Last Friday: INR 8.1-Today: INR 1.2

[Lorraine]

Well just got back from the clinic. I bottomed OUT! My INR was 1.2 today. I held for the two days and yesterday took 7.5 mg of Coumadin. Had cole slaw on Friday, a small V8 Saturday morning, ate 1/2 a salad Saturday night and had my mexican salad last night. So I added some vitamin K along with holding the two days, but I don't think I had that much!

My regular coumadin nurse was there today and she told me I should never have let the other nurse hold me two days. I then told her well, I fought not to hold for the third day until she finally agreed. My regular nurse knows how fast I metabolize, and that if we hold I'll bottom out.

So today I'm taking 15mg of Coumadin. At first she wanted to see me tomorrow and I told her I would prefer to come back in two days. That way along with taking my doses again, we can see what effect my mexican salad I had on Sunday, does as far as the INR. I don't believe what I ate yesterday, would be a factor in what my INR was today and she agreed. So tomorrow she wants me to take 10mg(which is my normal Tuesday dose).

So what I learned from this based on my own Coumadin intake and how fast I metabolize, in my estimation is it would have been better if I had maybe held one day, and took lower doses of the Coumadin on Saturday & Sunday and just ate more vitamin K foods. So, any new thought?

Everyone is different so if you aren't a fast metabolizer, I wouldn't base what works for me to necessarily work for others. Like Rain had said that whenh her INR gets high, she drinks a lot of V8. I only had 1 four oz. glass.! Just thought I'd let everyone know. It appears everyone started a vitamin K discussion on my 8.1 thread. Now I can get a chance to go back over and read it throroughly. Thanks for everyones advice. BTW: Thanks Johnny!

 

[Raverlaw]

Boiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!

Lorraine, I hope you get stabilized again soon and don't keep bouncing between highs and lows.

If I were you, I get back on your regular dosing schedule that worked for you before - I'm not sure a "loading" dose of 15mg will have any effect immediately, anyway.

 

[Lorraine]

Hi Bill,

I agree. That was why I told my regular coumadin nurse to wait until Wednesday. Thursday would have been better but I bent a little and so did she. She had wanted me to come in tomorrow. I believe AL has stated that if your given a high dose it should show in two days though. My regular dosages were M,W,F & Sun 7.5 mg and Sat,Tues & Thurs was 10mg. I never went that high before and last Friday I didn't have my regular coumadin nurse. I did tell her I would bottom out. Imagine where I would have been if I held all three days like she wanted me too! Probably in the hospital! I'll keep you posted. Thakns for the thought

 

[Ross]

Why do they try the "Loading dose" theory? I can understand trying to bring you up in a hurry, but that 15mg is probably going to be a monkey wrench in the hole thing.

 

[JimL]

Holding even one day's dosage, or doubling tomorrow's dosage, either one seems a good way to board the INR seesaw.

I think a willingness to compromise is very good in most things, but not on your INR. My coumadin nurses are angels: they listen to me and I listen to them, and we usually see eye to eye anyway. But even if they don't listen, what's to stop you from taking what you know to be the correct dosage?

"If I were you, I get back on your regular dosing schedule that worked for you before." Good advice.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Hey, Lorraine, if it ain't one thing, it's another, right? Like the others here, I would suggest a dose of restraint be integrated into the plan to get you back on track. I'd bet if you get back to your long-standing dosage, you'll at least be close enough to take the worry out and have time to tweak it slowly.

It will be interesting to see the number tomorrow..if it's off I hope they just let your normal dose settle in before they send you on any more coaster rides!

Just my opinion..not a doctor, don't play one on TV, your mileage may vary, etc...

 

[Lorraine]

After reading everyones response, I tend to agree. My normal dosing for today Tues, is 10mg (which is what the coumadin nurse said to take today). Wed my dose 7.5mg, Thurs 10mg, Fri & Sat 7.5mg, Sun 10mg and Mon 7.5mg.

