Okay, who put a hex on me????

[njean]

I guess all this talk about INR monitors played a NOT so funny number on my INR readings just now.

I just went to do my usual Friday INR check and guess what??? My INR read 5.6!!! Whoa....what is that about???!

So I said, okay, don't panic, do another one. So I put another clean strip in there & re-tested and it is 5.1!!! WTH! And, if that doesn't top everything, the number I just called Alere on, gave me an error code of 11 dash 3, whatever that means, and said I that number was not valid!!!

So now I'm faced with whether I should just skip tonight entirely and then resume a very low dose (5mg tomorrow) and then my regular dose the rest of the week???

Wow, I haven't been this off in ages!!!! :eek2:

Note: My regular dose BTW, is 10mg for 6 days and 7.5 for one day and then check.

 

[drivetopless]

Hey, NJ. That is pretty high! I would skip tonights dose and have some spinach with dinner.

 

[Freddie]

Wish I could help Norma. Do you think it might be your battery that's playing tricks with the error code and your results?

 

[Protimenow]

N Jean -- yes, this can be scary, and it certainly makes you want to be careful what you do until the INR goes down. And, no, I'm not the one who sent you that hex.

Are you saying that you couldn't reach someone at Alere? You can get their phone number on their site -- the phone number on your meter may have changed since Alere bought Hemosense. (I'd look it up, but I'm sure you can probably find it in the same amount of time that I'd spend searching for it). Please DO call Alere. They can be very helpful.

I'm surprised by the variance between 5.6 and 5.1 for two tests taken just minutes apart. Did your meter somehow change the code for the strips? Is it possible that you've gone from one batch of strips to another batch and not changed the code?

Also -- I'm convinced that yoru INR will vary depending on the day you take your warfarin and the day you test. (If you're testing 3 or 4 days after your 7.5 mg dose, you may get a higher result than if you tested the same number of days after a 6 mg dose).

As a fellow veteran managing my INR, I'm sure you've asked yourself about any new dietary supplements, medications, etc., or if anything else in your recent life changed. I'm concluding that nothing caught your attention.

As far as dosing -- I had a 4.7 a couple weeks ago (close enough to a 5.1 to be concerned) and discontinued a supplement (pycnogenol) that I thought may have been responsible. I also reduced my dose (rather than skipping a dose) from 7 mg to 5. (If I didn't have some idea what caused the increased INR, I probably would have dropped my dose down by 1/2 or so). If I were you, I'd probably load up on greens for the next day or two, although this may not give you any idea WHY your INR was high.

Still -- first things first -- call Alere. They'll help you work through this funny value.

And -- whoever put the hex on N Jean -- please remove it 8{

 

[njean]

Wish I could help Norma. Do you think it might be your battery that's playing tricks with the error code and your results?

One time I had a low battery but the monitor alerted me to this by "saying low bat" or something to that affect.

I have just tried reaching my doctor but I guess NO ONE WORKS on Fridays! They were going to try to reach him on his cell so I'm waiting for him to call.

 

[Protimenow]

Alere's tech support SHOULD work on Friday. I think they're in San Diego, so it's still only 3 PM there.

 

[njean]

N Jean -- yes, this can be scary, and it certainly makes you want to be careful what you do until the INR goes down. And, no, I'm not the one who sent you that hex.

Are you saying that you couldn't reach someone at Alere? You can get their phone number on their site -- the phone number on your meter may have changed since Alere bought Hemosense. (I'd look it up, but I'm sure you can probably find it in the same amount of time that I'd spend searching for it). Please DO call Alere. They can be very helpful.

I'm surprised by the variance between 5.6 and 5.1 for two tests taken just minutes apart. Did your meter somehow change the code for the strips? Is it possible that you've gone from one batch of strips to another batch and not changed the code?

Also -- I'm convinced that yoru INR will vary depending on the day you take your warfarin and the day you test. (If you're testing 3 or 4 days after your 7.5 mg dose, you may get a higher result than if you tested the same number of days after a 6 mg dose).

As a fellow veteran managing my INR, I'm sure you've asked yourself about any new dietary supplements, medications, etc., or if anything else in your recent life changed. I'm concluding that nothing caught your attention.

