My husband tested 1.5 for the third time in a month. I cut the Soy south Beach breakfast bars out of his diet last week and upped his dose by 15% again. What are we doing wrong? Do sweet potatoes have vitamin K? He has been eating one of them 3 to 4 times a week and he stopped drinking and eating most sugar because he is pre -diabetic. He is now using sweet and low in everything. I am really getting worried he is walking around with a time bomb inside of him. His doctor called and left a message that he wants to see him asap and I will call at 8:30 and get the soonest appt. I can. But, what will he do besides raise his dose again? Rignt now he is doing 7.5 on Mon,Tues,Thurs,Sat. and Sun. and 10.5 on Wed. and Fri.
1.5 AGAIN-Please Help
- Thread starter terryj
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Ross
Well-known member
58.5mg a week and it hasn't budged? How is he being tested, Lab?
All you can do is increase again. 10mg everyday for a week and see where that gets him.
All you can do is increase again. 10mg everyday for a week and see where that gets him.
K
Karlynn
You may want to talk to the dr. about using Lovenox until he gets close to range.
Ross, yes its a lab draw and 1.5 three times in a row just doesn't sound right to me. I think Quest is who checks it. I just got off the phone with the doctors office and he has an 11:15 appt. I don't know what they will do though except recheck his blood(it was checked Friday) and raise his dose. I have an appt. for a root canal so I can't go with him. we have 7.5 and 6.0. So he could do 9.0 4 days a week and 10.5 3 days a week and that would be a 15% weekly increase. Right?
Karlynn, We have some shots at home but they are nearly 5 years old. I will call him back and tell him to ask the doctor about the shots. I gave them to him when he came home from the hospital. I didn't know how to dispose of the unused ones so they are in the top cabinet in my kitchen where the grandkids couldn't reach them.
Ross
Well-known member
terryj said:
Yes that would work. I'm still thinking something isn't right with the testing results myself. Are they giving you the results while you wait? How long does it take them to give them to you?
They are horrible about getting the results back to us. We are in the process of finding a new PCP jsut because of this. They tested on Friday at 4 and we got the results last night. Last time they tested on Friday and we got the results the following Thursday after I left about 4 messages for the results. Now all of the sudden thsy are acting like they are concerned. I would hope so after a month of 1.5 and no suggestions from them on what to do about it.
If we do the shots do we re-test again right away? I remember we had a prescription for 10 shots and only used about 4 or 5 of them and when he retested he was at 4.8. Do the shots help raise the INR or just protect against clots while the INR is being raised by the coumadin adjustment?
K
Karlynn
Lovenox will not show up in an INR test. So his 4.8 after Lovenox was just strictly due to the Coumadin level. Lovenox is to help guard against clotting while the INR gets into range.
I also sent you a PM.
I also sent you a PM.
Ross
Well-known member
terryj said:
As you know, results older then the day of testing are useless to you. You might as well not test if that's what they're doing, but you do have to know where things are. Definately get someone else asap. They are going to do more harm then good. wouldn't it suck to find out whoever reading the chart is giving the same 1.5 reading each time you call?
R
RandyL
wouldn't it suck to find out whoever reading the chart is giving the same 1.5 reading each time you call? [/QUOTE]
I'm with Ross. I would go to the lab or call them and ask for the supervisor to make damn sure you are getting the correct results before changing dosage.
[/QUOTE]I'm with Ross. I would go to the lab or call them and ask for the supervisor to make damn sure you are getting the correct results before changing dosage.
Ross you are a genius. My husband went to the doctor yesterday. I had a root canal appt. and couldn't go. I told him to ask for his chart so he could look at the results and dates himself. The doctor started to hand him the sheets and guess what, Fridays results were behind the results from the Friday before last. He was actually at 2.1. Not good enough yet but much better than 1.5. He asked about home testing and was told no because it is not accurate enough(what they are doing is?) and his office doesn't allow home testing. After his 2 hour glucose test on Friday we are finding a new doctor who will allow home testing. Do you think we should still do the 9.0 and 10.5 or go back to 7.5 everyday? With his ATS valve he can be 2.0 to 3.0but we like to stay on the higher side.
Ross
Well-known member
Leave it as it stands now and see what happens on the next test.
You most certainly need to find a new Coumadin Manager, this one ain't cuttin it. When it comes to home testing, you'll pretty much have to be demanding about it. It's not that the machines aren't accurate so much as the office doesn't want to lose testing revenues. Next time someones says the meters aren't accurate enough, ask them to prove it to you. Put them on the spot. So many times, it's shear ignorance speaking and they don't like it when they are put on the hot seat.
You most certainly need to find a new Coumadin Manager, this one ain't cuttin it. When it comes to home testing, you'll pretty much have to be demanding about it. It's not that the machines aren't accurate so much as the office doesn't want to lose testing revenues. Next time someones says the meters aren't accurate enough, ask them to prove it to you. Put them on the spot. So many times, it's shear ignorance speaking and they don't like it when they are put on the hot seat.
Thanks. They are testing again on Friday when he has his 2 hour glucose test. Maybe we are on our way to being in range again at last. He has pretty much been in range for over four years now. I worry more when its low than I do when its too high.
Ross
Well-known member
I changed my post a couple times, hope you saw the last.
R
RandyL
terryj said:
Good going on checking the accuracy of the test. Some of these Dr's office staff are very unreliable. As for the Home INR Machine, my Cardiologist refused to recommend the Tester to my insurance company because he swore it was not an accurate test. Well I just had my primary Doctor recommend it and my insurance company paid for it and I am very satisfied with it. Oh, BTW did also mention there is a new Coumadin Manager in charge of my dosage. Yep you guessed it, ME. lmao
P
PamO
I'll chime in on the lack of confidence from doctor's on home testing. It's not lack of confidence, it's potential lack of revenue! My husband's cardio was always against it until both my husband and another requested it repeatedly...he finally gave in, but made them both promise to do six month lab testing at his office.
Guess he figured this is the only way for Mike to continue to be at good levels - he NEVER goes to his appointments for draws!
Guess he figured this is the only way for Mike to continue to be at good levels - he NEVER goes to his appointments for draws!
Ross
Well-known member
...And doing a far better job then they ever did most likely!RandyL said:
G
Guest
You need a new doctor immediately. Anybody who thinks that home testing is inaccurate after giving out the wrong results and after week besides should not be allowed to treat a sick earthworm let alone people.
