INR 1.0

[EireCara]

Hello again.....well I went to the nurse at my doctors surgery today to have my INR bloods taken, so I told her what was happening and she said it sounds like an allergic reaction to 'something'. My face isnt quite as 'red' but it still feels very hot and puffy.

Im also now really annoyed because my INR came back at 1.0.....eeeeek....thats scarily low. Because it went up to 3.7 while in hospital last week they told me to take 1mg / 2mg warfarin on alternate days. With my a.fib and valve problems Im now worried about a clot.

On top of this Im having a lot of bother with a pain just slightly to the left of the centre of my chest which makes me want to try to breath deeply, but I cant get a breath in deeply enough....its a horrible feeling. So I rang my doc this evening and she prescribled pain killers, she said its probably my STOMACH...im not so sure !!!!

None of my other meds were changed and Im not taking anything with niacin in it.

Im trying very hard to hold it together but Im feeling overwhelmed with it all.

Going back to the ER is not an option...unless something life threatening is happening me as I dont want to traumatise my poor children any more than absolutely necessary....its Christmas week, we should be happy and shopping and all that goes with it. Its not fair !!!!

 

[Ross]

Im also now really annoyed because my INR came back at 1.0.....eeeeek....thats scarily low.

Umm no that is COMPLETELY COAGULATING the same as someone who takes no Coumadin. You need some real Doctors today! You need to be bridged until your therapeutic again.

My wife had that red face deal and the Doctor that saw her then said if it happens again, get her to the ER pronto.

 

[EireCara]

Ross.... I dont understand .......what had caused it to happen to your wife ?

 

[EireCara]

Please excuse my last reply Ross......it barely makes sense. I feel like my thinking process is weird today.

Did you find out why it (red face) happened to your wife (if you/she) doesnt mind me asking of course)???

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Good Grief ! WHO is managing your Coumadin / INR?
What is your NORMAL dose?

I cannot believe they did not put you on Lovenox until you are back in range. That Nurse needs to go to Anti-Coagulation School!!!

'AL Capshaw'

 

[EireCara]

Iv been taking 5mg daily, but lately Iv been a bit more unwell in general and when i go into hospital my INR seems to go up a bit and the docs there reduce my warfarin, send me home, where the nurse at my gp surgery tests my blood, and off I go into an up and down spiral again. Iv tried to speak to them about it, but as ever they wont listen.....THEY KNOW BEST !!!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Iv been taking 5mg daily, but lately Iv been a bit more unwell in general and when i go into hospital my INR seems to go up a bit and the docs there reduce my warfarin, send me home, where the nurse at my gp surgery tests my blood, and off I go into an up and down spiral again. Iv tried to speak to them about it, but as ever they wont listen.....THEY KNOW BEST !!!!

Let's see, you normally take 5 mg of Warfarin, your INR was 3.7 and the Nurse told you to alternate 1 and 2 mg.

That's a 70% DECREASE for an INR that was barely out of your range. That NURSE should loose her License (or at least be required to attend a proper training class on Warfarin management) for such poor advice!

I suggest you print out a copy of the Dosing Recommendations from the Family Practice Journal (I believe that is the one I have seen posted here several times) and give it to your Primary Care Physician, along with a Written Note outlining the Dose, INR, and Recommendation from their Nurse. You may have to resort to Home Testing to get away from such malpractice!

Here is the link to the recommendations of the American Association of Family Practicioneers: http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/635.html

What did the nurse tell you to do after your INR came back 1.0???
I agree with your concern. YES, you are in danger of forming a clot. I would hope they at least advised returning to your normal 5 mg dose. They SHOULD HAVE advised Lovenox Injections or a Heparin Drip (in hospital, unfortunately) until your INR is back in range.

Is there ANY Doctor, ANYWHERE, that you can turn to for IMMEDIATE help in this matter? If not, the ER may be your only hope for help.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Ross]

We have no idea what caused it, but it scared the Doctor she was seeing at the time. He was ready to call for an ambulance. I mean she was RED, as red as the angry face smilie beside this reply box.

 

[EireCara]

Al, it was the docs in the hospital who prescribed 1mg the day I was admitted because my blood came back 3.7. Then they tested again the next morning about 9am, I wasnt told what that INR was but they THE DOCS (I say docs because I saw 4 different docs while in hospital) put me on ''1mg'' daily for the 5 days I was in hospital and never tested again. They told me leaving on Friday to take 1mg /2mg alternate days and go to my nurse in a few days to be tested.

The scary thing is ....there is nowhere left to go. My life is in the hands of what seems to be the most incompetent people EVER. The whole system (as bad as it is) will now close down for at least 2 weeks so these overpaid, uncaring, incompetent, arrogant people can have a NICE LONG HEALTHY HOLIDAY.



I say this because I know tons of people who get 1st class medical treatment in hospitals that look like hotels, by the very same docs who treat 'poor' people like me in rundown out of date dirty hospitals.

In our system docs are employed by the HSE (the government) they work 'minimal' hours, supposed to be 9 to 5, but they they go off early afternoon to either play golf or see their PRIVATE patients. The younger doctors who are training and work 90 hour weeks cover for them. The government has been IN TALKS with the consultants of Ireland for nearly 5 years. The consultants wont give up their private practice because they actually have two salaries, both very highly paid.

Sorry for ranting but Im soooo frustrated !!!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I'm sorry you have to deal with such a 'sorry' system Jacqui. You have been given some VERY BAD ADVICE about your Coumadin dosing by those 'Doctors'!

At the very least I think you should return to your normal dosage (5mg/ day). Taking a 'loading' dose (an extra 50%) was common at one time but I gather that idea has been scraped in favor of just returning to the normal dose.

The Coumadin portion of this thread should be moved to the Anti-Coagulation Forum where it would be seen / read / reviewed by more Coumadin patients. If you want a PROFESSIONAL opinion, I suggest your send an e-mail to Al Lodwick (or post you experience in the Anti-Coagulation Forum and ask for AL Lodwick's opinion....I'd go with the e-mail for hopefully a faster answer).

MY (non-professional) recommendation would be to take 5 mg ASAP if you have not done so in the last few days, and resume your normal dose.

Do you know anyone who has a Home Test Monitor?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[EireCara]

*Al, I took 4mg last night. I was told to take 4mg each day and retest next Thursday.!!!

I dont know anyone who uses a home testing kit. I did ask in a pharmacy but we cannot buy them here...(not surprising !!!)

Due to my lack of computer skills I dont know how to move items to the anti coagulation forum .....sorry !!!

 

[Nancy]

I think only Ross or Hank can move posts around from one forum to another.

 

[gadgetman]

Jacqui,

I'm so sorry you are having to face (pun not intended ) this too. I hope and pray you can find some qualified help over there, and very soon. Sounds like scary stuff they are messing with.

Wish you could just enjoy the holidays with the kids without all this.

May God Bless,

Danny