low PT

[SHerrin Hutt]

Well Folks,
It has over a week and my INR is still too low. Today I went to pick up another supply of lovenox. Can you believe they gave me 24 pre-loaded . 40mg a pop, twice a day. Plus I am taking 15mg of wafarin. What is going on with my body. Two weeks ago I was on 4&5 everyother day. after all of this my INR is still 1.4. Has anyone have trouble with their legs. Mine have been killing me since all this started. I have spent the biggest part of the last two nights sleeping in my big tub because the only thing that seems to help is warm water. I tried the heating pad and it was not the same. I went yesterday to have my labs. checked but don't know results yet. My girls are afraid I am going to drown.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Sherrin! You are really starting to worry me. Was once told that if I had an 'unexplained' increase or decrease in my INR over a long period of time there may be reason to check other functions to make sure all is well. Sure sounds like you are processing the Coumadin very quickly. So fast your not absorbing it.

Please keep us posted and take good care

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Gina
I have talked to my primary Dr. almost every day since this started. He very concerned too! Would my hemotologist be better at this than interntis. I went to him the last time it did this he was not that worried about it. He took my PT at his office twice and never called me back. I don't know where to turn to next. My cardiologist wants to stay out of it because he doesn't want to step on his toes and make him mad. Could your kidneys or liver cause this problem. I wonder if this is why my legs are killling me. Just got out the tub for the third time tonight. I don't know who to turn to next.
Does anyone out there have any ideals? Thanks for your support!
I am going to try to go back to bed for a while.

 

[McCln]

Low PT

Low PT

I have no idea on the leg problems you are having. You should keep bugging your PCP and cardiologist. Leg problems are caused by many reasons and need to be checked out. My PT has been kinda low from the last two stick, 1.9. I hope with upping the dosage will do the trick. I have been more active lately, with the warm weather. This board has kept my informed of all posibilities, which I will discuss with the cardio's nurse this week. You hang in there and the PT will be straightened out soon.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[bvdr]

Sherrin, I think you belong in the hospital. When there are multiple doctors involved there often seems to be a reluctance on those involved to take responsibility determining the action to be taken. Next time you talk to your PCP mention this to him and ask him if he is willing to manage this for you before it is too late.

These are treacherous waters..........please, please, force the issue with someone.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi Betty
I have talked till I am blue in the face. None of them seem to listen. Last weekend I had the worst ER Dr. I was retaining water and all he was concerned with was my PT. CHF is a pretty big deal too! since I have this other heart thing to worry about. I have an app. with my cardiologist on tues to see if the new meds are helping the heart muscle get stronger. I am at the end of my rope I don't know what to do. I just thank God I didn't have to pay the full price for thoses 24 preloaded lovenox shots. Thank God for insurance! Thanks for your support.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Well my friend. 2.2 for me today. No explanation other than the weather has turned hot and humid Have to work on getting that INR up! Funny thing......have not been exercising the last couple of weeks. Can you imagine if I was? Rock bottom!

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi Gina
Well, today I am 2.1 and I called my primary Doctor and found out that he was going to be on vacation for the next two weeks. So I get to deal with Dr's in his group that know nothing about me. I have an app. this afternoon with one of them. His nurse told me it was going to be a different one everyday. Won't that be fun! I think I have about 11 vol. of records there, that is for the 12 yrs. I have been seeing him. His RN told me to stay on the lovenox till it gets up to 2.5.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Let us know how you make out this afternoon Sherrin. Hopefully you can get this whole thing ironed out. Meant to ask the Coumadin nusre about calling in some Lovenox for back up. Could use it today for sure. My Coumadin nurse did tell me they were seeing lower than usual INR since the weather changed here. Have you been spending time outside? That is the case for me. Though those dang mosquitoes may force us to retreat inwards

Back when I was having major INR fluctuations.....they were alternating my dose throughout the week. This proved non-benificial at best.

See if you can get them to place you on a fixed dosing schedule throughout the week. I bet you will level out!

Take care.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Sherrin,
I hope you get things taken care.

Gina, it must be the weather, I have had my CoaguChek for a month now and I have been running 3.1 - 3.3 and now today I tested 2.4.

Take Care

 

[Georgia]

This is EXACTLY what happened last year at this time - weather got warm, everyone's inr's went nuts. Mine was OK last time - don't have to go for two weeks (no, I've never gotten home testing - was going to pay for it myself, but since doc still wants monthly lab tests, what's the point?).

