Nancy
Well-known member
This is for those who actually take Coumadin (Warfarin), or have a loved one who does.
How do you feel about Coumadin (Warfarin)
- Thread starter Nancy
- Start date
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
- Status
Miracle Drug
Miracle Drug
Warfarin gets my vote for the drug of the last half of the 20th century.
I can't think of one drug during that time period that does the job it was intended to do and having no other alternatives. This is true for Mech. valves and Tissue. Sure new drugs are coming on now they may replace
warfarin, but even penicillin had other drugs that would do the job.
My question to those who hate the drug would be, "How would you feel
if there were no warfarin or substitute?"
I owe my life to this drug- what more can I say!
Nancy-How do you know that only warfarin user will vote?
Miracle Drug
Nancy said:
Warfarin gets my vote for the drug of the last half of the 20th century.
I can't think of one drug during that time period that does the job it was intended to do and having no other alternatives. This is true for Mech. valves and Tissue. Sure new drugs are coming on now they may replace
warfarin, but even penicillin had other drugs that would do the job.
My question to those who hate the drug would be, "How would you feel
if there were no warfarin or substitute?"
I owe my life to this drug- what more can I say!
Nancy-How do you know that only warfarin user will vote?
MarkU
Well-known member
It's a bit inconvenient at times, but it has not significantly affected what I do or how I lead my life.
I do regret that I'm no longer able to donate blood.
Mark
I do regret that I'm no longer able to donate blood.
Mark
M
M&M
Hi Nancy, I definently would rather not have to take it. 
I'm fairly an athletic person and kind of bump into things alot. Kind of like a bull in a china store.
I would like to do more bikeing - but am nervous as I'm very tipsy on my bike. It also has tiny tires - so you have to be careful of the rocks - or I would fall. Unfortunately, whatever I do - I like speed. Which is a problem for me. I don't know why I can't just be content to sit in my chair and watch the world go by. NO I have to get right in the thick of things. Have always been a tom boy and will probably never stop. My hubby and I are remodeling our house - you would not believe how many black and blues I have from bumping things. Probably wouldn't be so bad but my INR has been rather high for the last month. (4.4, 3.7 , 3.9 now 4.7) I keep eating more green veggies - but its still high. I had to lower my med doseage this week and I had a huge black in blue last week on half my leg. I had to go a local hospital "clinic" after work to get it checked out. My coumadin nurse said - people tend to get more dehydrated in the summer and that could raise your INR levels. So she suggested I drink more water. That's easy enough to do. But she still cut my doseage down. Having to take less rat poison is fine with me.
Well, now that I've complained for the last 10 minutes - I'm thankful to be alive and I"m thankful to be able to complain. It sure beats the alternative.
So how are you Nancy? I hope you live in cool weather. I live in the Northeast - been terribly humid but not as bad as where my daughter lives. She's in Tenn. and she said: Mom your hottest weather is our weather at 6:00 a.m. - you should it at noon time. She has AC and her apt. is at 80 degrees. My poor hubby works in a machine shop. I don't know how he does it.
Best
Marilyn
I'm fairly an athletic person and kind of bump into things alot. Kind of like a bull in a china store. I would like to do more bikeing - but am nervous as I'm very tipsy on my bike. It also has tiny tires - so you have to be careful of the rocks - or I would fall. Unfortunately, whatever I do - I like speed. Which is a problem for me. I don't know why I can't just be content to sit in my chair and watch the world go by. NO I have to get right in the thick of things. Have always been a tom boy and will probably never stop. My hubby and I are remodeling our house - you would not believe how many black and blues I have from bumping things. Probably wouldn't be so bad but my INR has been rather high for the last month. (4.4, 3.7 , 3.9 now 4.7) I keep eating more green veggies - but its still high. I had to lower my med doseage this week and I had a huge black in blue last week on half my leg. I had to go a local hospital "clinic" after work to get it checked out. My coumadin nurse said - people tend to get more dehydrated in the summer and that could raise your INR levels. So she suggested I drink more water. That's easy enough to do. But she still cut my doseage down. Having to take less rat poison is fine with me.
Well, now that I've complained for the last 10 minutes - I'm thankful to be alive and I"m thankful to be able to complain. It sure beats the alternative.
So how are you Nancy? I hope you live in cool weather. I live in the Northeast - been terribly humid but not as bad as where my daughter lives. She's in Tenn. and she said: Mom your hottest weather is our weather at 6:00 a.m. - you should it at noon time. She has AC and her apt. is at 80 degrees. My poor hubby works in a machine shop. I don't know how he does it.
