Bruised like a bananna

[Davidcv67]

I woke up this morning and noticed a bunch of little bruises on my bod. I was concerned and being it Sunday I decided to go to the ER to get my blood tested. INR was 5.9 and they sent me home and told me to skip Monday's dosage. I didn't think 5.9 was THAT high...Should I completely skip it of halve the dose? I know 2.5 to 3.5 is the number.

BTW the nurse educated me yellow type bruises are OLD and mine were yellowish so I must have had a high INR for days. She also asked me if I had any problems with domestic violence.

I did attend a party last night and had a little (a lot) more than I should have...oopps! Could that affect it?

 

[Christina]

David,

I NEVER skip a dose because it sends me right to the bottom which is MUCH MORE dangerous. Bleeding you can handle, but a stroke or clot could be fatal! I'd say, if you are not bleeding I'd half the dose for today and go back to normal dose tomorrow. Test again in 3 days. Do you home test? Think about it! It saves lives, I am convinced!
I've been as high as 7.8 and didn't bleed.

 

[LoraW30]

Hmmm, after 16 years of coumadin, I learned to do strictly what my doctor said. Every time I adjusted my dose myself, it always made matters worse. My last test the INR was over 5 and my doc told me to skip a dose and then cut down from 4 to 3 mg. Of course, everyone is different and every situation is different. I have a congested liver that messing with my pt's. Not too long ago, I was on 5 mg per day and now it's 3.

 

[Ross]

Alcohol will raise your INR. If you had a "few" too many, that could be why your testing high. I'd say cut the dose in half, but I don't know how well your body metabolizes the coumadin.

 

[nadi]

High INR

High INR

I will never hold again! On July 1st I was at 9.6 was told to hold 2 days, I held 1 day and 1/2 dosed the next on 7/2 after I received an answer back for Al L. I was 6.12 on 7/3 told to hold again then drop 2.5 mgs a day for the weekend. After much deliberation with myself I followed the dr's orders. Well by monday 7/7 I had dropped to 1.61!! I won't do that again but that is my personal opinion.

 

[Guest]

The higher the dose you take, the faster the INR will drop. Christina who takes about 20 mg/day is a good example. She metabolizes warfarin very quickly and probably rarely has an INR in the 8 range. Rapid metabolizers rarely bleed because they get rid of warfarin so fast.

The lower the dose you take, the slower the INR will drop. People who take 1 or 2 mg/day are always at risk for a high INR and bleeding because they do not get rid of the drug very fast.

Lora - liver congestion makes for a very difficult warfarin management situation. Do you have Budd-Chiari Syndrome? It is the absolute pits for someone who needs warfarin.

 

[Missy]

Al,
I would like to hear more about the fast metobalizers. Does that work in reverse? Are there slow metabolizers?
I only take 4 mg. daily but just always thought that maybe it was my diet. Maybe it is something else. I have to stay at 3.5 as I have afib also along with the mechanical MVR.
This sounds like a low dose when I see what the others are taking.
Mine goes up and down some but I don't think anymore than anyone elses and this is what they keep me on. I seem to get lots of bruises and the little spots all over especially around my ankles. And occasionly rash.
I had never heard this before, maybe because I missed it on here and I thought I had heard just about all of it.
Could you explain further?
Thanks,
Missy

 

[Guest]

People who take less than 5 mg per day are considered slow metabolizers. The less you take the slower your metabolism.
Other than this, it is not worth your time comparing your dose to others. The only thing that really matters is your INR.

 

[RobThatsMe]

Alcohol Effect - Ross

Alcohol Effect - Ross

Hi Ross,

You mentioned in the above reply that Alcohol raises a person's INR. I don't disagree with that statment. However, It can also have the oppisite effect. Alcohol can also lower a person's INR. It depends on the person and amount consumed.

All the reports I have read regarding alcohol seem to relay this information. It seems it is a "wild card" untill the individual can assess how it does effect them personally.

Are there new findings that dispute the above?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Ross]

Hi Rob, no you are correct. I should have mentioned it, as I've done in other threads, but the mind never typed it!

 

[Missy]

Al.
Thanks for the reply! Another question!!!
I recently started taking synthroid (low dose). I have noticed I feel better and seem to have lost a couple of lb. I am not overweight but had put on about 5 lb. and felt a little sluggish. Now I seem to have more energy. Could this effect my metabolism and should I be more watchful of my inr?
Thanks, Missy

 

[Guest]

The INR will usually follow the Synthroid dose. When you start or increase Synthroid the INR is expected to go up. If you reduce or stop the dose, the INR is expected to go down.

The reason for this is that thyroid causes the vitamin K dependent clotting factors to be metabolized. The more thyroid the faster they are metabolized. Less clotting factors and warfarin causing even less to be made means that the INR will go up. The opposite is true also.

 

[LoraW30]

liver congestion

liver congestion

My cardiologist has explained that my liver congestion is a reflex action caused by my hypertension. Apparently it is causing the metabolism to be slower and therefore my INR is higher. Quite a bummer since I've always been 'right on' with my pt's for years. But, everyone is different when it comes to blood thinners, right?

 

[Gail in Ca]

My INR is always in range for many months now. I bruise very easily, no matter what.
I was paddling on a raft and got little bruises on my arms from it.
They're no fun, but I must live with it.
Gail