Active Life and Coumadin usage

[Karlynn]

What are the components of an “active lifestyle” that are not compatible with Coumadin (warfarin) usage?

We have many new members come on and say they are not choosing a valve option that requires Coumadin because they have an “active lifestyle”. This leads many of us that take Coumadin to believe that many times this new person has been given erroneous information about what they may and may not do while taking Coumadin. I thought a thread with actual activities that are incompatible with Coumadin would be a good thing to refer new “active” members to, in order to help them make a more informed choice. I had initially thought of starting a thread that listed activities that were compatible, but that list is much longer than the incompatible activities, so I thought this should be the road we take.

If someone posts an activity that someone else disagrees with, by all means post a reply and why you would disagree. Or if you participate in an activity that may not be considered compatible, but you take special precautions in order to do that activity – please post that and explain.

With that, here’s a start:

If your active life includes the following, it is most likely incompatible with Coumadin usage. If you do not find your activity here, chances are a Coumadin user is doing that activity.

Sky diving
Base jumping
Ski racing
Full contact football

 

[Gemma]

Another one -

Another one -

Boxing wouldn't be wise.

 

[PamO]

Ice hockey.

 

[Kate]

Drinking

This is really only partially a joke - I know many Coumadin-users do drink alcohol, but it isn't recommended and this was one factor in my decision making. I don't wish to give the impression that I drink like a fish, but I REALLY like a beer or two and felt it would negatively impact my quality of life not to have that option. Kate

 

[Karlynn]

Drinking

This is really only partially a joke - I know many Coumadin-users do drink alcohol, but it isn't recommended and this was one factor in my decision making. I don't wish to give the impression that I drink like a fish, but I REALLY like a beer or two and felt it would negatively impact my quality of life not to have that option. Kate

Kate - I would clarify this as "drinking to excess". Many Coumadin users enjoy regular "adult beverages" in a sensible way. I'm heading to Florida in a few days and just packed my acrylic martini glasses, suitable for the beach.

 

[Lynlw]

Kate - I would clarify this as "drinking to excess". Many Coumadin users enjoy regular "adult beverages" in a sensible way. I'm heading to Florida in a few days and just packed my acrylic martini glasses, suitable for the beach.

where in fla and when,? Justin is going to orlando for his senior trip this weekend, Lyn

 

[twinmaker]

Maybe "heading" the soccer ball or even playing soccer. Both our twins played soccer from age 5 right through college (U.of South Carolina), and I've watched my two "head" the ball so many times that it would make your head swim (no pun intended). Mine were never injured from doing it, but some of their teammates had concusions. I'm sure some of these were from collisions with other players, but this discussion just made me think about soccer. As boys get older and continue to play, it gets REALLY physical. LINDA

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Have never had an issue comsuming a few glasses of wine, or martinis while on Coumadin. Few drinks here and there have not done any damage. My two cents and 7 years worth of experimenting

BTW, my card gave his blessing to snow ski with a helmut. He told me to live my life. The valve should just be background noise. Good advice from a good man I am more active now than I ever was. Feel fab... I do not intend to slow down anytime soon. Looks like I just rolled over 2400 posts to boot!

 

[tommy]

I limit 2 drinks. Mostly it's to keep me from loosing control and over eating, or over drinking. I've become such a short hitter that 2 is enough of a buzz anyway. I also avoid alcohol within 3 days of an INR test.

Baseball is a no-no in my book. I've played softball and prefer playing in the outfield where my 50-year old reactions are fast enough to avoid getting beaned. Still some rick there, but I love baseball.

 

[mntbiker]

This is one I would think twice about:


View attachment 3926


Of course that is more because I would think twice about it now.

 

[mntbiker]

Maybe "heading" the soccer ball or even playing soccer.

I know, I am not on coumadin... yet, but after many years of playing soccer and of course I have been a coach for a couple of years now I don't see any issue with it. If you head the ball properly it is no issue, as far as other injuries you could get while playing, I could see injuries just as bad and even worse riding a bike.

I plan on playing in 3 on 3 tournaments again next year.

 

[OldManEmu]

Activies

Activies

As it was explained to me, if the activity carries a real risk of sustaining a blow to the head of the type that could cause concussion with or without a helmet, this activity undertaken when on warfarin therapy caries a greatly increased risk of an intracranial bleed and all this entails. Other activities that can cause extreme loads on the abdomen can also cause problems eg motor sport, a crash subjects the internal organs to huge "G" loadings that can cause abdominal bleeds. Personally I would not be comfortable travelling to third world countries where medical facilities are next to non existent, this is especially so when going as an independent traveller.

 

[MarkU]

The only limitations on my activities are age (& budget)-related , and have absolutely nothing to do with my Coumadin. I'm almost 53, and unfortunately did not get selected in the NFL draft this past weekend; I also have not been able to afford a new Ferrari, so my Formula One racing career is currently on hold...

I started doing triathlons two years after my AVR and have not suffered any adverse effects because of being on Coumadin. I've had one bike crash, but other than a sore shoulder and some road rash had no other consequences (I ALWAYS wear a bike helmet, but would do so Coumadin or not).

I work on my cars, mow my grass, climb ladders, and use sharp knives to build model ships.

My worst injury since my surgery was falling in the wet sidewalk outside my office last September and breaking my finger in a couple of places. I didn't bleed much and had very little bruising.

I usually have one or two glasses of red wine with dinner. I kind of lost my taste for beer after my surgery, but still may have one or two a month in social situations.

I'm watching my diet my closely, but more to control my weight and fuel my training workouts, than to manage my INR.

Oh, and I shave with a razor every morning...

Mark

 

[Mike C]

Avoid being eaten by an alligator while on coumadin

 

[Ross]

Absolutely no Sword Fighting!

 

[MarkU]

Absolutely no Sword Fighting!

It's okay as long as you're good at it...it's loosing that might not be so good.

 

[MarkU]

Avoid being eaten by an alligator while on coumadin

Easy for someone living in Massachusetts to say - try moving down here to Florida and see what it's like.

As they say at the University of Florida: "If you're not a Gator, then you're Gator bait"

 

[Johnny Stephens]

No adjustments here. Any of the really risky is stuff is likely something I wouldn't have done even without Coumadin. I do shoot pistols for target practice, and reload my own cartridges.

Bed O' Nails
Walking on Broken Glass
Chainsaw Juggling
etc...

 

[PamO]

Chain Saw Juggling.

 

[Emma]

Have to say if a small child can live happily with warfarin then it can't have that many limits surely.
Have only ever found a couple for Chloe (mainly rough parties that involve a lot of contact sports) but have even found ways around those too.
Have been speaking to my friend recently whose 8 year son has been on warfarin for as long as Chloe and he literally does everything - even plays weekly on the local football team, goes on activity weekends with school etc etc.
Warfarin to us just means being aware and taking extra precautions against injuries wherever necessary and possible.

xxx