M
Marge
Does between 2.0 and 3.0 sound right for a recent (Feb. 12) mitral valve repair?
I was started on coumadin (or rather warfarin) on the 14th at the hospital. I came home on the 17th. I am now dealing with the Kaiser Anticoagulant Clinic -- between 2.0 and 3.0 is where they say I should be. They had me go to the lab for a blood draw on the 19th, and called me the same day with the results. They said my INR was 1.8, three points higher than it was at the hospital. It is still below the range they want it at, but they say it should not go up too fast.
The prescription I brought back from the hospital is for 2.5 mg. of warfarin a day. That is still supposed to be my dosage except for Sunday when I am supposed to take a half tablet, 1.25 mg. On Monday the home health nurse is coming by and she will do another blood draw; based on that they will again review what the dosage should be. I am supposed to call them for any number of conditions or events that might affect INR (infection, flu, vomiting, diarrhrea, fever, fluid retention, etc.), major diet changes, changes in activity levels, medication, etc., etc. They also told me not to worry too much about diet, just try to be as consistent as possible, and they will work the anti-coagulant around it. Right now, just out of the hospital, I couldn't worry about diet if I tried. Just finding things I want to eat is a bit of a struggle.
My insurance is through Kaiser -- it is a non-profit HMO with its own drs., hospitals, clinics, etc. -- so at this point I have little choice in who to rely on for my anti-coagulant therapy.
<So I hope they are doing the right thing!>
I was started on coumadin (or rather warfarin) on the 14th at the hospital. I came home on the 17th. I am now dealing with the Kaiser Anticoagulant Clinic -- between 2.0 and 3.0 is where they say I should be. They had me go to the lab for a blood draw on the 19th, and called me the same day with the results. They said my INR was 1.8, three points higher than it was at the hospital. It is still below the range they want it at, but they say it should not go up too fast.
The prescription I brought back from the hospital is for 2.5 mg. of warfarin a day. That is still supposed to be my dosage except for Sunday when I am supposed to take a half tablet, 1.25 mg. On Monday the home health nurse is coming by and she will do another blood draw; based on that they will again review what the dosage should be. I am supposed to call them for any number of conditions or events that might affect INR (infection, flu, vomiting, diarrhrea, fever, fluid retention, etc.), major diet changes, changes in activity levels, medication, etc., etc. They also told me not to worry too much about diet, just try to be as consistent as possible, and they will work the anti-coagulant around it. Right now, just out of the hospital, I couldn't worry about diet if I tried. Just finding things I want to eat is a bit of a struggle.
My insurance is through Kaiser -- it is a non-profit HMO with its own drs., hospitals, clinics, etc. -- so at this point I have little choice in who to rely on for my anti-coagulant therapy.
<So I hope they are doing the right thing!>
