Dr. is checking my INR????

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Folks...
I was just wondering, I went to see my PCP yesterday to see about getting cardiac clearance for my next kidney operation, and he said that he wanted to check my INR level especially since I had told him that when I check my blood sugar, sometimes my blood is like water and other times it is really thick like mud, and I was wondering if anyone could fill me in about what INR does and if this is something that could affect my heart/valves? Thanks in advance, Harrybaby

 

[geebee]

INR is the measurement of how long it takes the blood to clot. I am sure it could be a factor in any surgery but would not negatively affect your valve directly. If your INR is too high then you would be given clotting factor prior to surgery so you don't bleed too much.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Harry and welcome back! Are you sure you understood him right? You aren't on warfarin are you? Keep in mind too that warfarin doesn't really thin the blood but just affects how fast it will clot. If he wanted to check how viscous(thick or sticky) your blood is I could think of more effective tests to order. Do you know what surgery you are going to have and a date yet? I hope all goes well for you.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I am not on blood thinners at the moment Betty, but.....

I am not on blood thinners at the moment Betty, but.....

When I had my Lithotripsy at Dartmouth Hitchcock 2 years ago to remove a staghorn calculus stone, they put me on blood thinner (Lovonox I believe the name is) while I was in the hospital, but I haven't been on it since. I told the PCP that I have been having problems with my blood being too thick at one moment and too thin (like water) the next and he said that due to my needing cardiac clearance for ANY operation at all that checking the INR is part of the process. I just forgot to ask him what it meant. As for this operation, they are going in with a fiber optic scope to see what is causing the stone to block my stent, and then they will decide what to do about the stones in both kidneys. Just another day in paradise for Harrybaby's world....NOT.... I don't know the date yet, as the hospital is waiting for the cardiac clearance, and they won't even touch me unless they have that. Harrybaby