coumadin

witzkeyman · Feb 8, 2008

yesterday I was 4.2.
my doc told me to stay away from Coumadin for 2 days.
I'm a nervous wreck also.

Ross · Feb 9, 2008

I'm not a Doctor, just a self doser/tester, but your Doc having you skip is nuts. If you skip one dose, your INR will be cut in half if your a normal metabolizer.

For 4.2 I'd skip one dose tonight, 1/2 dose next day, then resume normal schedule, but we'd need to see what your taking daily, how often your tested, all the good stuff.

witzkeyman · Feb 9, 2008

Ross said:
I'm not a Doctor, just a self doser/tester, but your Doc having you skip is nuts. If you skip one dose, your INR will be cut in half if your a normal metabolizer.

For 4.2 I'd skip one dose tonight, 1/2 dose next day, then resume normal schedule, but we'd need to see what your taking daily, how often your tested, all the good stuff.

I thought it was nuts also. I took my 5 mg dose early this morning after skipping 2 nights.
thanks again Ross.

Bina · Feb 9, 2008

Witzkey, you will soon get used to how your body handles coumadin.
A while ago I had an INR of 4.1 and when I told my doc, he laughed and said "what have you been up to?"
I had mixed up 2 doses, no big deal. We agreed that I would take 1/2 dose that night and all was fine.

witzkeyman · Feb 9, 2008

Bina said:
Witzkey, you will soon get used to how your body handles coumadin.
A while ago I had an INR of 4.1 and when I told my doc, he laughed and said "what have you been up to?"
I had mixed up 2 doses, no big deal. We agreed that I would take 1/2 dose that night and all was fine.

I don't have too much faith in my cardiologist. I did my own thing myself. He wanted me to not take anything for 2 nights, and I just thought that didn't sound right. I didn't take anything for two nights, but I wasn't about to wait a whole day after that. I've been talking with my insurance about switching cardiologists, but in the meantime I'm going for frequent INR tests. 1-2 times weekly. also spoke with the insurance rep about getting a home monitoring machine.

Granbonny · Feb 9, 2008

Agree with Bina..You will find out what your doseage is..but you are so soon out of valve surgery..it may take a while....In the meantime..remember to only test every 3-4 days...I am betting that your next INR will be below..the range for you..skipping 2 does..

for a 4.1 reading.....if your range is 2.5-3.5..........I, too had a home reading of 4.1..today and only took a tweak out of my 5 mg..pill... taking maybe a little more than a 1/2...and will not test again for maybe 2 weeks.....I would have drank a V-8 juice if I had one..

.Helps lower the INR........Old timers..most agree. it is easier to lower INR ..than to raise it.......

.....I am coming up on my 6 year Ann. of valve replacement next month..and have never had a problem with my coumadin..Home-testing is the way to go..

Bonnie