As far as dosing -- I had a 4.7 a couple weeks ago (close enough to a 5.1 to be concerned) and discontinued a supplement (pycnogenol) that I thought may have been responsible. I also reduced my dose (rather than skipping a dose) from 7 mg to 5. (If I didn't have some idea what caused the increased INR, I probably would have dropped my dose down by 1/2 or so). If I were you, I'd probably load up on greens for the next day or two, although this may not give you any idea WHY your INR was high.

Still -- first things first -- call Alere. They'll help you work through this funny value.

And -- whoever put the hex on N Jean -- please remove it 8{

I called Alere as soon as I got the error message but they cannot sort it out. It's happened before and I was assured those other times, that the problem had been solved but obviously, it hasn't. :frown2:

They did say they were going to investigate further and get back to me, but they didn't want to tie me up on the phone because they thought I should try to get hold of my dr, ASAP.

If I don't hear from the dr, I will take 1/2 the dose for the next two nights and then resume my usual or 7.5 on Sunday.

 

[Protimenow]

Sounds like a good plan....but you may consider taking a 6 on Sunday instead of the 7.5. This shouldn't bring your INR TOO low, but will help push it down.

(Actually, they didn't have advice for me when I had a 1.1 and 1.4, and was still low the next day. Apparently, the METER is reliable -- it's something else that gives an accurate, yet troubling, INR)

 

[Lynlw]

I called Alere as soon as I got the error message but they cannot sort it out. It's happened before and I was assured those other times, that the problem had been solved but obviously, it hasn't. :frown2:

They did say they were going to investigate further and get back to me, but they didn't want to tie me up on the phone because they thought I should try to get hold of my dr, ASAP.

If I don't hear from the dr, I will take 1/2 the dose for the next two nights and then resume my usual or 7.5 on Sunday.

Norma, Do you have any paperwork to get a lab draw? If so I would probably suggest doing that, since part of the reason your results were different might be,is because the machine isn't always reliable over a certain number, maybe 5? That way you might have a better idea what your INR actualy is.
Have you tried plugging your numbers into the online calculator..(i think there is a link at the top of this forum) to see what they recomend. I would probably go along with that if you can't get ahold of your docto tonight.

 

[njean]

Norma, Do you have any paperwork to get a lab draw? If so I would probably suggest doing that, since part of the reason your results were different might be,is because the machine isn't always reliable over a certain number, maybe 5? That way you might have a better idea what your INR actualy is.
Have you tried plugging your numbers into the online calculator..(i think there is a link at the top of this forum) to see what they recomend. I would probably go along with that if you can't get ahold of your docto tonight.

Lyn: I had to run a short errand to the grocery store (to get frozen spinach, mind you! LOL) and when I got back there was a message from my dr's nurse: He suggested I skip tonight's dose, take 7.5 tomorrow and 7.5 on Sunday and then go by & pick up orders from their office to have a lab draw at the hospital on Monday.

I think before I go on Monday, I'm going to conduct another INR test w/my monitor and see how it compares to the lab. Perhaps it's a good thing this happened, since I had been wondering all along, if one should cross check like that maybe every 3 months or so, to check the accuracy of our monitors.

 

[Lynlw]

Lyn: I had to run a short errand to the grocery store (to get frozen spinach, mind you! LOL) and when I got back there was a message from my dr's nurse: He suggested I skip tonight's dose, take 7.5 tomorrow and 7.5 on Sunday and then go by & pick up orders from their office to have a lab draw at the hospital on Monday.

I think before I go on Monday, I'm going to conduct another INR test w/my monitor and see how it compares to the lab. Perhaps it's a good thing this happened, since I had been wondering all along, if one should cross check like that maybe every 3 months or so, to check the accuracy of our monitors.

Of course they called when you are gone. I swear they have video cameras and always call when we leave the house too
That sounds like a good plan. I think you'd be fine testing agaist a lab once a year, but that is just me.

 

[Duffey]

I'm innocent!:eek2:
No halloween vampires lurking about trying to make you an easy meal?:wink2:

 

[Protimenow]

Although it wouldn't definitive in any way, if you were able to run a test on a mere mortal (someone not on warfarin), if they show a 1.0 (or so), this would be suggestive that the meter's accuracy is fine.

