Ross
Well-known member
Didn't you get the memo?allodwick said:
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
R
Raquel
Hello everyone. First to answewr Ross's question, they have him on 5 mg 6x a week and 2.5 the other day. That is until Thursday, His level was 1.8 which was low for him b/c he's been in the 3 range. He started to get light-headed dizzy and weak. We called the dr. and he said not to worry, then that same afternoon his vision became impaired. He had double vision weakness and dizzy. We went to ER he was given a chest x-ray, ct of the brain and the chest and blood work-up. His INR levels went up to 2.6 and the x-rays were all fine. The neuro dr. said it might have been from the mix of meds( lopressor, coumadin, anxiety, anti histamine). The cardio drs. said he may be shooting out small blood clots so they discharged him with coumadine 6mg Asprin 1x a day and plavex 75mg. He still feels strange he says like his heart will stop beating on and off. Has anyone heard about Soybean oil and how it lessens the Coumadine? It seems like each week we are in the hospital for drug related or so they say problems. Help, this is soooo getting out of control.
Ross
Well-known member
Raquel you need to devote a day or two to doing nothing but reading everything at www.warfarinfo.com When your done there, you will no longer feel it's out of control, but perhaps the people that are doing the controlling are.
Sherry
Well-known member
Hello, Raquel, and welcome to our site. First of all, your children are adorable Secondly, you are in good hands here. The members of this forum are all very sympathetic and extremely supportive and knowledgeable. When I had my surgery six and a half years ago, I remember not getting much education on Coumadin and the different dosing patterns. Plus, I was just having my blood drawn in a standard lab which didn't help (not having the immediate results). I remember crying when a particularly abrupt nurse shouted a very complicated dosing pattern to me on the phone and acted like I was stupid because I didn't understand. Now that I've been on it for so long, plus the fact that I actually go to a Coumadin nurse who sticks my finger and truly involves me in dosing decisions, really helps. I understand the complexities of the dosing and the correct INR completely. I totally agree with Karlynn when she notes her anger toward health care people who scare the daylights out of you about this drug. I get out of range frequently and am just fine. Wild swings out of range can definitely be dangerous, but an occasional 4 or 5 is not so much to be concerned about. You just know to go eat a salad and adjust accordingly. As for the depression, that's perfectly normal. My boys were 7 and 9 when I went through it and of course I felt rotten missing all of Little League those months of June and July, but in retrospect, I'm just glad to be here, and they are glad I'm here. I was terribly depressed but eventually it faded and life got back to some bit of normalcy. Please encourage him to get on the forums with you. I think he will really learn a lot from everybody and realize he has some very sympathetic cyberfriends. We've all been through it and are willing to help. Peace to you, Raquel, for being such a wonderful spouse.
Secondly, you are in good hands here. The members of this forum are all very sympathetic and extremely supportive and knowledgeable. When I had my surgery six and a half years ago, I remember not getting much education on Coumadin and the different dosing patterns. Plus, I was just having my blood drawn in a standard lab which didn't help (not having the immediate results). I remember crying when a particularly abrupt nurse shouted a very complicated dosing pattern to me on the phone and acted like I was stupid because I didn't understand. Now that I've been on it for so long, plus the fact that I actually go to a Coumadin nurse who sticks my finger and truly involves me in dosing decisions, really helps. I understand the complexities of the dosing and the correct INR completely. I totally agree with Karlynn when she notes her anger toward health care people who scare the daylights out of you about this drug. I get out of range frequently and am just fine. Wild swings out of range can definitely be dangerous, but an occasional 4 or 5 is not so much to be concerned about. You just know to go eat a salad and adjust accordingly. As for the depression, that's perfectly normal. My boys were 7 and 9 when I went through it and of course I felt rotten missing all of Little League those months of June and July, but in retrospect, I'm just glad to be here, and they are glad I'm here. I was terribly depressed but eventually it faded and life got back to some bit of normalcy. Please encourage him to get on the forums with you. I think he will really learn a lot from everybody and realize he has some very sympathetic cyberfriends. We've all been through it and are willing to help. Peace to you, Raquel, for being such a wonderful spouse.
G
Guest
Raquel,
Many people, doctors included, do not know much about warfarin and are afraid of it. Therefore they blame anything that they can on it. If he had an INR of 2.6 it is extremely unlikely that he is throwing little clots. The rate of any type of clot for anybody with any condition at any INR is less than 1 per 100 patient years. Throwing little clots with an INR of 2.6 is about as likely as a Clydesdale winning the Kentucky Derby. Throwing more medication (Aspirin and Plavix) at him when the tests we are all negative doesn't sound like a good answer. I'm not an expert on psychology but I've heard this story over and over from people who are depressed. Depression is a normal reaction to valve replacement according to those who are on this site. The heart stopping, double vision, his age, the fact that he is male and not being willing to get on here and discuss it all point in this direction. Eventually he will get overmedicated to the point that something will have to be done. Ignore the amount of vitamin K in soy unless he consumes heroic quantities of it on some days and not others. It is just another smokescreen.
Many people, doctors included, do not know much about warfarin and are afraid of it. Therefore they blame anything that they can on it. If he had an INR of 2.6 it is extremely unlikely that he is throwing little clots. The rate of any type of clot for anybody with any condition at any INR is less than 1 per 100 patient years. Throwing little clots with an INR of 2.6 is about as likely as a Clydesdale winning the Kentucky Derby. Throwing more medication (Aspirin and Plavix) at him when the tests we are all negative doesn't sound like a good answer. I'm not an expert on psychology but I've heard this story over and over from people who are depressed. Depression is a normal reaction to valve replacement according to those who are on this site. The heart stopping, double vision, his age, the fact that he is male and not being willing to get on here and discuss it all point in this direction. Eventually he will get overmedicated to the point that something will have to be done. Ignore the amount of vitamin K in soy unless he consumes heroic quantities of it on some days and not others. It is just another smokescreen.
Sherry
Well-known member
Great pic, Ross!
Great pic, Ross!
Great pic, Ross! My little nephew used to pull his shirt over his head and act like Beavis/Butthead (whichever that one is). Hilarious
Great pic, Ross!
Great pic, Ross! My little nephew used to pull his shirt over his head and act like Beavis/Butthead (whichever that one is). Hilarious
