please give me some insight as to who is right or wrong?

[kenkeith]

Plavix, similar to aspirin, is effective in treating arterial clots (stroke, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease), whereas coumadin is effective in treating venous clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism).