D
Dee
I am 3 months post op from a mitral valve replacement. Today my INR was very high at 6.6. What is the danger of it being that high? My Dr. told me to skip the next two days of coumadin.
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fyrfytr
Well-known member
Hi Dee,
Just wanted to Welcome you to this wonderful site. Glad to see another from Colorado, there are several us here.
As far as your high INR you might want to watch for bruising. Al and the others should be along and can tell you more.
Again WELCOME to this Great Family.
Take Care
Just wanted to Welcome you to this wonderful site. Glad to see another from Colorado, there are several us here.
As far as your high INR you might want to watch for bruising. Al and the others should be along and can tell you more.
Again WELCOME to this Great Family.
Take Care
Nancy
Well-known member
Hi Dee-
Welcome to the site. My husband's been on Coumadin for 26 years. It can fluctuate sometimes. But holding for 2 days will bring it right down. I hope that your doc will be reducing your dosage and will be testing you again in a few days. We have a wonderful member, Al Lodwick who runs a Coumadin clinic and is an expert on Coumadin. Here is the address of his website. Lots of information on Coumadin.
http://www.warfarinfo.com/
Welcome to the site. My husband's been on Coumadin for 26 years. It can fluctuate sometimes. But holding for 2 days will bring it right down. I hope that your doc will be reducing your dosage and will be testing you again in a few days. We have a wonderful member, Al Lodwick who runs a Coumadin clinic and is an expert on Coumadin. Here is the address of his website. Lots of information on Coumadin.
http://www.warfarinfo.com/
Dee:
Welcome! Glad you found us.
No doubt your doctor asked about any factors that might have increased your INR.
In November, my INR went to 5.3 and my PCP said to hold for 2 days. I know why it went up from 3.0 -- had a virus and took quite a bit of Tylenol because of headache, fever & other aches. Tylenol will increase the INR. Two weeks ago the salad bars were far too appealing, so my INR went down to 2.4 from 3.0. PCP's office said to be more consistent on salads. My INR was back to 3.0 one week later.
You'll find good information at this website (and do check out the archives by going to the search function) and at www.warfarinfo.com, owned by a vr.com member who is a certified anticoagulation care provider in Pueblo CO.
Since you've been on Coumadin for 3 months, you might investigate getting a home test machine, if you don't already have one. Quite a few of us have them.
Welcome! Glad you found us.
No doubt your doctor asked about any factors that might have increased your INR.
In November, my INR went to 5.3 and my PCP said to hold for 2 days. I know why it went up from 3.0 -- had a virus and took quite a bit of Tylenol because of headache, fever & other aches. Tylenol will increase the INR. Two weeks ago the salad bars were far too appealing, so my INR went down to 2.4 from 3.0. PCP's office said to be more consistent on salads. My INR was back to 3.0 one week later.
You'll find good information at this website (and do check out the archives by going to the search function) and at www.warfarinfo.com, owned by a vr.com member who is a certified anticoagulation care provider in Pueblo CO.
Since you've been on Coumadin for 3 months, you might investigate getting a home test machine, if you don't already have one. Quite a few of us have them.
D
Dee
Thank you all for the nice welcome. I am excited about finding this website and looking forward to using it often.
I think as far as my INR being high, it is most likely due to my diet the last couple of days. I wasn't eating as much salad etc...and I had also taken Tylenol a couple of times for a headache. Yesterday I recieved my Coagucheck machine, and that's when we noticed my INR so high. Since it was the first time I used the machine, I went in to the lab at my Dr.'s office to double check it. The good news is my machine is working right, the bad news was that my INR was really that high! I look forward to using the Coagucheck to keep a closer eye on my INR. How often do you that have a home machine check your INR? I got mine through QAS. My trainer said they have had some trouble keeping the strips in stock...have any of you had a problem with that? I am also required to call QAS once a week with my levels, do any of you have to do that? Does your insurance pay for your strips, supplies? All of these questions.
I'm just so new to all of this, still learning.
Thank you for all of the info and I will be visiting Al's website as soon as I'm done here. I look forward to hearing from you all again.
Dee
I think as far as my INR being high, it is most likely due to my diet the last couple of days. I wasn't eating as much salad etc...and I had also taken Tylenol a couple of times for a headache. Yesterday I recieved my Coagucheck machine, and that's when we noticed my INR so high. Since it was the first time I used the machine, I went in to the lab at my Dr.'s office to double check it. The good news is my machine is working right, the bad news was that my INR was really that high! I look forward to using the Coagucheck to keep a closer eye on my INR. How often do you that have a home machine check your INR? I got mine through QAS. My trainer said they have had some trouble keeping the strips in stock...have any of you had a problem with that? I am also required to call QAS once a week with my levels, do any of you have to do that? Does your insurance pay for your strips, supplies? All of these questions.
I'm just so new to all of this, still learning. Thank you for all of the info and I will be visiting Al's website as soon as I'm done here. I look forward to hearing from you all again.
Dee
Dee:
Congratulations on getting a machine!
Like many others, I test once a week; some people test less frequently.
I have a ProTime 3, buy 6 months' supplies at a time (ProTime 3 uses cuvettes instead of strips). My insurance covered the machine and supplies in 2003; am waiting to get OK on 2004 coverage for more supplies. Before I applied to get the machine, I had checked with my employer's HR dept. to find out what DME coverage would be for 2004 and was told it would remain at 100%. That is something you should remember late this year -- because your vendor will be having to get insurance OK for many customers due to insurance changes. I should have reordered and gotten 6MO in December.
I phone my results in to my PCP's office. I keep a record at home and my PCP keeps a record. Could have set it up to phone INRs to QAS, but my PCP wanted to monitor the INR instead.
BTW, the ABC affiliate in Dallas aired a health report on the 5 p.m. news yesterday (2/2/04). I arrived at my parents' home just after that and my dad told me about it. Said it was very general, didn't think it said anything I didn't already know, since I do home-testing and my PCP in Fort Worth follows me (my cardio is in Dallas, about 50 miles from my home). Report seemed to stress having frequent monitoring and individualizing the dosage.
Congratulations on getting a machine!
Like many others, I test once a week; some people test less frequently.
I have a ProTime 3, buy 6 months' supplies at a time (ProTime 3 uses cuvettes instead of strips). My insurance covered the machine and supplies in 2003; am waiting to get OK on 2004 coverage for more supplies. Before I applied to get the machine, I had checked with my employer's HR dept. to find out what DME coverage would be for 2004 and was told it would remain at 100%. That is something you should remember late this year -- because your vendor will be having to get insurance OK for many customers due to insurance changes. I should have reordered and gotten 6MO in December.
I phone my results in to my PCP's office. I keep a record at home and my PCP keeps a record. Could have set it up to phone INRs to QAS, but my PCP wanted to monitor the INR instead.
BTW, the ABC affiliate in Dallas aired a health report on the 5 p.m. news yesterday (2/2/04). I arrived at my parents' home just after that and my dad told me about it. Said it was very general, didn't think it said anything I didn't already know, since I do home-testing and my PCP in Fort Worth follows me (my cardio is in Dallas, about 50 miles from my home). Report seemed to stress having frequent monitoring and individualizing the dosage.
Hi Dee
Hi Dee
It will be 2 years soon..since I have had my Protime....REMEMBER ..you are only 3 months post-op..It takes a few months to even out..(Range) My clinical nurse at Card's office keeps track of mine..After, you have been in range for awhile..they will tell you how often to test. First, 2 weeks..then 3 weeks and then 4 weeks (As long as you are not too far off.) I stay steady at 2.8.......I take tylenol often..several times a week..for old age pains Have not changed my dosage since I was 5 months post-op..I test every 3 weeks...even tho my clinical nurse says..test again in 4 weeks.My insurance (United Health) pays 80%......Hang in there. You will even out soon...Bonnie
Hi Dee
It will be 2 years soon..since I have had my Protime....REMEMBER ..you are only 3 months post-op..It takes a few months to even out..(Range) My clinical nurse at Card's office keeps track of mine..After, you have been in range for awhile..they will tell you how often to test. First, 2 weeks..then 3 weeks and then 4 weeks (As long as you are not too far off.) I stay steady at 2.8.......I take tylenol often..several times a week..for old age pains
Have not changed my dosage since I was 5 months post-op..I test every 3 weeks...even tho my clinical nurse says..test again in 4 weeks.My insurance (United Health) pays 80%......Hang in there. You will even out soon...Bonnie
J
Joe Parker
Dee:
I am in the same boat you are. Still adjusting the ole' INR. Yesterday mine was 4.69 so I held my dose and will take half tonight then alternate 2.5 - 5mg every other day. Recheck in a few more days.
Want to do the home testing too after the 3 month requirment of stabilization.
Good Luck
Joe Parker
Aortic Valve Replacement 01/21/2004
St. Jude mechanical 27mm
Mt. Diablo Hospital, Concord CA
Dr. Sommerhaug
I am in the same boat you are. Still adjusting the ole' INR. Yesterday mine was 4.69 so I held my dose and will take half tonight then alternate 2.5 - 5mg every other day. Recheck in a few more days.
Want to do the home testing too after the 3 month requirment of stabilization.
Good Luck
Joe Parker
Aortic Valve Replacement 01/21/2004
St. Jude mechanical 27mm
Mt. Diablo Hospital, Concord CA
Dr. Sommerhaug