Best
Marilyn
K
Karlynn
Okay, I voted for the I LOVE Coumadin. I would have voted for the "It's just one more pill, other things in my life are much worse." except for the fact that I don't have anything in my life right now that's bad. Life is good.
It is "just a pill" for me. Even though my INR isn't particularly stable, I don't even find that a big deal. I keep it on the higher side because I'd rather go too high than too low. Before my surgery I went through hell with antiarrhythmics. Those things can really mess with your system and be very dangerous in certain circumstances. They had a very tough time finding an antiarrhythmic for me that would even partially work on my constant arrhythmia. I had 3 week-long stays in the CICU when my children were babies in order to get put on or taken off of certain highly volatile drugs. It was a time I would never, ever, ever, ever care to repeat. So for me, 2 metoprolol a day and 1 dose of Coumadin is like living in heaven.
And praise God from whom all blessings flow!
I would have voted for the "It's just one more pill, other things in my life are much worse." except for the fact that I don't have anything in my life right now that's bad. Life is good.It is "just a pill" for me. Even though my INR isn't particularly stable, I don't even find that a big deal. I keep it on the higher side because I'd rather go too high than too low. Before my surgery I went through hell with antiarrhythmics. Those things can really mess with your system and be very dangerous in certain circumstances. They had a very tough time finding an antiarrhythmic for me that would even partially work on my constant arrhythmia. I had 3 week-long stays in the CICU when my children were babies in order to get put on or taken off of certain highly volatile drugs. It was a time I would never, ever, ever, ever care to repeat. So for me, 2 metoprolol a day and 1 dose of Coumadin is like living in heaven.
And praise God from whom all blessings flow!
I take my 5 mg at 5 P.m....The same time I tune in to VR.com..Helps to remind me when I see Coumadin posts. 3 years and 4 months on it now..NEVER..no bleeding, brusies, ect. Home test and always in range. Call my results in to my Cardio Clinical nurse every 4 weeks.(Cardio scripts it for me)Same thing..she calls me back at closing hour..says keep on same doseage. Never have changed it (doseage) now for entire time. And I don't sit in a walking chair. A very active age 65 year old with 2 new Grandchildren...And they are both jumping on me all the time I only have to take the Amox..when I go for cleaning every 6 months to dentist... I brush my teeth hard..and NEVER NO bleeding from gums. Now..sometimes..I do get a reading slightly above my 3.5.. Drink a V8 juice next a.m. I,m sitting here looking at my body.. No bruises anywhere..Getting a nice tan from going to pool everyday to try to keep cool... Bonnie
3 years and 4 months on it now..NEVER..no bleeding, brusies, ect. Home test and always in range. Call my results in to my Cardio Clinical nurse every 4 weeks.(Cardio scripts it for me)Same thing..she calls me back at closing hour..says keep on same doseage. Never have changed it (doseage) now for entire time. And I don't sit in a walking chair. A very active age 65 year old with 2 new Grandchildren...And they are both jumping on me all the time I only have to take the Amox..when I go for cleaning every 6 months to dentist... I brush my teeth hard..and NEVER NO bleeding from gums. Now..sometimes..I do get a reading slightly above my 3.5.. Drink a V8 juice next a.m. I,m sitting here looking at my body.. No bruises anywhere..Getting a nice tan from going to pool everyday to try to keep cool... Bonnie
twinmaker
Well-known member
Even though I've had a major scare (internal bleeding requiring surgery) while on Coumadin, I can honestly say that this drug is not that big of a deal as far as problems go. For almost 24 years and only having had one major problem, I feel this drug has not changed anything I've done or do and it continues to work to keep my valve free of clots. Believe me, there are many more drugs out there with far worse side effects! To me, it's a small price to pay to try and stay out of the OR.
And P.S. from Granbonny
And P.S. from Granbonny
Hubby told me today..Bonnie, you need to slow down Just helped daughter have a huge 2nd birthday party last Sat..and leaving Friday for the Lake to take age 13 year old Grandson and friends to our huge waterpark...Will be camping in our motorhome..now, that's the problem with remembering to take my coumadin at 5 P.M. Bonnie
And P.S. from Granbonny
Hubby told me today..Bonnie, you need to slow down
Just helped daughter have a huge 2nd birthday party last Sat..and leaving Friday for the Lake to take age 13 year old Grandson and friends to our huge waterpark...Will be camping in our motorhome..now, that's the problem with remembering to take my coumadin at 5 P.M. Bonnie
Ross
Well-known member
No troubles for me. Now that I home test, I have greater control over my dosing and more results in range then out. When I look at the grand scheme of things, Coumadin and valve vs Death, Coumadin is not a concern to me. Sure you have some inconveniences, but that is nothing compared to what could be.
