INR Range

[Jepskie]

Hi again to all of you! Just need another advice especially from Mr. Al whom every post I read and to every experienced valver. Last Mey 16 my INR was 1.38 and 2,5mg and 1mg coumadin. Adjusted to 2.5mg everyday and just tested now its 1.7 INR. Is this good? Also when last May 16 my cardio doesnt want to adjust my dose but my surgeon did and i followed him. Pls advise. Tnx and God Bless Us All.

P.S. For those of you who are budget concious, the cost of Valve Surgery in the Philippines is around 10,000 dollars (i.e. Heart Center of the Philippines Hospital). We have a world class facilities in this hospital. Just fyi.

Jepskie

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Your Cardiologist SHOULD know what range of INR you should maintain. HE should have given you this information and refered you to some Clinic or Lab for your testing and dosing. At least that is how it is done here.

MOST patients with mechanical valves are advised to keep their INR between 2.5 and 3.5 (some Doctors recommend a slightly lower range of 2.0 to 3.0 if there is only ONE valve and it is in the Aortic position). An INR below 2.0 puts you at higher risk of Clot Formation and STROKE.

See Al Lodwick's website at www.warfarinfo.com for a thorough understanding of managing anti-coagulation.

Hopefully you can find a good Coumadin Clinic for testing and dose management. You will still need orders from a Doctor and a recommended target range. Perhaps your cardiologist expects your Primary Care Physician to be in charge of your testing and dosing. You really need to get this clarified!

'AL Capshaw'

 

[hensylee]

Mornin, Jepskie - you need to be checking Al's website. There is so much to learn there. We are so glad to have him here. He's been a member on this site for longer than I have, I think, and I have been a member for 5 yrs - so we all trust him.

My brother has been on coumadin for several years and now and then, his INR gets out of range. It is out of range right now so I take him every other week to hospital lab, on cardio's orders, to get it checked. The results are sent by the hospital to the cardio the same day the blood is drawn. The cardio office then calls an adjustment in the coumadin and this continues until INR is back in range. Brother's has been 4. He is taking coumadin to prevent stroke.

$10,000? Goodness - have you read any of the figures posted here in VR? extreme.