I think you are making a wise decision to avoid a 1.5 INR. My only mishap with my valve, a stroke, came 50 years ago (before the INR system was introduced) and most certainly was due to a low PT (forerunner to INR). Since that time I have had an INR range of 2.5-3.5 and have had NO issues with clotting or bleeding.
Feeling a whirlwind of emotions—sadness, confusion, bewilderment, …, etc. after my recent “Bubble echo” test, which uncovered a hole in my heart.
- Thread starter Eva
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Careful Dick, you're interfering with Cryolife's marketing strategy. Expect their black helicopters to be circling your home soon
Thank you, Gail. You’re in my thoughts…your plate is full. Best of luck to you.
Thank you, Chuck for your sincere wishes. im hanging in there…I have no other choice than to accept what we cannot change and pray!
Yes, dear ottagal, this is worrying news, it came as a surprise! Now reading about it, I find it surprising that it’s too common and yet no explanation why it happens in older adults. My mind cannot stop analyzing to figure out why. I had a TEE two years ago when I had Cardioversion and there was no mention of PFO.
You are in my prayers too all the time!
Oh sorry Buck83. I’m glad you’re ok. I’m keeping same activity level t as I’m enjoying my exercises, yet it’s on the back of my mind if strenuous exercise had something to do with it! I started exercising regularly two years ago! But I maybe wrong This is why I shared this to find out if there are any common grounds.
Also, it’s wise to keep your INR around three. I had atrial flutter this past March and when I was discharged, the attending cardiologist recommended I go to Coumadin clinic. I wish I didn’t agree. They lowered my dose once when I’d not have lowered it myself if I was managing it. As a result, I had, luckily, a minor TIA in my eye! Now, I’m managing my INR again and I always try to stay around the higher end.
Did you tell them you did not want to lower your INR target?
3 months after installation of my On-X aortic valve , my Coagulation Clinic asked if I wanted to lower my range to 1.5-2.0. I said no, my cardiologist and I had agreed to use a target INR of 2.5. The coagulation clinic nurse agreed to use 2.5 as a target. I do not know if my cardiologist actually told the coagulation clinic this, or if the Coagulation clinic simply relied on my verbal statement.
@3mm, No I did not ask to lower my INR range! My INR range should be 2.5-3.5, as I have St. Jude aortic and mitral mechanical valves and my surgeon said my INR could safely extend up to 4 in my situation.
So, when my INR was 3.6, they asked me to lower my dose by .5 mg for one night, which was very unnecessary (and stupid) and I should have refused! But I went along with their recommendation maybe to let them realize their bad judgement. Regrettably, this led to a decrease in my INR to 2.2, resulting in a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Don’t listen to Coumadin clinic…they are not in a position to decide your INR range.
So, when my INR was 3.6, they asked me to lower my dose by .5 mg for one night, which was very unnecessary (and stupid) and I should have refused! But I went along with their recommendation maybe to let them realize their bad judgement. Regrettably, this led to a decrease in my INR to 2.2, resulting in a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Don’t listen to Coumadin clinic…they are not in a position to decide your INR range.
Eva, would you mind sharing what symptoms you had with the TIA in your eye, and the testing done to confirm ?
Just got back from the ER with vision symptoms - no recent stroke, but I remain concerned about TIA.
Just got back from the ER with vision symptoms - no recent stroke, but I remain concerned about TIA.
When I had my mechanical valve replaced at Cleveland clinic as a byproduct of the surgery they pin pricked my septum causing me a ventricular septum defect. I believe they called it a shunt. They did a TII test and decided it was small and they would not repair it. I’ve lived w it since 2001 and it has not grown or caused me problems. I don’t know if this is similar but good luck and keep the faith. Sheena
A few years ago, a visual disturbance in my left eye looked like a descending grey *shade* that temporarily obstructed my vision. Luckily, my ophthalmologist examined me promptly and advised me to check my INR upon returning home by which time my vision was ok again. Regrettably, I do not recall the precise INR value now, but it was lower than 2.5.
Most recently, during my exercise session, I saw a circular, black ball! surrounded by (flashes of golden stars which sometimes are related to migraines)!!.
My experienced gym instructor stopped my activity, asked me to rest, and helped me perform gentle stretches.
Upon his advice, I checked my INR at home…it was 2.2.
No testing was done to confirm TIA other than the word of the ophthalmologist and my PCP when I mentioned this to him.
What did you see? What was your vision symptoms?
I had a opaque gray that obscured my entire field of vision except for a clear "peephole" in the center, in my left eye only. Then my vision opened horizontally, like a window shade. The whole thing lasted about 2 minutes. I had a couple others where only the top left quadrant was obscured that same week.
Ophthalmologist sent me to ER and had an MRI which was negative for any active stroke processes, though I apparently did have a lacunar infarct in my right cerebellum probably years ago.
I am supposed to follow up with neurology but there are no openings till August. I am on Eliquis and have been more than 99% compliant with the doses.
Ophthalmologist sent me to ER and had an MRI which was negative for any active stroke processes, though I apparently did have a lacunar infarct in my right cerebellum probably years ago.
I am supposed to follow up with neurology but there are no openings till August. I am on Eliquis and have been more than 99% compliant with the doses.
