3.8 what to do?

[Mileena46]

I am taking 5mg a day except Tues and Sat when I take 7.5. Two weeks ago I was at 3.3 and two weeks before that I was 3.4. The nurse today said I should go eat a salad. If I have gone up this much in two weeks....is it reasonable for me to stay at the same dose? Help me...I feel like I have been left alone to worry about this and try to manage it on my own.

Mileena

 

[Herb M]

You are OK they way you are. If you want a lower INR, as the nurse said, eat a salad.

 

[Ross]

Don't do anything. Don't even think about doing anything unless you go over 4.0

This appears to be the correct dose for you. Your just going through a phase that will likely correct itself.

 

[Mileena46]

Thanks, my worry was that I would continue to go up and up at this dose.

Mileena

 

[Bina]

I agree with Herb and Ross.....don't do anything.
An INR of 3.8 is just fine unless it is a drastic change from a previous reading.
Enjoy your salad. and see where you are next time.

 

[dick0236]

Like the others said, don't make any dosing change .....and as the nurse suggested, eat a salad .

 

[catwoman]

Mileena:

Relax! You're a mitral valver. Your range is 2.5-3.5, and being a hair over isn't anything to worry about. An INR of 3.8 is just fine.

 

[Philip B]

3.8?

3.8?

What did I miss? Where does the reference to 3.8 come from? Your post said that you were at 3.3 and saw an increase to 3.4 if I read it correctly. A .1 increase over a two week period seems to be a small matter. I fluctuate more than .1 weekly.

I always find it interesting to hear about advice which suggests that the way to manage INR is with diet. Personally, I'd rather eat and drink what I want and manage my INR with adjusting my coumadin dosage. Others may have had different experiences, but I've never noticed a major impact on my INR by eating salad.

-Philip

 

[catwoman]

Philip:

I think Mileena meant that 3.8 was her very latest results.

I agree -- I don't think the advice to "eat a salad" corrects the situation (should it need correcting, if at all!). Unless you eat nothing but spinach 3 meals a day for several days, like Popeye!

I deleted from my post last night a question about the nurse's suggestion of eating a salad. I was thinking along the same lines as you.

 

[lance]

Don't do a thing .................

Don't do a thing .................

or at the most eat more greens. 3.8 is not a cause for worry and it may help you to learn my range is 3.5-4.0 for a mechanical mitral valve. 3.8 is music to my ears.

 

[Blanche]

Due to other medical circumstances, my husband's INR range is 3.0 to 4.0.
In the 9 years that he has had that range he has been at 4.0 or slightly higher many times with no problems whatever.

May I suggest that you check out Al Lodwick's site. Mr. Lodwick is a recognized expert on anticoagulation and a member of this site. See www.warfarinfo.com

Learning about anticoagulation is a continuing need. When you feel more comfortable about this, I suggest that you consider getting your own anticoagulation monitor and do your testing at home.

Kind wishes,
Blanche

 

[Mileena46]

Once again, I don't know what I would do about my lack of knowledge and fear if it weren't for all of you! Thanks so much!

Phillip,

Sorry for the confusion. 3.8 was only mentioned in the title.

Blanche,

I hope to one day get a tester, I think it would make me feel a lot better.

It was actually funny because when the nurse told me to eat a salad...I thought to myself: "I wonder what the folks on VR.COM will say about THAT!"

Mileena