1.3 INR bad??

[JeanneImp]

www.acforum.org and click on Clinic Locations

Thanks so much... I find this interesting as not only is the clinic close, it is in the same hospital, Matt goes to. All the problems he has had with his INR's and not one person thought that maybe he should go there? grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Guess who I am calling?

 

[blessed1416]

INR up to 2.2

INR up to 2.2

Saw my cardio today- Again, my coumadin was increased -
10mg today, then 5, 5,7.5. 5, 5, then re-stick again next Wednesday. I spoke with the lab technitions about not delaying to send reports from our local hospital (Wedowee,AL) to my cardio's office in Opelika, Al. They assured me that this wouldn't happen again. I understand that getting your level stabilized takes some tweeking and time to get it to stay within range. Also that I need to be more consistent with my eating habits and activity levels.
I also was told by the nurse today that even antibiotics will affect the readings. I take 2000 mg of amoxicillin prior to having my teeth clearned.
I'm learning....information that I learn here is very helpful. Thanks all!! Gail

 

[catwoman]

The 2,000mg of amoxi shouldn't affect your INR. I recently took 6,000-7,000+mg of amoxi in 36 hours after a cat bite, and I didn't see any noticeable change in my INR the next week.

And you don't have to be 100.00000% consistent on every little detail -- eating the same exact thing day in, day out -- how boring!!!!!!!!
I'm consistent on getting in vitamin K sources just about every day. I vary the source; it's not always a plain ol' salad, sometimes it's a chicken-broccoli stir fry, or a side of turnip greens, some steamed broccoli, a spinach salad, some "interesting" way to get that ol' vitamin K in.
If I'm traveling anad can't get in about the same amount of salad/whatever I usually eat, I make up for it the next day.

 

[Consuela]

coumadin

coumadin

I think that 1.3 is very low...especially since they want you to be 2.5-3.5 but in the beginning it is very difficult for them to prescribe the right amount of coumadin, since everyone is different. For the first couple weeks, maybe even first couple months, your levels will jump around pretty quickly. Well, at least they did for me. It is true that pretty much everything effects your INR. The best thing to do is just get it checked frequently, until it starts evening itself out. Usually they will have you come in once a week, then when your in range for awhile, they usually have you come in once every two or three weeks. Especially since your still recovering, your body isn't back to "normal" yet. I'm sure your not eating what you usually do, or excercising like you would.

All I can advise is just to get checked regularly. I know I had been 3.0 for a very long time, which I was so proud of. Then one day I went in, and I was about 1.7 I couldn't believe it, I thought back to was it something I ate or something I did...maybe I missed a pill?? I couldn't think of anything, but my cardio said sometimes it just happens. So bottom line, just make sure you listen to your docs, take your meds, and get checked. Good luck to you and hope your recovery goes well

Glad to hear that it takes time to regulate coumandin. I have been going once a week for blood tests and the doctor seems to change the pattern every week. I do keep a record and record everything. I am new to this. Had a valve replacement December 13 and six weeks to the day started to feel fine. Now if only they can get the dosage right things would be fine.

I try to eat the same everyday. Not to have vegtables one day and then to have them the next day would be wrong. I do love vegtables and have a small portion everyday with my meals. I exercise by walking every day.

I hope one day the medicine will kick in and be regulated. Thanks for sharing your findings with this forum.

Consuela

 

[Karlynn]

Consuela, it can be a bit rocky at the beginning to get the INR in range. But here are some things to consider to make sure it's not the way the doctor is managing your Coumadin that keeps you from being stable. Bells went off for me on your comment that he's always changing your dosage.

Know your range - I'm assuming that with a mitral replacement your range is 2.5 to 3.5.

If your INR is too low and the dr. is making increases in your dose to adjust it upward, that's fine. I'll put a chart here so you can see the guidelines for adjustments for too low and too high INR's.

If your INR is high, but 4 or under and the dr. decreases your dose, and the next week your INR is too low, your dr. is over-reacting to the high INR and making too much of an adjustment. Many of us with a 2.5 to 3.5 range make no dosage change for a 4 INR, or we tweak it just a tiny bit, but then stay on our usual dosage. If your doctor is having you hold a days dosage for anything less than 5 he's over-reacting. We don't like to hold dosages here unless we are very high.

One thing to remember is that dosage adjustments are made on your total weekly dose and then you figure out what combination of daily doses will bring you to that total weekly number.

Have you been to Al Lodwick's site www.warfarinfo.com? If not, go take a good look and then bookmark it for future reference.