Emergency anticoagulation monitoring?

[LA_Cruiser]

I am outta state now and decided to check my INR in a Mexican laboratory accross Hell Paso TX.

They pricked my left ear lobe and clocked the blood flow. It took 3 minutes and 10 seconds to stop.

I took the results to a Mexican doctor and he claimed that the test was within limits. That my blood was thinned properly (at that point).

Is this the way some other countries (or in the event of availability of the proper monitors) test INR?

Happy Christmas and a happy New Year!

 

[Lynlw]

That sounds like the "bleeding time test", I never heard of using it that way. From what I remember(it's been years) normal is about 5 min

 

[Lynlw]

here is some info about bleeding time test http://www.healthatoz.com/healthato...stURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/bleeding_time.jsp

 

[Lynlw]

OMG.

Well, according to the article Lynlw linked you to, "normal" for the Duke test, which is where they prick or nick your earlobe, is three minutes. You bled for three minutes, 10 seconds, and I am going to presume that the extra ten seconds is not signficant. (Three minutes sounds more like a rough estimate than a precise prediction of how long it should take you to quit bleeding. I just don't think it is something that can be observed without at least a few seconds of measurement error.) If "normal" on this test means that you are clotting normally, then your personal results on this test seem to me to mean that you are not at all anticoagulated -- which is not what you want.

HOWEVER -- I'm quite sure no one on this side of the border would call the Duke test a reliable measure of protime for purposes of monitoring anticoagulation therapy. So I don't think you know anything at all about your ACT status from this particular experience of having your earlobe pricked in a Mexican clinic.

I have read -- and I think it was one of the old-timer vr.com members who posted this -- that people on coumadin used to be instructed to call the doctor if they saw blood in their urine. If that happened, then the doctor would adjust their dose downward. The Duke method, or shall we call it the Mexican method, sounds about as crude.

In my opinion, you need a reliable self-testing monitor if you want to spend time in the boonies.

I think you are right, I read in another post he hasn't had coumadin for a few days, which could explain the "normal" results.

 

[LA_Cruiser]

rachel_howell


In my opinion, you need a reliable self-testing monitor if you want to spend time in the boonies.

...what about if my Lear Jet takes a dive, I make it allright to the ground and my monitor were completely trashed?

How would I do emergency INR tests (40 days?) 'till my savior sends a helicopter?

Dude, you know about this stuff. May I ask, why in the world are you going to Mexican clinics to get your earlobe pricked?

I'm outta my home town, LA, temporarily.

Lynlw
I think you are right, I read in another post he hasn't had coumadin for a few days, which could explain the "normal" results.

..no there is no connection here.

On the test above I had been taking my coumadin regularly at 500mg. daily (except Sundays).


God Bless all

 

[geebee]

LA - I sure hope that 500mg daily was a typo.

In any case, I would never be able to tell my INR from how long I bleed. When I test, my INR seems to have no connection with how long my finger bleeds after being stuck. In fact, sometimes when it stops quickly my INR is high.

I guess any test is better than none but I would still be wondering what my INR was.

 

[LA_Cruiser]

What are you drinking? Maybe it will be enough to keep you anticoagulated for a while.

THX 4 the reminder. No I wasn't BUT I'd better start right now

Now the Q arises: How many brews equal 500mg. of coumadin?

I asked this Q 'way back' and no one seemed to know or wants to guestimate

God Bless

 

[geebee]

I am just fascinated that you take 500mg of coumadin daily. Although we know that the proper dose is the one that keeps you in range, I have never met someone who takes 500mg.

I hope things go well for you until you can get your coumadin again. Please take care.

 

[LA_Cruiser]

LA - I sure hope that 500mg daily was a typo.

...well, maybe it's 50mg. or evan 5mg. (anyway they're round AND pink)

God Bless!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Pinks are 1MG. Coumadin brand that is. Generic may differ

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Scary Rachel! Very scary.
Hope you get to a drugstore soon Cruiser.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Most likey because he's in Pennsylvania Crying wolf is not the best policy!

 

[LA_Cruiser]

5mg is kind of a peach color. He is probably talking about that. I can't believe we are trying to guess his dose.

Am I color blind 'cause I found an empty box and it does say 5.mg.

Well I still want to know how someone is supposedly in Texas but using a Pennsylvania ISP.

Ross I don't understand what an ISP has to do with my present location. Yes, the ISP (copper.net) is in Pennsylvania but they service the whole US.

Now, my present "IP address" (the location of the terminal I'm using) should indicate I'm accessing this webside from El Paso Texas and later on from Austin TX.

He never showed up in the chat room last night. Bina was there, and the two of us talked for about 30 minutes, but no LA_Cruiser.

I'm not familiar with chad rooms and when I see others in cht rooms I see that they're pretty fast typists, I'm a 15-20 WPM flunkie.

Of course I plan to try it someday.

God Bless