Blood thinners

[Rich]

An article appeared in today's edition of Parade magazine.
Go to www.Parade.com/blood and read the same old stupid things written by some doctor. Will they ever wake up and get it?
Rich

 

[Philip B]

Bolld Thinners

Bolld Thinners

Other than being midly offended by the use of the term "blood thinners", I didn't see much in the article that bothered me too much.

We're pretty much aware that coumadin can interact badly with other medications.

Some folks seem to have issues related to coumadin and their diets.

Some of us have managed to go a round or two with the excessive bleeding thing. My gums bleed when I brush my teeth too hard. Personally, nose bleeds and cuts seem to take two or three times longer to get clotted up. It's not that big of a issue for me, but it bothers some.

What coumadin user would not be concerned if blood appeared in stools or urine? Someone posted something a long time ago about a member who received an early version of an artificial valve. The method used for adjusting coumadin dosage was to reduce dosage when blood started showing up in urine.

I suspect most of us test regularly to see where our INR is at and adjust meds.

Getting checked out in the event of a bad fall or head injury...been there done that.

I'm not sure I'd want to run to the doctor every time I get a belly ache or headache, but I guess that would depend on how badly I was hurting.

Coumadin is a serious medication

Sure, I don't like the idea that there are some people who will read the Parade article and be freaked-out about "blood thinning medications", but I'm not sure the author really got anything wrong.

-Philip

 

[Rich]

Thanks Phillip,
It is just the lack of understanding about this medication that bothers a lot of us.
In my 14 yrs on Coumadin I have heard some really ignorant statements from some of these 'professionals'.
Like at my GI's office setting up an appt. for my colon check. She says to stop my Coumadin for three days because we don't want your blood to be too thin.
Another nurse says to me one day while taking my BP, I see you are on a blood thinner, are you bleeding?
I let it pass but I really wanted to say 'do you think I'd be sitting here if I was bleeding'?.
And some dental offices are even far worse.
It goes on and on.
Rich

 

[Nancy]

Bottom line is if you need Coumadin, then you need it. There are no substitutes. Joe was on Coumadin for over 30 years. He had fewer side effects from it than from ANY of his other medications.

It was a scare tactic article, and I too resent it. It could mean someone's life, if they become so afraid of a necessary medication.

They should have focused on another medical problem like cellulite, frown lines, erectile dysfunction or acne.

I will say it again, there is no substitute for Coumadin or Warfarin. Those who need it, must take it, period.

 

[Lionheart]

Rich,
Did you notice that the
7 Guidelines for Using Blood Thinners Safely......includes only 6 items?

John

 

[Philip B]

Perspective

Perspective

Parade isn't known for substantial indepth, technical articles. Everything you see in the publication is designed for a quick, simple read.

I suspect the intention of the article is simply geared towards providing general information. Sure, the article will grab people's attention, but publications are supposed to do that. Again, what glaring inaccuracies did the article contain other than references using the term "blood thinner?" Of course, that simple reference creates a lot of misconceptions about the drug and makes our blood boil...lots of luck getting members of the medical community to drop references to "blood thinners."

Those of us who use coumadin probably spend more time learning about the drug because it is an essential part of reducing the risk of substantial health issues. It would be nice if doctors and nurses took the time to become better informed. Unfortunately, there a lot of things they could be better informed about. Have you ever gone to different doctors about the same health issue and received totally different responses from both? It happens frequently. How many different opinions did we hear from members of the medical community about the Swine Flu last fall? I can't help but remember the cardiologist who told me many years ago that I wouldn't live to see my 30th birthday unless I let him replace my aortic valve immediately. I made it to 52 without any lifestyle changes. His perspective and assessment were well intentioned and simply wrong.

-Philip

 

[Cris N]

The stuff does NOT thin the blood
by my-blood-is-not-thin posted: 03/06/2010 09:05M

Oh, doctor, doctor, doctor. This is the 21st century. Surely you know by know that Coumadin (warfarin sodium) is NOT a blood thinner. It is an anticoagulant. You waltz into Parade under the guise of helping people understand medical situations... couldn't you at least take the time to educate them. The general population is quite capable of learning and using the term anticoagulant. Jeesh.

