Pleading worked......

[Jkm7]

I saw my surgeon yesterday (almost 7 weeks post op) and he was delighted with everything about my recovery.

I told him I was taking 80 mg weekly of warfarin and still was not in therapeutic range. He wasn't particularly concerned and said though it was a large dose, that was okay. I have felt uneasy about it as I've mentioned here.

Pre Surgery both he and my cardio said I would be on coumadin 2 to 3 months if repair was not possible and I had a bovine valve implanted.....which is what happened.

I really want off warfarin so didn't drop it and kept at my surgeon a little bit. I specifically asked when I could stop it and was I getting any benefit from it seeing as my INR was still so low.

He said I am getting benefit but certainly he would prefer a better INR.

He then said I could stop in two weeks. He wants 14 more days of treatment and then I'm finished. That is the news I've been waiting to hear and I am grateful it is possible for me to do this.

 

[Ross]

What? Now why would anyone want to be off of Coumadin? Are you afraid your going to start spurting blood everywhere?

Now behave and don't develop afib or you'll be right back on it.

 

[Jkm7]

Ross!!!!!!


How can you say that to me? That's awful. I know you're only teasing but IT ISN'T FUNNY if you're me.

 

[Ross]

Hey no one wants it, but it does rear it's ugly head sometimes. Your mission in life is to not develop it!

The way you posted it reminds me so much of me. There was a time where Coumadin was not part of my life. I, like so many others, didn't want to take the stuff that makes you bleed all over your wife's white dress, your bosses new suede shoes etc, then some silly Doctor found what he thought was a clot in the apex of my heart. Guess what? Oh yeah, your going to take Coumadin. I bought into all the bull crap that goes along with it. One day, I cut myself real good while working on the brakes of my car. I jumped up and ran, gettin ready to call the ambulance cause I'm squirting blood out at at least 2 gallons a minute. Get to the phone, grab it and look. Just a trickle of blood running down my hand. Now this can't be, I'm on Coumadin, I'm supposed to bleed to death now. Imagine my shock when applying direct pressure to the cut stopped the bleeding.

After that, I decided it was time to go to www.warfarinfo.com and see just what other lies I had been told. It's amazing. You bleed for a few seconds more then usual. That's it. Wow, what a relief.

 

[Jkm7]

I have done my research. Did the required reading. I understand.

And I have no plans to bleed all over my DH's white dress. Oh.....wait..... he doesn't wear white dresses!

Given the choice of being anti-coagulated or not, one of the reasons I chose a bovine valve vs. mechanical is I did not want to take warfarin for life if not necessary. That certainly was not my only reason for choosing tissue but one of them. I also understand I could at some time in the future need anticoagulation again.

I admit that I have been uneasy racing up to 80 mg per week seeing as I am new to it and I found that to be unsettling. Seemed enough for a horse to this 'newbie'!

 

[Ross]

Yeah it sounds like a lot, but whatever it takes to get you in and keep you in range, is the right amount. Your one of them thar super metabolizers. But my little pretty, you'll soon be free of this drug and then you'll get lost and find new friends cause I can't pick on you anymore.

 

[Jkm7]

Ross......

I am so grateful to everyone on this site for all the information, caring, help and hand holding that unless I am chased away from here, there is no chance I will ever forget what you all did for me. Gave me such meaningful help at a time I needed it most.

So, unless you say SCRAM........ I'm hanging around.

 

[Ross]

Nah, you can help me take over the world instead.

 

[Jkm7]

It's all Yours!! I don't want it.

Just give me a tiny quiet little corner for me and DH.

 

[Ross]

Funny thing is, in it's current state of affairs, I don't want it either.

 

[Karlynn]

And I have no plans to bleed all over my DH's white dress. Oh.....wait..... he doesn't wear white dresses!

So what color dresses does he wear? Can we see photos?

 

[WayneGM]

I saw my surgeon yesterday (almost 7 weeks post op) and he was delighted with everything about my recovery.

I'm delighted that your surgeon is delighted....Excellent news!!!

 

[Jkm7]

So what color dresses does he wear? Can we see photos?

You are so right, Karlynn...... Laughter really is the best medicine.



Thanks, Wayne. I'm delighted you're delighted that he's delighted!!!

 

[catwoman]

Jkm7:

My husband took warfarin for 7 months after an MV repair. (He developed a-fib a couple of days post-op.)
Our PCP's staff ran his tests and because the tests are only done on only afternoon our doctor is off, another doctor was consulted with the results. That MD never could get John in range (2.0-2.5, per his surgeon). I called the PCP's office and said the dosage changes were way too small.
Because I have home-tested and my PCP lets me self-adjust, they deferred to me. On his next visit, John took a copy of the algorithm chart I use (Al Lodwick's), and he returned with a copy of the chart they use. Al's chart is well tried and proven; I wasn't so sure about their chart, so we based John's dosage changes on Al's.

I was able to get John to 1.9-2.0 -- and he was taking more warfarin than I was and my range is higher (2.5-3.5)!!

I was glad to get John off the warfarin. Not because it was warfarin, but because he was only getting 5mg Rxes through his insurance -- and was having to "borrow" 1's and 2's from my stash.

 

[Jkm7]

I went this morning for my last INR test, hopefully. Of course, I realize things could happen that would necessitate me going back on warfarin but for now, I complete two more weeks and then stop taking it.

They still did not get me in range and upped my dosage for my final two weeks to 87.5 mg per week. I am seven weeks post op and have never been in range. I understand everyone metabolizes it differently but that's a mighty high dosage.

 

[Ross]

I'm beginning to wonder if they're checking INR or something else.

 

[Jkm7]

Yah, it's INR. It's a finger prick and they do the reading right in front of me. I always leave with printout of current INR, new daily dosage breakdown etc

I'm just one who eats this stuff up by handfulls, I guess.
My INR actually went down this week though I had increased the dose. This was my last scheduled test though. Fingers crossed nothing will happen that requires me to resume ACT.