However, Sherrin, I think you have a problem that far exceeds the beginning of summer issues: ditto what everyone else has said. Hope you get help soon.

Good luck.

 

[Sherry]

Sherrin, like everyone else, I'm worried about your levels and your legs hurting so much. I know you're getting frustrated. Are you staying local or going to Bloomington? (You're in Jeffersonville, right?) My INR has been stuck in the twos for over a month now. I'm dying for a salad but just can't have one. I've even been on a once daily Celebrex, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything to the numbers. Go figure. Gina, I'll go with the temperature change. It's all I can come up with.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Well. I went to the DR. and she wants me to take 12mg. for the next three days and then test it. To keep taking the lovenox shots as long as it is under 2.5. She is sending me for some test on my legs, but they couldn't get in till friday. I hope it is not a clot! I go to cardiologist tomorrow morning. Hope I get better news there. Thanks for your support!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

12MG should bring your INR up for sure. Do they have a plan for after that time? I have to agree with Betty. You should be admitted or tested long before Friday. There is a scan they put me though in the ER to search for clots.

Sometimes it requires taking the bull "by the horns" so to speak. As of late.....when they decide to jerk me around....I just go to the ER to play it safe. Thankfully I have good insurance at this point.

All the best to you.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Pt testing

Pt testing

Hi Sherry & Gina,
As you can tell it's been another one of thoses night. Sherry, I live right across the river from Louisville. Most all my Dr's are in Lou.The ER in LOu. is the last place you want to go for help. MY primary care Dr. sent me about one and half weeks ago. They didn't do anything I couldn't have done for my self at home. I had an ER Dr. that must have got his degree over the internet. I heard him and the Rn talking and she knew more about how to give lovenox than he did. But I think I'll call tomorrow to see if I can go to another hosp. We have three on this side of the river.Thanks for your support. If not for the web sight I would have already been in the mental hosp.

 

[tobagotwo]

It sounds like most of your doctors should be.

This latest stand-in seems to be taking charge. Too bad she's getting in so late in the game. It may take some time to get a handle on things, so you're still stuck in the tub for the time being.

This isn't any way for professionals to be treating you. They should not accept that you have to sleep in bathwater every night. I don't understand how they can keep pawning you off on each other, and not take the initiative to find a way provide you with relief.

Just give us the cross streets at the hematologist's parking lot. Maybe it's time for Bill and me to go have a chat with him...

Louavul is a fun town, but I will remember not to get ill there, or use their ER.

 

[Sherry]

Hey, Sherrin,
Sorry for my geographical ignorance I was thinking Jeffersonville was up north of 64 and closer to Bloomington. If memory serves me right though, one of those hospitals in Louisville was the site of the first implanted artificial heart, wasn't it? Back in the early 80s sometime? Well, let us know how you do with those 12 mg. pills. I would think that would make your numbers really spike, but we'll keep our fingers crossed that they don't.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

SHerry
Your are right about the heart implant. My Dr. was from the same group.
Well, I didn't really find out much today. They wanted me to stop the new B/p medicine to see if it is causing the leg problems. Told to come back in a month and they will do an echo. My App. was at 9:30 and we just got home.It is 1:30 here we did stop for lunch it took maybe 30 min. at the most.
Da***** Doctors can't live with & can't live without them.
There goes any vacation plans for another month. I will be in Denver if I have to bring oxygen with me. I never let anything keep home when it was the valve. I remember the year my youngest daughter went on a cruise for spring break. My primary like to have a fit. I had already paid for the tickets. There was a medical supllies co. in fl. that would deliver oxygen to the boat and even put in your room. While we were in Jamica we took a SUV tour of the Island and our guide carried my oxygen for me when I got tired.
But there one time when our new insurance co. told me to take my oxygen with me. And I said, RIGHT!!!!!!! so people are just crazy

 

[Yaps]

Thankyou

Thankyou

Im not the only one who has constant leg pain... thankyou..Im not crazy..

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Well, I have been off avapro for three days and my legs are already better. INR today was 3.0 it the first time it has been close where it should be in 21/2 yrs. But I went from taking 4&5 mg. two weeks ago to 12.5 daily. What up with that.