Long term ACT patients How do you feel about Coumadin?

[zarbie01]

I take coumadin for 2 mechanicals so it is lifelong for me, however I was on coumadin before my surgery for A-Fib. So far it has never been an issue for me, I have been in range for some months now and I also home test. Its a bit of drag taking the drug, but I cannot say it has interefered with my life to any great extent.
Hey, if it keeps my valves clicking I am happy...

 

[KristaDeAnn]

It isnt a big deal to "take it" or test since I home test. I dont like the risk. I have horses (which I was told my surgeon that I would have to stop riding) which was no way going to happen. So although it is a minor inconveniece I know I am at risk with the activities I do. When it comes down to that Im in the Lords hands..and I guess that is a good place to be!!

Considering I wouldnt be alive without my valve..Im grateful that there is coumadin to keep me clot free.. Pros and cons...just like everything else in life..

 

[Sagebrush]

#2

#2

Mitral Mechanical #2....almost picked #1 cause of the betting....ha
been on it since 2002
have been happily home testing since December of 2003

 

[twinmaker]

Next month I will be on Coumadin for 27 years. Believe me...it's no big deal. Just another pill with all the others I take. I really don't even think about it. Just home test my INR. I haven't changed my lifestyle one iota. LINDA

 

[lance]

It isnt a big deal to "take it" or test since I home test. I dont like the risk. I have horses (which I was told my surgeon that I would have to stop riding) which was no way going to happen. So although it is a minor inconveniece I know I am at risk with the activities I do. When it comes down to that Im in the Lords hands..and I guess that is a good place to be!!

Considering I wouldnt be alive without my valve..Im grateful that there is coumadin to keep me clot free.. Pros and cons...just like everything else in life..

Hi Crista,
This isn't meant to hijack this thread just comment on your surgeon's advice about riding. There was a thread on an equestrian site I belong to asking barn owners and coaches if they would accept students on warfarin. There was a staggering amount of misinformation posted as fact that I did rebuff. Without exception none of the stable owners and coaches would knowing accept anyone on an anti-coagulant because of the possibility of litigation. This included students riding horses they owned. Sad but true.

 

[Ross]

Hi Crista,
This isn't meant to hijack this thread just comment on your surgeon's advice about riding. There was a thread on an equestrian site I belong to asking barn owners and coaches if they would accept students on warfarin. There was a staggering amount of misinformation posted as fact that I did rebuff. Without exception none of the stable owners and coaches would knowing accept anyone on an anti-coagulant because of the possibility of litigation. This included students riding horses they owned. Sad but true.

.......and then there's the webmaster on Coumadin jumping out of airplanes without a helmet.

I don't think the misinformation campaign is ever going to end so long as the medical profession doesn't own up to it's own shortcomings.

 

[geebee]

So, what all this means is, unless someone is going to cut you open or prescribe mediciation, the fact that we are on coumadin is simply not offered.

 

[Heart_ache]

I know this poll is not scientific by any stretch of the imagination but think about this. Those whom have had severe problems with ACT may not be able to vote and if they where still alive might have voted they Hate ACT. So without taking that into account the poll is biased towards those not having issues with ACT.

 

[Cooker]

I know this poll is not scientific by any stretch of the imagination but think about this. Those whom have had severe problems with ACT may not be able to vote and if they where still alive might have voted they Hate ACT. So without taking that into account the poll is biased towards those not having issues with ACT.

Well, welcome to VR.com....I see that this is your first post......I don't think we were expecting any dead ACT folks to post ...and there are a lot of people with severe problems that spend a lot of time on the web...so I think they might be able to post......I think it is information gathering to give people an idea what others on ACT think....again, welcome.

 

[Gnusgal]

I will fully admit that I've had some major issues due to being on coumadin. I had an ovarian cyst that ruptured and I ended up needing 4 units of blood transfused (I would consider this major). I also had a hematoma following surgery (using bridging) and when they went in to drain it I got an infection which got to my heart (again, I consider this major).

