Long term ACT patients How do you feel about Coumadin?

[Ross]

For long term ACT patients only. If your only taking Coumadin temporarily, this poll is not for you.

Please post whether your taking it for mechanical valve or afib also.

Mechanical Valve

The reason for the poll is to let those considering a mechanical valve get a better feeling about Coumadin and their lifestyles.

 

[CThrock]

Take Warfarin for 2 mechanical valves. Since June 2006. It's great to be alive!!!!Warfarin does'nt bother me in the least....

 

[Ross]

Take Warfarin for 2 mechanical valves. Since June 2006. It's great to be alive!!!!Warfarin does'nt bother me in the least....

Place your vote dear.

 

[CThrock]

Ross the voting did'nt come up till I posted....

 

[Bina]

Mech valve.
Since I'm home testing, Coumadin is no problem at all.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

For long term ACT patients only. If your only taking Coumadin temporarily, this poll is not for you.

Please post whether your taking it for mechanical valve or afib also.

Mechanical Valve

The other poll was removed due to being skewed by noncoumadin user(s).

AARG!!!

I just wrote a few paragraphs under the original Poll thread and now it's gone??? YUCK.

Bottom Line: I didn't find a good 2 part match for any of the combinations offered.

I need to take Coumadin to prevent clot formation from my mechanical valve. Day-to-day, it is just a matter of remembering to take my pill. I use a 7 day pill box and a 31 day chart for all medications. I avoid doing *some* things that could be higher risk for a Coumadin patient. I still work in the yard and use Bow Saws (very sharp!) but refrain from using my chain saw as freely as I used to.

To say that it has NOT impacted my life would be a stretch. It becomes an issue that must be addressed for all invasive procedures. I had an infected cyst excised while fully anti-coagulated.

THAT was an *interesting* experience for me and the surgeon. He had to have his coat cleaned , and the table, and the floor. ONE stitch and some cauterizing (twice) and we were able to resume home packing of the wound on a daily basis (i.e. normal routine) until it healed.

It also limits or complicates treatment options for OTHER medical issues. Learning to self-inject Lovenox shots for 'Bridging' was a 'new experience'.

 

[Karlynn]

I have a mechanical. It was hard for me to decide between the 2nd and the 3rd choice. For me they could be combined into one statement. I have yet to have to have anything done where I must go off of Coumadin and do any bridging. I'm sure that day will come. But I'm grateful that there was a drug around to allow me to have a valve where I wouldn't need to put my family through valve deterioration and surgery during the busiest years of our lives. Home testing has greatly improved the "no big deal" factor for me.

 

[KristyW]

#3 for me.

I don't find it an issue. My INR is mostly stable. Out of what I call "practical range 2.0-4.5" maybe once a year.

St. Judes Mechanical valve implanted June 2001.

 

[Cooker]

Mechanical....takes a lickin and keeps on tickin

 

[perrypiratesdad]

What if I like my warfarin sauteed with butter, white wine, and onions? Very tasty that way.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

For mechanical and no biggie. I don't home test, but the lab is less than 4 miles away, so I might as well. I had my test Wednesday at 5:15 and received my result Thursday morning at 8:30.

 

[jim516]

I started on warfarin in January 2006 for afib after quad bypass surgery and continued on it after having my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve in December of the same year. Taking warfarin has truely been no big deal and my INR has remained relatively stable with the exception of last November when I had to bridge with Lovenox for a colonoscopy. It took a couple of months to get it stable again in the proper range.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Not a big deal for me. The home testing enables me to be in control.

 

[sue943]

A couple of mechanical valves means I am stuck with it. With hindsight I would probably have gone with tissue so as not to be taking it, then I would ideally like not to be taking any medication for anything. At the end of the day I suppose it is just one more drug.

 

[Lorraine]

I chose #3 I think, but actually 1 and 2 apply as well. I do like to guess what the number will be. lol! Coumadin is just another part of my life since my double valve replacement in 2001. I'm occasionally out of range but thanks to VR.Com I don't become alarmed like I did the first few times it was out of range. I also forget to take my pills sometimes( a couple of times a year) even with a pill box! That of course would be when I go on the low side! Coumadin management is fairly easy, especially with the help from this site and Al.

It is GREAT to be ALIVE! Without Coumadin, I probably wouldn't be! Three cheers for Coumadin!

 

[Mercia]

Coumadin has just become another part of my life after being diagnosed with A-Fib in early 2008, and will be buddies for quit awhile now that I had a mitral valve replaced with mechanical On-X.

 

[netmiff]

mechanical, aortic

hasn't changed much about my life, I now have an ACT doctor, but then I now have a heart surgeon, a cardiologist, a Echo techncian and so on . .

I could have picked few other numbers, too, ' cos yeah, I do have to take it to stay alive; I also like to guess the number , but I thought that was just me

Hven't had to go off it yet, or had any "complictions" or anything bad happen, but then it has been less than a year. Would be fun to see what I will say in 10 years or so !

 

[Bridgette]

On-x valve, mitral.

Paroxysmal AF for the past 12 years (although since my valve replacement and Maze there have been no more prolonged bouts of AF - apart from the 3 days immediately after my surgery).

I feel much more in control of things re Warfarin since I got my Coaguchek about 6 weeks post-op. I did not like having to go to the clinic for blood tests all the time, and then not being called back with my results because "we were too busy" or "Oh, we must have forgotten" ...that happened on several occasions.

Accept the fact that you will be on Warfarin for life, and then get on with that life! That's the way I see it anyway....

 

[Sherry]

Have taken it for my St. Jude's mitral for the past 11 1/2 years. I get a little annoyed when my numbers are out of wack, but who doesn't? I don't self test but have a number of labs in the Evansville area in which I can have it checked.

 

[miles]

Mechanical St. Judes aortic valve, ( dacron ascending aorta). I have to take warfarin for life. 8 years,so far, no problems.