 

[Rich]

Cris,
You must of read my mind because I couldn't have said it any better than you did.
I was referred to a dental specialist several years ago. He talked like he completely understood Coumadin, and would do the procedure without stopping Coumadin.
And he said he was going to send a letter to my cardiologist for his approval of the plan.
Then we sat down with him and two members of his staff, they were all going to lay down the plan. So this lady says for my Coumadin you absolutely must keep your INR at exactly 2.0 for a minimum of three days prior. I really tried not to laugh but it wasn't easy.
So we left and two days later I get a call from my cardiologist. He was really upset with the contents of the letter he received from these people. All he said to me is get the hell away from that guy right now and don't ever go near him again.
So it's these kind of things that get me upset when I hear or read something from people who should know better.
Rich

 

[OldNick]

My GP, an Internist, agreed with me that, as a retired engineer, trained in data analysis, I could probably do a better job of adjusting my Coumadin dosage to maintain the proper INR than he could. He provides a standing order to his lab, so that all I have to do is walk in the side door and sign in, very little waiting. This has worked great for me. Now, my grandson has joined his practice, so I feel that I will continue to be in competent hands.

As to the terminology, I probably use both anti-coagulant and blood thinner in conversation. It sure looks thin when I get a cut! ;-)

 

[terodac]

#6 was the most ridiculous! Consider a new genetic test, which is now available to help predict how your body might respond to the blood-thinning drug. Ask you doctor if it’s right for you. ???? what???????? If you have a valve replacement you have to take this drug! Parade has it all wrong, just enough to scare someone to death!

 

[Doug]

Ok, who wrote the replies on parade's site?

 

[Ross]

What I wish the doctors would do is take credit for helping to give Coumadin it's bad name. Granted, not all Doctors are in this category, but the majority are. If they'd bother to get on the same page, the adverse events from Coumadin would nearly be extinct. The only other problem are noncompliant patients. Seldom do you see a compliant with a Doctor that actually knows how to deal with Coumadin, ever in an adverse event.

 

[Rich]

Doug,
Who would write replies like that?
For me the bottom line is this:
If someone on the street calls it a blood thinner, I could care less.
But when a medical or dental professional calls it a blood thinner, and believes that is what it does, then it really disturbs me. It is a very dangerous medication, and misunderstood by many out there.
We are fortunate here to have an expert like Al Lodwick, and many very experienced people.
Rich

 

[Woodbutcher]

Grrrrrrrrrr !!! I just read that article, thinking I've really got better things to do with my sunday but pushing the button anyway ... What a load of pointless inaccurate nonsense. Thing is, all of us who are unfortunate enough to have to use this nasty stuff just have to grin and bear it and hope we get along ok with it. A tweek here and there and a little caution now and again. But as for "Consider a new genetic test, which is now available to help predict how your body might respond to the blood-thinning drug. Ask you doctor if it’s right for you." Please !? I chose On-X in the vague hope of one day having an option but for now at least and certainly from the day of my AVR, a chat with the doc about taking it or not wasn't an option.
Any expert worth his/her salt probably wouldn't call it a thinner either ?

 

[olefin]

Tomorrow will be time to check my blood viscosity.

 

[Lily]

Genetic test?

Genetic test?

I've read about the genetic test before, even years ago here on this site. It sounds like it could be a good option for some. I was only on post-op ACT for three months, did everything exactly as I was supposed to, and might have been in range once. I don't know why. Maybe it's a genetic issue with me, although I'm on a thyroid supplement and I've read that can be an issue too.

 

[sue943]

I saw my GP the other day for my regular three monthly check and he mentioned that there might be the chance of changing to that new drug at some time in the future, although at the moment it is very expensive, so I said that warfarin doesn't worry me and told him about this website and how so many of you self test and self dose, he was surprised. I told him how there was some really good information here, some plain commonsense. I quoted the easier to replace blood cells than brain cells and he liked that, said he might use it himself in an essay that he has to write for some diploma he is doing at a university.

Later I was talking to a friend and she said that her doctor wanted to put her on warfarin and she was fighting it, was scared of it. After a chat she says that I have allayed her fears so if the doctor still wants her to take it she will consider it.

 

[Dennis S]

"Blood thinner" will be with us until someone coins a better term than the six syllable "anticoagulant". Anyone who doubts this must be hanging out with an exceptionally literate crowd.

 

[OldNick]

A couple of years ago, my cardiologist told me that he appreciated the nice things that I had posted about him and my surgeon on this site. He had found it while searching for some information on-line. Since he also teaches, he has to stay up to date to keep ahead of his students.

 

[Bina]

It ain't rocket science. Warfarin can be dosed and adjusted using very basic elementary/grade school math.
I really don't know why so many doctors make such a fuss over it.....