I don't know if this had anything to do with my higher reading when I tested last Friday. Now isn't it possible since I take 10mg three days a week (Sun, Tues & Thurs), that INR reading could always be on the higher end on Fridays? Which we wouldn't know , since I never get tested on Friday? By Monday(which is the day I usually set up my appts) it's been 3.5 for the previous two months. Again just another thought.

Thanks for everyones input. My gut feeling is to just get back to my normal dosing. Really wish I had my own machine! One of these days I will! I'll keep you posted what happens in my continuing saga. Like Gina a couple of weeks ago! Must be our Illinoian air!

 

[Perrster]

Hey You Yo Yo's!

Hey You Yo Yo's!

No offense, but I think I should stay away from you and Gina until you get this thing under control. Wow!

I'm not exactly right in between the numbers either, but I certainly don't fluctuate as drastically as you and Gina for cryin' out loud! Do you think it could be our sexual differences? I haven't heard of any weather related INR busters.

I'm exercising more and golf season is about to open. I just went to a 2.5 increase per week level because I've tested twice in a row at 2.1. Testing again next Tuesday.

Boy (Girl, I mean) wouldn't it be nice if we could self test? Insurance is sure stupid when it comes to understanding this. Have you appealed yet or have you given up like me?

Take care.

 

[Georgia]

Really Low-Rain

Really Low-Rain

Hey - that bad air didn't make it down here, thank heaven. I've actually been worried because I seem to tag along with everyone else when inr's start pinballing around. Mine was a nice respectable 3.1 yesterday - whew.

I know your reading was awfully high, but I'd have thought that holding one day then taking 1/2 dose for a couple more days would have dropped it better. That 1/2 dose seems to keep me out of the cellar better, and my doc allows it. I'll admit I've never been as high as you were.

Hope it stabilizes soon. Such a pain.

 

[bvdr]

I hope you and Perry both end up with your own machines! If it were a more common problem, or members lived close enough to each other, than a few people could chip in together and machine-share. I wonder if pro-time would do a lease-to-buy type thing?

I just got some reimbursement for my pro-time. I did have to appeal and I wasn't sure what would happen but it was worth the extra work.

I think you might be right that your INR would be higher on Fridays with your schedule but I doubt it would vary so much that it would knock you out of range. I've always kept myself on the same dose 7 days a week even if I have to break tablets. I now have 2.5s, 3.0s, 4.0s, and 5.0s. That about takes care of any combination I need.

 

[Lorraine]

Wednesday: INR 2.6

Wednesday: INR 2.6

Hi everyone,

Just got back from the clinic. My INR was 2.6. I'm going back on my regular coumadin schedule and I'll retest on April 19. I don't really know what made it go sky high! but I agree with everyone who said I maybe should have just held one day and took a lower dose the next two days. I just knew I would bottom out on Monday. My regular coumadin nurse agreed. If this happens again, that is exactly what I will do. Doubling the dose didn't cause a spike again and in my heart I didn't think it would.

Perry: I don't know what is in the air here. Yeah, you better stay away from the two of us! . Hope you can bring your level up some.

Georgia: Glad it didn't come down there too! Yeah when I talked with my regular nurse her and I agreed with exactly what you said. If she had been here last Friday, she would never have told me to hold two days.

Jim: I will usually stand my ground when it comes to my INR. I never had a reading at 8.1 before so I was being a good little patient and listening to the experts! Now if my INR had been lets say 6.2 last Friday I would never have held and I would have argued with the nurse and or just did what I knew would probably work. The double dosage doesn't make me climb back up as fast either, like holding doses does. Anyway, I'm back to my regular dosages now.

Betty: Thanks for your input. Perry and I both wish we did have our own machines too. Maybe someday! Nothing like self testing to keep the roller coaster at bay!

Johnny: Took yours and everyone elses advice. Told my nurse I wanted to just go back on my normal schedule and she agreed. I'm sure I'll be fine. Thanks!