Any vegetarians out there?

Swill · Nov 29, 2006

I have been on Warfarin now for 3 1/2 years. I recently went to a Tony Robbins seminar, and part of the seminar they talk about food and energy. They had some pretty interesting ideas. One of the ideas was about 'Alkalizing' by eating lots of greens and eliminating meats and acidic foods, such as coffee.

While I have always loved my greens and continue to eat them (there is that 'Does the Diet' thing again), I am hesitant to jump in whole hog...

I would love to hear from anyone who has done this. In anticipation I have just ordered a home test unit so I can test weekly instead of every 4-5 weeks...

Cheers,

Swill

Nan · Nov 29, 2006

Hi,

I have been a vegetarian for about 18 years or so. That certainly includes the time I have been on Coumadin. Initially everyone was telling me (medical folks)to stay away from the greens which caused me tremendous angst and trepidation. I remember crying during the cardiac rehab session with the nutritionist .....limit greens, was their mantra.

However, mostly due to all the information from this site and from Al Lodwick's site, I have learned to yes, dose the diet, don't diet the dose. I continue to be a vegetarian, do not eat meat, fish or chicken, and do eat greens and broccoli etc. and so far so good.

I also have a home testing unit which makes life much easier. If my readings are getting too low I might reduce the amt. of greens for a few days, and if to high, I might really enjoy more than usual...a feast of salads and broccoli and spinach. Especially spinach souffle! (so I guess I am dieting the dose a bit.)

It is definitely doable.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Natanni · Nov 29, 2006

Thanks for posting this topic Swill, and also for your response Nan...

My husband has had his mechanical valve for a little over a year now, and we believe, thanks to this site and Al, that he has had very good control over his INR. He eats pretty much what he wants with consistancy, has a few beers spead out over the week, things have gone well.

He was raised (until his later teen years) as a vegetarian, not vegan, + fish. Since I have known him, he has been a happy meat eater. We tried to cut out all red meats, and did do alot of soy products in an attempt to lower a very stubborn cholesterol issue with him but gave up as he had a hard time maintaining weight. His parents continue to be meat free, and I hope to someday get him off of cholesterol meds and control cholesterol issues with diet more rich in fish (we HATE fish) and soy. Would appreciate stories on how INRs were managed and problems encountered. T/Y!

Edited to add the Mayo told us if we were to go vegetarian Nathan's Warfarin dose would have to go from 5 mg to approx 15mg per day. How would one go about adjust this?

Swill · Nov 30, 2006

Thanks for the input. I have gone back to eating a lot more greens since seeing Tony, and I have been cutting out the meat. I don't consider myself a vegetarian, but some of the ideas put forth at that seminar seemed to make a lot of sense, and I am willing to give it a try.

Just got my INR back and it was 2.5, right smack where it should be, even with all the salads for lunch and veggies for breakfast.

I will feel better when I get my new INR meter next week (Thanks QAS!). I got enough strips so I can test once a week, and I am going to monitor my INR while moving towards eating more greens...

Thanks,

Swill

pink.gingham · Dec 3, 2006

I'm vegan!

Yes, dose the diet. If you want to boost up the amount of greens you eat, your INR and coumadin dose will change for awhile. The stickler is: you have to commit to eating about the same amount of vitamin K every day. EVERY day.

Hope that helps. Greens are so delicious and grounding. The amount I eat varies with the seasons: more in the summer when there's fresh local stuff.

Carla

Stormy · Dec 4, 2006

I am new to this site but,....

I am new to this site but,....

Swill]I have been on Warfarin now for 3 1/2 years. I recently went to a Tony Robbins seminar, and part of the seminar they talk about food and energy. They had some pretty interesting ideas. One of the ideas was about 'Alkalizing' by eating lots of greens and eliminating meats and acidic foods, such as coffee.

While I have always loved my greens and continue to eat them (there is that 'Does the Diet' thing again), I am hesitant to jump in whole hog...

I would love to hear from anyone who has done this. In anticipation I have just ordered a home test unit so I can test weekly instead of every 4-5 weeks...

Cheers,

Swill
Hi there Swill...I too love my greens and will not give up my eating habits now....all of a sudden they try to tell me what to eat...back 1975-2002 I was never told anything about eating food of any kind.and nevwer had any trouble with my pr-time going up and down etc...
I am new to this site so bare with me ok...
I have been since 1975 with a shiley aoritic valve and 1998 with St Jude mitra vavle sence 1998...they don't get any easier...I never use to have much trouble with my Pro time..all most always was in the good range...
since I had this mitra in I have had nothing but trouble with it.......
I have been in hospital 2 times for internal bleeding...and had 2 mini strokes since 2005...now they tell me to watch what I eat lol....need to go back to my drinking maybe as I did drink back in 1975 -1990....
now I try to be carful with everything....and it sucks to not be able to eat waht I feel like eating...So I do eat what ever I want .....
I am trying to get my insurance company (medicare) to help me get it...I have to go out to often for pro-time...at least once a week....
with other ailments etc...I just can't do it ...stairs to climb etc..my lungs can't take it..anyways I was feeling real good after the last operation for about 5 yrs...now having trouble again and I am not looking forward to any more operations...I worry that my aortic valve is giving out....Dr. says everything sounds and looks fine and for me to to remember I have beem thorugh the mill with 2 valves ....can;t expect not to get tired out and with getting older etc.....
AS I saying I have given up on everything but wil not give up on my only thing I enjoy and that is EATING LOL............
i AM 62 YRS now started the valve in 1975....so figure I will eat what I want...and if I get the devise it will be of a big help to me...

....going to bed here soon ..this night hawk is getting tired...soo gald I found this site...
thank you everyone for being here...Stormy~