The biggest problem I have right now with my warfarin dosage is remembering what day it is... I take a larger amount on Mon & Thurs than the rest of the days.
Robbyn
Well-known member
the fence
the fence
I very much have a love hate relationship with Coumadin. For the past year and half I have gone to the lab every week for blood tests, drawn from the vein. I have very poor veins for drawing blood. They are very deep - so I have one vein in my right arm they can use and if that is too scarred they do it in my hand. I have also been hospitalized several times over the past year for treatment of INR that is too high. I went into surgery for a congenetial heart defect to be repaired only to come out with a mechanical Mitral Valve as well. Did it save my life, not sure. One of these days when my other health problems are solved I am sure I will feel better - until then I am on the fence.
the fence
I very much have a love hate relationship with Coumadin. For the past year and half I have gone to the lab every week for blood tests, drawn from the vein. I have very poor veins for drawing blood. They are very deep - so I have one vein in my right arm they can use and if that is too scarred they do it in my hand. I have also been hospitalized several times over the past year for treatment of INR that is too high. I went into surgery for a congenetial heart defect to be repaired only to come out with a mechanical Mitral Valve as well. Did it save my life, not sure. One of these days when my other health problems are solved I am sure I will feel better - until then I am on the fence.
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
You need to get a daily dosage box. All the drug stores have them. It is the only way to keep your pills straight. I have been using it for 20 years now.Cris N said:The biggest problem I have right now with my warfarin dosage is remembering what day it is... I take a larger amount on Mon & Thurs than the rest of the days.
On Love and Coumadin
On Love and Coumadin
I just started taking coumadin about the 9th of June after my surgery. I read some of the crazy situations members reported and thought surely that won't happen to ME. HA! I have been gradually increasing my dosage amount to stay within my therapeutic range and very quickly found I was running out. My script documented on the bottle said it was good until 6/9/06 BUT the pharmacy would not refill it because "I had used the amount dispensed too soon and my insurance would not approve it". When I pointed out the date on the bottle I was told "the order was for you to take 2.5 a day and you took more". Well, YEAH! At the time I was on the regular post op starvation diet due to lack of appetite. Not only did I have to take more later on, I spent 4 days on Lovenox to bridge me. How retarded is this? Do they do this to diabetics too? I had to call my physician's office and they said they get this thing all the time. It appears my own SURGEON doesn't know how to write the order to compensate for the dosage adjustments. I later got a message that they were continuing to have a problem with insurance. I have enough until saturday so I guess I'll just pay "whole sale" or commit a coumadin hold-up.
Here's the newpaper cover story: Registered Nurse holds up Walgreens Pharmacy for entire stock of Coumadin. Besides that I see it as a drug that preserves my quality of life and not much of a problem but there's also not much love lost between us.
On Love and Coumadin
I just started taking coumadin about the 9th of June after my surgery. I read some of the crazy situations members reported and thought surely that won't happen to ME. HA! I have been gradually increasing my dosage amount to stay within my therapeutic range and very quickly found I was running out. My script documented on the bottle said it was good until 6/9/06 BUT the pharmacy would not refill it because "I had used the amount dispensed too soon and my insurance would not approve it". When I pointed out the date on the bottle I was told "the order was for you to take 2.5 a day and you took more". Well, YEAH! At the time I was on the regular post op starvation diet due to lack of appetite. Not only did I have to take more later on, I spent 4 days on Lovenox to bridge me. How retarded is this? Do they do this to diabetics too? I had to call my physician's office and they said they get this thing all the time. It appears my own SURGEON doesn't know how to write the order to compensate for the dosage adjustments. I later got a message that they were continuing to have a problem with insurance. I have enough until saturday so I guess I'll just pay "whole sale" or commit a coumadin hold-up.
Here's the newpaper cover story: Registered Nurse holds up Walgreens Pharmacy for entire stock of Coumadin.
Besides that I see it as a drug that preserves my quality of life and not much of a problem but there's also not much love lost between us.
K
Karlynn
Robbyn said:
Have you looked into home testing or at least a Coumadin clinic that uses finger sticks? If I had such trouble with getting stuck I'd avoid the test to begin with. As some of us have experienced, your INR may become more stable if you do your own testing.
G
geebee
Other things are much worse than coumadin for me like:
What to wear for the day.
What to fix for dinner.
What movie to watch.
What to feed the cats.
What thread to post to first.
Decisions, decisions, decisions. The coumadin is not a decision I have to make, I love that about it.
I also love the fact that it has kept me alive for 25 years.
What to wear for the day.
What to fix for dinner.
What movie to watch.
What to feed the cats.
What thread to post to first.
Decisions, decisions, decisions. The coumadin is not a decision I have to make, I love that about it.
I also love the fact that it has kept me alive for 25 years.
I wish I didn't have to take it.
I wish I didn't have to take it.
Coumadin is not that big a deal in my life but I still wish I didn't have to take it. I take so much of the stuff and worry how the side effects might effect me in the future.
My INR hasn't been stable the past 4-6 weeks because I just can't stand eating another salad, so my vitamin K intake has not been the same. My INR has been quite high (with highs of 8.2 and 7.7) but I don't want to call the doctor because he'd tell me to skip a day or two and I know I wouldn't listen, so what's the use in calling him. And once I call him, he might not trust me anymore and would want me to call him more often, or God forbid want me to go to the lab again.
I decreased my Coumadin intake and need to test again this Friday to see where I am at. At times I am tired of being dependent on Coumadin because I always have to think about my Coumadin intake and be consistant with my foods, supplements, alcohol, green vegies. Don't you get tired of always having to think about it and be responsible?
I wish I didn't have to take it.
Coumadin is not that big a deal in my life but I still wish I didn't have to take it. I take so much of the stuff and worry how the side effects might effect me in the future.
My INR hasn't been stable the past 4-6 weeks because I just can't stand eating another salad, so my vitamin K intake has not been the same. My INR has been quite high (with highs of 8.2 and 7.7) but I don't want to call the doctor because he'd tell me to skip a day or two and I know I wouldn't listen, so what's the use in calling him. And once I call him, he might not trust me anymore and would want me to call him more often, or God forbid want me to go to the lab again.
I decreased my Coumadin intake and need to test again this Friday to see where I am at. At times I am tired of being dependent on Coumadin because I always have to think about my Coumadin intake and be consistant with my foods, supplements, alcohol, green vegies. Don't you get tired of always having to think about it and be responsible?
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
Being ON Coumadin has not been that big of a deal for me (except when my dog pulled me into a tree and I had a HUGE Hematoma on my shin that bled into my leg and ankle and foot and toes and took 6 WEEKS to heal). At least my INR is 'fairly stable' with only slight adjustments needed from time to time, especially with the arrival of spring / summer and more physical activity.
Going OFF Coumadin for invasive procedures scares the HELL out me! (Even with Bridging Therapy). I've NEVER had a Colonoscopy (and I'm WAY past due) and need to have my esophagus checked (due to long term GERD).
'AL Capshaw'
Going OFF Coumadin for invasive procedures scares the HELL out me! (Even with Bridging Therapy). I've NEVER had a Colonoscopy (and I'm WAY past due) and need to have my esophagus checked (due to long term GERD).
'AL Capshaw'
INRtest
Well-known member
I'd rather not have to take the stuff & I occasionally worry about too high an INR (I had a subdural hematoma, or so they tell me, when I was in the hosp. last yr.),or too low an INR. Fortunately, I only have to take it on days ending in Y, so I guess, like all of us in this poll, I'm pretty regular.
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
CCRN:
Surely your Cardiologist or PCP or Coumadin Clinic (and maybe even your Surgeon) have supplies of Coumadin SAMPLES which they can dip into to get you to your next scheduled REFILL time.
Perhaps whoever writes your RX could write it for slightly more than your 'average' dose so that you have a 'reserve'. I usually take 3.5 mg / day so have an RX for 3 mg and 1 mg tablets (one a day) thus giving me a slight 'reserve' to fall back on if/when needed.
'AL Capshaw'
Surely your Cardiologist or PCP or Coumadin Clinic (and maybe even your Surgeon) have supplies of Coumadin SAMPLES which they can dip into to get you to your next scheduled REFILL time.
Perhaps whoever writes your RX could write it for slightly more than your 'average' dose so that you have a 'reserve'. I usually take 3.5 mg / day so have an RX for 3 mg and 1 mg tablets (one a day) thus giving me a slight 'reserve' to fall back on if/when needed.
'AL Capshaw'
- Status