If you're going to get a blood draw on Monday, bring your meter with you -- you can run a test on your meter, and then compare it to the lab's result. (I know you said you'll test before leaving the house -- but there may be a slight variation in INR between home and doctor's office, as others on the forum state. )

It's an InRatio -- I'll bet the values are STILL pretty close....

I'll bet that the labs and doctor's offices that use these meters don't do cross-checking, except when a patient has an INR of 6 or higher. I'll bet that some of these clinics or offices probably don't even clean their meters to assure accuracy.

 

[njean]

Although it wouldn't definitive in any way, if you were able to run a test on a mere mortal (someone not on warfarin), if they show a 1.0 (or so), this would be suggestive that the meter's accuracy is fine.

If you're going to get a blood draw on Monday, bring your meter with you -- you can run a test on your meter, and then compare it to the lab's result. (I know you said you'll test before leaving the house -- but there may be a slight variation in INR between home and doctor's office, as others on the forum state. )

It's an InRatio -- I'll bet the values are STILL pretty close....

I'll bet that the labs and doctor's offices that use these meters don't do cross-checking, except when a patient has an INR of 6 or higher. I'll bet that some of these clinics or offices probably don't even clean their meters to assure accuracy.

Well if I could talk my husband, which is the closest mere mortal I have right now, into letting me prick his finger for a draw, that would be great! But I stand a better chance at waiting for "pigs to fly!" :biggrin2:

And yes, I do plan to take my monitor with me and doing the test there.

 

[njean]

I'm innocent!:eek2:
No halloween vampires lurking about trying to make you an easy meal?:wink2:

Don't play innocent with me, missy!

Next thing you'll tell me is that you & the goat lady were just flying around so that you could do your planting w/the light of the harvest moon! I know how you two roll! :biggrin2:

 

[njean]

Well, I didn't have to wait until pigs fly!

I just tested my hubby and he tested 1.1 which assures me that my monitor is giving me the right readings.

 

[Bina]

Don't play innocent with me, missy!

Next thing you'll tell me is that you & the goat lady were just flying around so that you could do your planting w/the light of the harvest moon! I know how you two roll! :biggrin2:

Norma, just what the heck is going on ??? I've been busy with fall harvest and now this ? LOL
Have you taken any antibiotics or been boozing to shoot that INR up like that?
Seriously, an INR of 5-point-whatever needs to be brought back under control, and you know what to do.
Hey good job on sticking the hubby. Hee hee.

 

[Lynlw]

Norma, just what the heck is going on ??? I've been busy with fall harvest and now this ? LOL
Have you taken any antibiotics or been boozing to shoot that INR up like that?
Seriously, an INR of 5-point-whatever needs to be brought back under control, and you know what to do.
Hey good job on sticking the hubby. Hee hee.

Must be that senior trick or treating

 

[Bina]

Must be that senior trick or treating

Oh, for sure....WE know what she has been up to....LOL LOL....Hubby liked that one too.

 

[njean]

[B]Well, I got a lab draw today[/B]!

Well, I got a lab draw today!

Had a blood draw around noon today at the hospital lab and the dr's nurse just called and said it was 1.6!!!! WTH!!! :eek2:

Right before leaving the house, I tested with my meter and it read 2.1. There was a span of maybe 30-35 min between draws. And the doctor wants me to resume my usual dose and re-check on Friday! I check INR on Fridays anyway.

On his orders Friday, when I finally got hold of him, he said, withhold tonight, take 7.5 Saturday & 5mg on Sunday & get draw on Monday. I had very strong reservations about those orders because I drop like a rock whenever I've withheld in the past.

I should have trusted my gut instincts and taken 5mg on Friday & Saturday and 7.5 on Sunday and not skipped a dose at all! Oh, and I shouldn't have eaten spinach on Friday and then again on Sunday!!!

So, I'm going to go with my gut feelings this time and take 10mg nightly and re-check on Friday. And no more spinach. See what happens.

P.S. I had mentioned that there had been no significant changes in my diet or medications that I could attribute the high INR to.
BUT later I remembered I had been drinking a glass of Lemon Flavored Ice Tea with my meal every evening for the last week or so, but surely, this isn't what caused it or could it??? :confused2: