coumadin

[eckw]

I am soon to have a mechanical vavlve implanted oct 12. After that I will be on coumadin for life. I would like to know if this will have my rest of my life just focus on managing the medicine. Can I go travel for business or pleasure or will be restricted in daily life in various aspects of life. Really concerns me and my wife, will that means my daily diet is controlled and watch everything i eat, AND worrying about bleeding or the other side effect.

Please advise.

 

[Ross]

You'll want to go have a nice read at Al's site www.warfarinfo.com

There is nothing I cannot do now that I didn't do before. It can be a pain getting tested all the time and you'll want to take common sense precautions against head injuries. Another bother is invasive surgery, you will have to have bridge therapy if they want to take you off Coumadin, but other then these, You should have no problems.

 

[eckw]

Thanks for your quick reply. How frequent do you do test.

 

[Ross]

I test once a week, some people only test once a month after becoming stabilized. Oh yeah, at first, it's tough to get stablized because of recovery, medications, lack of decent excercise etc, but if your not stable within say two months, then perhaps the person managing you does not know what they are doing. If you have questions, post them here and someone will answer if Mr. Lodwick doesn't himself.

I have a "must have links" page started with lots of information that may interest you. When you have time and feel like reading, check it out.

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7027

 

[geebee]

No, no, no, and no. Coumadin will not affect your life in the ways you think. You can eat what you want, travel, scuba dive, ride bikes, etc., etc., etc. You want to watch out for things that might cause head injuries because a brain bleed can be a hidden problem but it can be a problem for those not on coumadin also.

Just be fairly consistent with your diet so your coumadin dosage is set around your eating habits.

You will be much better if you ignore all the horror stories, do your homework and simply live your life as if you survived major heart surgery and enjoy the new way you will see things.

Best of luck.

 

[Marty]

My cardiologist was somewhat unusual. Two weeks after my surgery he did the paperwork and prescribed a Coaguchek self test monitor. I like Ross have self tested and self dosed for years. Its convenient and easy. Great timesaver. I'm older and don't do any rock climbing,hang gliding, etc. so Coumadin has not changed my life one bit. I've been lucky in that I have not had any illnesses requiring major surgery. Coaguchek no longer markets to the public. I think HemosenseINRatio is now state of the art. Ask your doctor to get you started in self testing. You can call the results in to his office and they can prescribe. Later when you get to know your own metablolism you may start self dosing with your doctors permission of course.

 

[twinmaker]

I have been on Coumadin for 24 years. Believe me, I live the most NORMAL life. I eat what I want, go where I want and do what I want. Of course, I use common sense when it comes to dangerous things like sky diving, playing football (not a problem for me since I'm a 53 year old grandmother), and things that can cause you to hit your head. Coumadin is not the big, bad monster that so many people believe it is. It is a drug to be respected like other drugs. The home testing of your INR is great! For years, I went to the lab once a week. A few months ago, I got the INRatio machine and test at home. I feel like I've died and gone to Heaven! The veins in my arms and hands have never had it so good. You'll find a lot of information and help on this site. It's a Godsend! Linda

 

[lance]

Find out everything you can about warfarin

Find out everything you can about warfarin

Eckw

You owe it to yourself to find out everything you can about warfarin--remember it's for life. Check into all of the "possible" side effects.

Diet, exercise and bruising are not a big deal. Warfarin is fat soluble and metabolized in the liver. So weight gain or loss will affect INR readings as will an increase or decrease in activity level. No big deal once you're aware of it. Invasive surgery if required is a challenge, but doctors can deal with it. Don't let anyone advise you to stop warfarin for 5 days without a lovenox (heparin) bridge--twice daily injections. Warfarin has a half life of 4 days so without a bridge there is the risk of stroke. Everything can be dealt with once you know about it. Be informed.

One caution--you live in Canada--long, cold winters. Hopefully you tolerate cold well.

I live on warfarin, it keeps me alive, I love my Coaguchek S home monitor as does my scarred vein and life is good.

 

[csutherland]

I too was scared to death when Jerry was facing coumadin therapy. He was a very active 65-yr old at the time and not very careful when he's involved in a project. He always has had "boo-boos".

My fears were unfounded. He bleeds a little easier, but it's never been anywhere near an emergency. His testing is monthly 95% of the time and stays stable. A wisdom tooth extraction was a problem a few months ago, but the dentist was the problem, not the coumadin. All turned out well.

Relax!

 

[eckw]

Coumadin

Coumadin

Thanks for all you guys info. I am now a bit relieved and not that scared. This website is such a helpful place to get support. Just have to learn to manage it and be careful.

I think i will research and look into home testing. I don't know if this is available in Canada. I am in Toronto, Ontario, looks like people doing home test are in the States. someone in Canada doing their home testing?

Thanks

 

[catwoman]

We do have Canadians here, and I thought we had at least one who home-tests.

This weekend, I drove to a cat show in San Antonio -- about 5 hours from my home. A friend who lives about 45 miles west of me rode down & back with me. Noreene is a RN, works in surgery at a hospital in her town.
I told her about vr.com and the myths of dealing with warfarin. Told her that warfarin dosage is dictated more by activity level, general health, illnesses and Rxes we take, not so much as by what we eat (as per Al Lodwick). Told her about how some doctors scare the dickens out of patients new to warfarin by saying you have to limit this, this, this, etc.
I told her that when I eat broccoli as a veggie, it's about 1/2 of a frozen package of spears. And I don't eat a salad the same day.
She agreed on all I said.

I noticed that when I changed to a very low-fat lifestyle in June 2004, my INR shot up. When I boosted my exercise level, my INR went down.

Like others have pointed out, we are more cautious about situations where we might have a head injury. But non-warfarin users need to be just as cautious too!

 

[TomS]

Little change

Little change

I got my AVR in August with a mechanical. My brother got his 11 years ago. He's never changed anything after coumadin and was a big part of my decision to "take the coumadin challenge" versus the trade-off required in getting a bio valve.
Given your location, here's one tip. They've said it's OK to ski but to wear a helmet since you want to avoid gettiing hit in the head while on a blood thinner. Two of my buddies stopped by the house with one as a present the week that I came home from the hospital. It's something I was considering anyway.
Best of luck,
Tom

 

[John & Joann]

Joann has been on Coumadin since 1971. We have visited 48 states, much of Canada, and most of the Holland American cruises out of Florida. We are living!!!!! There are some problems including bruising, cuts, etc., but not a significant problem.

Make lemon aide and enjoy your new life!!!!!!!

 

[MarkU]

Been on Coumadin for almost five years since my surgery.

Let's see:

Worked at Habitat for Humanity doing framing & roofing on Saturday morning.

Did a triathlon on Sunday morning (1K swim in the Gulf of Mexico, 13 mile bike ride and 5K run).

Nope, last time I checked it hadn't affected my lifestyle or activities too much...

Mark

 

[Mike S]

Thanks for all you guys info. I am now a bit relieved and not that scared. This website is such a helpful place to get support. Just have to learn to manage it and be careful.

I think i will research and look into home testing. I don't know if this is available in Canada. I am in Toronto, Ontario, looks like people doing home test are in the States. someone in Canada doing their home testing?

Thanks

I too live in Canada, however on the much sunner, warmer side of the country, B.C. Since my AVR in February I have asked around about home testing. So far all I have learned is that it is under trial tests and may be available in a couple of years. If it does come available it will be quite costly since our medicare system may not cover it. So for now I get tested at the lab. I used to go once a week after my surgery, this lasted for about 3 months. Since then I have become quite stable and now only go once every 3 weeks.
If you find anything out about home testing in Canada please pass it on, even though I find going to the lab quite easy, it would be nice to have the extra reassurance of a home test.

Mike

 

[eckw]

I too live in Canada, however on the much sunner, warmer side of the country, B.C. Since my AVR in February I have asked around about home testing. So far all I have learned is that it is under trial tests and may be available in a couple of years. If it does come available it will be quite costly since our medicare system may not cover it. So for now I get tested at the lab. I used to go once a week after my surgery, this lasted for about 3 months. Since then I have become quite stable and now only go once every 3 weeks.
If you find anything out about home testing in Canada please pass it on, even though I find going to the lab quite easy, it would be nice to have the extra reassurance of a home test.

Mike[/QUOTE

For sure I will ask and pass on information. My operation is next wednesday and very soon will be on coumadin. Now I am catching up with the knowledge of coumadin. I should have more proactive in researching this info. VR is a great site to get info and support. You guys are wonderful.

Ed

 

[lance]

Monitor availability in Canada

Monitor availability in Canada

Thanks for all you guys info. I am now a bit relieved and not that scared. This website is such a helpful place to get support. Just have to learn to manage it and be careful.

I think i will research and look into home testing. I don't know if this is available in Canada. I am in Toronto, Ontario, looks like people doing home test are in the States. someone in Canada doing their home testing?

Thanks

Contact the anti-coagulation clinic at the Toronto General Hospital. They provide the training and will monitor your results and manage your warfarin dosing. Their use is still fairly rare here--probably the cost ($1500--not covered by OHIP nor are the supplies (testing strips $100. for twelve provinding 10 tests).

Happy "finger sticking" your veins will love it.

 

[Guest]

The idea of surgery is to be able to do things that you could not do before. The warfarin should always be a factor but not the ONLY factor.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

Life on Coumadin

Life on Coumadin

The huge dietary adjustment that we teach our patients is this:

eat a "consistent" amount of green, leafy veggies every day. This just means not to have none most days and then splurge on collards out of the blue. This will throw off your PT/INR, and you won't know if your values are screwed up because of the vitamin K from your diet or from your meds. Just stay consistent with your vitamin K intake, or cut it out altogether.

You are usually advised to avoid contact sports for obvious reasons, but other than that should be okay, just watch for signs of bleeding (bloody stool, nose bleeds, increased bruising, etc.) and report them to your doc immediately.
Should be a fairly easy adjustment.

 

[Guest]

I have found that a consistent amount of greens over a week is OK. I tell people that if they overdo it on a salad bar then the next day eat corn or cauliflower. It is hard to stay consistent day-to-day but fairly easy over the course of a week.