2nd Blood Test Today and Peter is doing well

[Bina]

I am one of the members whose hospital wouldn't release until my INR was steady in range....it took 16 days!
They had also started me on 5mg, and now (like your husband) I am taking 2mg and 3mg.
Both of my GP docs are great with dosing, and now I self dose. It's not big deal.
These first few weeks are going to tire you out....try to rest a bit....skip the laundry, eat off of paper plates if needed.
We ended up hiring someone to help with house cleaning a few hours a month, and it really took the pressure off.
You are doing GREAT.

 

[Bina]

Is there no home nurse who will do blood draws? I had one.

 

[catwoman]

The Coumadin Clinic have already mentioned a meter and what the criteria was. If he has to continue the Coumadin then it's certainly something I'd like to explore. Just being selfish for a minute, I'd like to get rid of the twice a week 100+ mile round trip for bloodwork.

Medicare covers INR machines for folks with a-fib.

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Transmittals/Downloads/R90NCD.pdf

 

[corrineinwa]

Holy smokes!!! 100+ miles round trip for a blood test?

Yep!

We live at the base of Mt.Rainier and that's how far we have to travel to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma.

Bina - I don't know whether a home nurse for blood draws is an option but I will ask if the Coumadin ends up being a permanent thing. Our nearest clinic is about 18 miles away, nearest hospital is about 20 - both are a lot closer than what we're doing right now.

Marsha - thank you for that link. I've already been told that if we have to go that way, there'd be no cost to us. And that's a relief - those meters are horrendously expensive.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Yep!

We live at the base of Mt.Rainier and that's how far we have to travel to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma.

Bina - I don't know whether a home nurse for blood draws is an option but I will ask if the Coumadin ends up being a permanent thing. Our nearest clinic is about 18 miles away, nearest hospital is about 20 - both are a lot closer than what we're doing right now.

Marsha - thank you for that link. I've already been told that if we have to go that way, there'd be no cost to us. And that's a relief - those meters are horrendously expensive.

This clinic you mention, is it a Coumadin Clinic or a General Clinic? You may want to see if there is someplace you could go that is closer to home for Peter's INR testing. Can Peter's Cardiologist help? or his PCP? Someone at his current Lab may even be able to give him a referal (perhaps the director / supervisor, etc.).

For Long Term, Home Testing would obviously be the Best Solution AND, Medicare will pay for the instrument and test strips.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[BigOwl]

Just be sure that anything closer actually has the facilities to do what you need done. I tried in hospital to arrange for testing closer to home--but it wasn't a dedicated coumadin clinic, just a general LabCorp site. They only draw blood and send it out.

So I ended up at the coumadin clinic connected with my cardiologist's group, a 30 minute drive without traffic, more with, where it's in and out in ten minutes and a finger prick (I did notice today that they use a Coaguchek monitor). Right now, until I can check at home, I'm happy to make the trip--although mine's half of yours. Good luck with this!

 

[Ross]

Hey guys, we gotta be careful with Corrine's husband. It's come to light that he's on Amiodarone, so that may or may not be why things are moving as slowly as they are. Just a heads up for those of us trying to help stabilze him.

 

[zipper2]

Corrine,i'm glad to read Peter is home,and (HUGS) to you
for just joining and taking all this in (so much to grasp).
Get some much deserved rest too and it will be alright.
Can be frustrating but you have the best help here,i know
i couldnot have done it without this group of educated people
I never found the site till already on warfarin 16 years and
doc's just couldnot grasp the ACT.Your doing GREAT

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[corrineinwa]

Hey guys, we gotta be careful with Corrine's husband. It's come to light that he's on Amiodarone, so that may or may not be why things are moving as slowly as they are. Just a heads up for those of us trying to help stabilze him.

I remember posting his meds on the post-surgery forum but it might be helpful to post them here too.

Docusate 250mg - once a day (the original x2 proved a little too much! ).
Metroprolol 75mg - twice a day.
Amiodarone 200mg - once a day.
Warfarin 2mg - once a day - subject to change of course.
Omeprazole 20mg - twice a day 30 mins before breakfast and dinner
Atorvastatin 40mg - bedtime.
Aspirin 81mg - once a day.

 

[catwoman]

Corrine:

John had a-fib while in the hospital and his surgeon put him on amiodarone. I was shaky about his being on that Rx. It wasn't accomplishing much in the hospital, so his surgeon switched him to warfarin to prevent clots and gave him a tincture of time for the a-fib to resolve itself.

It worked, and I was happy.

 

[zipper2]

I remember posting his meds on the post-surgery forum but it might be helpful to post them here too.

Docusate 250mg - once a day (the original x2 proved a little too much! ).
Metroprolol 75mg - twice a day.
Amiodarone 200mg - once a day.
Warfarin 2mg - once a day - subject to change of course.
Omeprazole 20mg - twice a day 30 mins before breakfast and dinner
Atorvastatin 40mg - bedtime.
Aspirin 81mg - once a day.

Corrine i am just fresh off the amiodarone which will continue some time yet
in my system .

When the surgeon started me 0n 4oo mg after surgery,i came home went 200mg,but i couldnot and still cannot find a favorite inr # to be at.
For me it continually jumps up,down and i can't seem to stay on 30mg or 40mg or anything for warfarin to get it stabalized to a favorite inr range for me.
therefore i check and have my own machine weekly i check it and have to adjust the warfarin.
I used to be stable prior to 2nd surgery and on warfarin 17 years already but with me i didnot take well to the amiodarone or vice versa and i am happy to
be off the short time i have been.....so far so good,but takes time
I did have a fib and a maze done for 2nd surgery,they will put me on something else,but need to wait along with tests till amiodarone is completely out of my system.
Not sure it effects everyone ,but for me it's been a rollercoaster ride.
You should check to0 see how long peter will be on amiodarone and maynot
effect him at all,we are all different in each and every way.It has effected my inr readings weekly but also has another drug i've had to take recently added to my coaster ride.
Just a thought for you to keep in mind but not to make you worry.

zipper2 (DEB)