This was not the reason for the daily testing. No one was believing that it would correct my INR in the same day. But, giving that it had huge momentum going up, from the amiodarone, then downward momentum from taking vitamin K , it was important to know which direction it was moving, thus the daily testing. For example, INR of 9.7 Thursday. Vitamin k dose Thursday evening. It was important to see if the vitamin K did the job and how well it did the job- so testing about 9am Friday morning. Good news it was about 2.4. Then they actually had me test just 3 hours later, as INR had dropped like a rock from the vitamin K and they wanted to see if INR was still dropping from the vitamin K. I tested at 2.2, which is a sizable move in just 3 hours. So, they used that info to help decide how big of a warfarin dose to take Friday. Tested again on Saturday morning and INR had continued to fall- now down to 1.6. So, this told us that the vitamin K was still pushing it down, despite a decent sized warfarin dose on Friday. Knowing that I was that far under range helped determine the size of the warfarin dose on Saturday and Sunday. We all vary in how effective vitamin K works to drop INR, as well as how quickly we clear warfarin. It would not have been a surprise if my Saturday reading was higher than Friday, given it had been over 36 hours since taking vitamin K and had a good warfarin dose Friday. Had INR shown to be rebounding back, the dosing would have been different than it was when it was discovered to be 1.6, and possibly still on the way down.
And, we do all clear warfarin at different rates, but personally, I see a reaction the next day when I alter my warfarin dose. Given the long half life of warfarin, I am very aware that any dose will affect me for several days, but when I alter my dose in either direction, I see measurable movement in my INR the next day.
I would say it is a bit like giving a boat a push. I can measure how far it went from my push after one minute, but the energy from my push will continue to move the boat for a considerable amount of time after the minute has passed.
I just have to, NO, I need to answer this, and take to task those that either dont know, or think that they know better. I would come here and SAY THAT I ALSO CAN AND HAVE SEEN MY INR CHANGE FROM DOSE CHANGE, AND ON THAT NEXT DAY! been there done that.
WHEN i first started, the info i had gotten was it was about 5-7 days to notice and see any change, but this is not a "for all" fitting item in taking blood thinners, well not for me, and it seems not for you also!!! And I love my SALADs, i also included the machine that i got on EBAY, a tad over $500USD!
I am right now on 4MGs per day, [cept., 2MGs on Tuesday and Thursday] they tried to go lower but once i got my machine, i noticed that they were wrong, they had me on 2MGs for 3 days, and not only 2days. {when this happen, i was a tad under, and seemed to be headed down, so i took an extra 1MG and tested next day and it was within MY range!!! wala, what do ya know. it was like 2.1-2.2 and next day it was 2.5, almost a bullseye.}
I found out that i had for a few days from self testing, I was under 2.0! where am i suppose to be, {2.5-3.5} according to their DATA!
I happen to think they really do not care, THEY are doing it for the $$$$ like CHUCK said and as long as your even close to the numbers, they are fine with that!
Although some over in the VA tend to be somewhat over concerned with those INR numbers, what I mean to say is, if your .5 or so out of range, it really does not matter, but THE VA makes a big deal out of nothing i think. WELL, as long as you dont stay there that many days!
{ALSO CHUCK, i would like to ask you if you have noticed, the INR number it was a tad higher than when they draw blood for a lab to do the test??? [The self test number is like about .3 higher than what the lab reports back.] HAS ANYONE NOTICED this to be true, or what if anything have they noticed?}
