home monitoring for 2yr. old

[ssenner]

hi, we have a 2yr. old son who is on coumadin, and will be for life, after the Fontan for a hypoplastic right heart. he also has a genetic blood clotting disorder, factor 5 leiden, which is why he has to be on coumadin instead of just aspirin, as most others with the same heart defect are on just aspirin. anyway, we are looking at getting a home pt/inr monitor and i was just looking for some advice on which is the easiest and more reliable one to use. a primary concern is ease of getting the blood on the tab, with a wiggly 2 yr. old i am wondering about having to get the blood in just the right spot. it looks to me, from previous posts, that the INRatio or coaguchekXS are the 2 best ones. also, sounds like Inratio, the newer one, has to be more accurate as to where the blood is put? am i correct or did i misunderstand? would really appreciate any input. this is the only site i have found with input from people who actually use these machines, which is what i have been looking for. so, thank you so much for your time and advice.

 

[Bina]

I understand about wiggly 2 year olds....my daughter was hospitalized at 18 mths of age and it was so hard to keep in IVs and give meds. At least at this age they can be bribed with a small cookie.
I have the Coaguchek XS for myself. It only needs 1 drop of blood, which if held on the edge of the strip will get drawn up the strip and into the machine automatically in about 2 seconds.....very fast, that's it.

 

[Karlynn]

I don't have a problem with getting the blood on the green dot for the INRatio. Some of our INRatio users use capillary tubes to draw up the blood and then drop it onto the strip. With a wiggley 2 year-old that might be your best best regardless of which machine you use.

 

[doyo]

We use CoaguChek XS and do not have direct experience of using InRatio.
However based on past posts and our first hand experience with CoaguChek XS, CoaguCheck XS would be easier to apply sample for 2 year old.
A member in Singapore has been using CoaguCheck XS on her little girl since her daughter was less than 2.

Home monitoring machines are not recommended for some blood disorders.
Hopefully Al Lodwick will see this post and provide some input as to whether either machine will work with the disorder your little one has.
You may want to contact Al Lodwick (either using Member List link on this web site or his web site, warfarinfo.com) if he does not post to this thread.


EJ

 

[Emma]

Hi,
My daughter is almost 8 but has been on warfarin/coumadin since she was 18 months old.

We started home testing when she got to 2 as the hospital tests were just so stressful for her.
We have always had the same machine - the older style coaguchek S and never really had any problems getting her to test. She has always been a 'wriggly one' too so I understand your worries there - I seem to remember having her on my lap while hubby guided her finger to the machine until she got used to it. She was very quick at adapting to it though and took no time at all before she offered her finger out for the test.

The new XS machine is supposed to be even better for little ones as I think you can move the machine to the finger rather than visa versa and needs less blood to get a reading.

Good luck whichever you pick - home testing for us with a young child was a godsend - hope you have as much luck with yours!
Love Emma
xxx