BUT even with these incidences, I consider coumadin just a minor inconvenience. Because in the grand scheme of things I've had more days WITHOUT issues than WITH. I'm a bit more cautious when it comes to surgeries (no more bridging afterwards, please!) and I pay close attention to any pain that might be a sign of an internal problem. Other than that, I pretty much go on as usual. I've continued to participate in all the activities I did prior to starting coumadin and doubt I will change that. I think it really depends on your attitude about life, really. I could get bogged down in it, but I choose not to. Just like I could dwell on the fact that I have had to have 16 surgeries... But I don't see how that will make anything better, so I choose instead to live as normal a life as possible.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I will fully admit that I've had some major issues due to being on coumadin. I had an ovarian cyst that ruptured and I ended up needing 4 units of blood transfused (I would consider this major). I also had a hematoma following surgery (using bridging) and when they went in to drain it I got an infection which got to my heart (again, I consider this major).

BUT even with these incidences, I consider coumadin just a minor inconvenience. Because in the grand scheme of things I've had more days WITHOUT issues than WITH. I'm a bit more cautious when it comes to surgeries (no more bridging afterwards, please!) and I pay close attention to any pain that might be a sign of an internal problem. Other than that, I pretty much go on as usual. I've continued to participate in all the activities I did prior to starting coumadin and doubt I will change that. I think it really depends on your attitude about life, really. I could get bogged down in it, but I choose not to. Just like I could dwell on the fact that I have had to have 16 surgeries... But I don't see how that will make anything better, so I choose instead to live as normal a life as possible.

Niki,

Regarding your 'bridging' experience, may I ask how long after your surgery did your receive your first injection (if Lovenox) or IV Heparin? Also, are you sure the dose was correct for your weight?

FWIW, I had Lovenox Bridging following a Cath, but waited 24 hours before starting and it turned out OK.

Coumadin was started the evening of the procedure (i.e. about 12 hours after the cath.

I also asked 3 Heart Surgeons about their philosophy on Bridging and got 3 different answers. One typically did NOT bridge, one bridged Before but Not After Surgery, starting Coumadin the night of the surgery (i.e. 10 to 14 hours after), another Bridged before and after (I forgot how long he waited to start bridging after surgery).

 

[Gnusgal]

Niki,

Regarding your 'bridging' experience, may I ask how long after your surgery did your receive your first injection (if Lovenox) or IV Heparin? Also, are you sure the dose was correct for your weight?

FWIW, I had Lovenox Bridging following a Cath, but waited 24 hours before starting and it turned out OK.

Coumadin was started the evening of the procedure (i.e. about 12 hours after the cath.

I also asked 3 Heart Surgeons about their philosophy on Bridging and got 3 different answers. One typically did NOT bridge, one bridged Before but Not After Surgery, starting Coumadin the night of the surgery (i.e. 10 to 14 hours after), another Bridged before and after (I forgot how long he waited to start bridging after surgery).

When I ended up with the hematoma I bridged before and after (started back up the evening of the surgery). I believe that was the problem. The dose was fine.

When I had my surgeries at the Mayo Clinic last year they did no bridging. I did stay in the hospital on heparin one night before one of the two surgeries because my they did a cath the day before the surgery and didn't want me down that low for that long. The said no bridging afterwards so that my INR could come up gradually and reduce the risk of internal bleeding (I started coumadin that day). That worked beautifully both times.

I don't mind bridging beforehand, but I do get nervous about bridging after surgery (caths are slightly different, I think, because not as many blood vessels are cut and pressure is held on the vessel that is). Perhaps if my surgeon had waited 24 hours to start bridging I wouldn't have had the problems I did. We'll never know.

I've also had minor surgery while still on coumadin. Following the infection my incision just wouldn't close up all the way. So I was referred to a plastic surgeon. He performed the surgery in his office while I was fully anticoagulated. I was awake throughout the whole procedure and he spent a lot of time cauterizing and finally resorted to using the cauterizer to "cut" away the tissue. This did the trick. Of course, he wasn't cutting very deep. Just removing scar tissue and re-closing the wound.

 

[aussigal]

I forgot to post my answer to "why" I take Warfarin...StJude told me to 'cos it will help my mecahnical valve work better.

I havent had any problems but do fear the day I might have to self inject...hopefully I will be able to avoid this as long as possible....meanwhile I get lab-tested once a month and it has never bothered me...the worst is was when they do the fasting test for cholesterol and other bloods at the same time and take about 12 vials of blood...all of this without having had my morning coffee....if thats as bad as its gonna get it aint no big deal at all.