changes in INR within a week.

[Protimenow]

I was forced to go to a 'Coumadin Clinic' (maybe not 'forced,' but actively encouraged). The people at the clinic used probably outdated protocols for prescribing warfarin dosing. At the time, I was testing a few different meters, because my older one CAUSED my TIA.

I kept my INR in range consistently, and when I went to the clinic for testing, my INR was always in range. The clinic called me 'consistent.' Yeah.
According to their protocol, my visits went went from every week, to every two weeks, to every month, to every two months. As regards their protocol - it made no sense to go more than a week or two - who knows WHAT changes can happen in a month or more? I'm glad I was self managing, but had concerns about others who listened to this advice.

I've encountered doctors, and 'anticoagulation specialists,' including an egomaniacal pharmacist, who didn't really understand INR and INR management.

I've been to labs that got things wrong - maybe they didn't handle the blood properly, maybe they didn't match the reagent to their test reagents, maybe their equipment was defective -- who knows? But the point here is that even labs can be wrong.

As anyone who is a frequent reader of my posts would know, I tested using a lot of machines. I used to trust the Coag-Sense (but that trust is gone). I'm currently placing my life in the CoaguChek XS (and its siblings). The values are consistent, machine to machine. I haven't seen any reports of inaccurate XS readings harming people who use them.

I understand the fact that strips may seem expensive for some people (they were for me, and may be again). But I still suggest self-testing. And, as far as cost is concerned, for those of you who go to labs, how much is the time it takes to travel to and from the lab actually worth to you?

I stopped doing the lab verifications a year or two ago. For now, I'm trusting my XS meter(s) to give me an accurate (within a few percentage points) INR value.

 

[tom in MO]

I think using the ignore feature to block seeing the posts of those you don't like or don't agree with would make some member's blood pressure lower.
You do not have to see a post from someone you don't like. You have control of this.

I don't block anyone on the social media platforms I use. It's a matter of respect for the other person's opinion. Ignore features are the foundation of cancel culture. "Cancel culture is a phenomenon in which those who are deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner are ostracized, boycotted or shunned." Cancel culture is the antithesis of forgiveness and hope for redemption which is the foundation of many major religions.

The posts I complained about were insulting to a member other than myself, used profanity and told another member to stop participating. That's not about "blood pressure" but about respect for other forum members.

 

[Dunwanted]

Hello Protimenow i agree with you the strips may seem expesinve once you take into account every factor like to travel to the lab (time + gas) are the strips really more expensive? in mi case for example i have to drive to the lab to get my test done and the tests costs me around 8 USD.

I understand the fact that strips may seem expensive for some people (they were for me, and may be again). But I still suggest self-testing. And, as far as cost is concerned, for those of you who go to labs, how much is the time it takes to travel to and from the lab actually worth to you?

I stopped doing the lab verifications a year or two ago. For now, I'm trusting my XS meter(s) to give me an accurate (within a few percentage points) INR value.

 

[user 15848]

yeah i did not like the fear as a motivation and i did feel most of the things you brought up in the points.

Still dont get me wrong i will still follow up with my cardiolgist for the regular check up, she has done an amazing job so far with everything else, i just feel like she isnt experienced enough with warfarin which is to expected as there isnt many people with a mechanical valve in my country.

" there isnt many people with a mechanical valve in my country. " -- Really ?, 45 minutes away from you there is an Island where all the doctors recommend mechanical valve over tissue, surprised to read your comments.

 

[Dunwanted]

" there isnt many people with a mechanical valve in my country. " -- Really ?, 45 minutes away from you there is an Island where all the doctors recommend mechanical valve over tissue, surprised to read your comments.

Well I talk for personal experience from the people i have met in the cardiac rehab and on the waiting room for the cardiac rehab and most of the patients who received a valve replacement opted for biological and some of them don't even know which type of valve they got, because they didn't even know they had a heart problem until it was an emergency operation.

Maybe in other islands is different but for Dominican republic this is what I have seen (again personal experience ), i tried to do some research online on the amounts of valve replacements of each type every year, but could not find the statistics.

 

[sharky7]

I don't block anyone on the social media platforms I use. It's a matter of respect for the other person's opinion. Ignore features are the foundation of cancel culture. "Cancel culture is a phenomenon in which those who are deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner are ostracized, boycotted or shunned." Cancel culture is the antithesis of forgiveness and hope for redemption which is the foundation of many major religions.

The posts I complained about were insulting to a member other than myself, used profanity and told another member to stop participating. That's not about "blood pressure" but about respect for other forum members.

YES, in part true, in part not so true. the way you put it was, i think, that you threw the baby away with the bath water! it is not always a matter of respect in the case of to block or not to block someone! FACT is, some people just dont play nice together, for whatever reason, this is true. cannot please everyone, so no matter what you say or do, there is someone that is going to take offense to it, and be offended by it! ​

Then there are others that just love to argue, and for me, I do not cut any slack for being like that! If anyone loves to argue, then I say, let em go find a chat room by the name, "i love it here, and I love to argue"! they can then be happy, and I can then be happy, WIN/WIN! Life is way to short to argue with some people, either they love to argue, or they are not open minded enough to even hear what the other side is saying!​

In either case I fall back to, life is way to short for that to take up my time and energy, and get no where for both of us!​

And I would add to that, some will claim they have been insulted by something cause they are looking for it, and than claim that they have been insulted by nothing but a molehill cause they made a mountain out of it, then the fireworks begin! SO EVERYONE, PLEASE LIVE LONG AND PROSPER! [spock]​