Problems

[atydev]

Where to begin? Ok I am 5 months post op and feel like I did before surgery. I have had problems my INR level has never been right always to low I am on 10mg 4 days and 15 mg 3 days a week. I started going to curves to get some of the xtra weight off. Next thing I know I am having a period that last for 5 wks and still counting. It got so bad I went to the ER and was admitted for coumidian poisining. My INR was 5.7 I missed one dose and I went down to 2.1 so they kept me on the same dosage. I am now anemic and can not get my energy back I sleep alot and I get dizzy and short of breath upon any exhurstion. I am not sure if it was going to curves or the green tea I was drinking that messed me up. I am going to get my levels checked every week and that is all they seem to want to do since I left the hospital. I feel as if I have not even had the replacement surgery. I am wiped out. What to do and any suggestions on what is causing this.

 

[Karlynn]

So sorry to hear you are having problems. Green tea lowers INR and has a lot of caffeine in it. Both of which are bad for you. Increasing your exercise level will cause you to need to take more coumadin because you will be metabolizing it faster. Exercise is good, I'm just wondering if you were over-doing it. If you've been drinking green tea regularly, that will definately cause your INR to go and stay low. If you then stop it without adjusting your coumadin level your INR will shoot up.

 

[atydev]

Well

Well

I was only taking green tea for a week when my bleeding got so bad I could not leave the house. So I stopped drinking it then. I forgot to mention that I gained 14 lbs during this month of exercise. I can see some swelling in my feet but not to bad. My coach at curves is stumped at my weight gain since I am coming faithfully.

 

[Karlynn]

That much weight gain in so short a time sounds like it might be fluid. I work out at Curves also, so I'm familiar with your program. Sounds like a trip to your cardio is needed.

 

[Nancy]

I agree with Karlynn-

It surely sounds like fluid retention and you need to have that evaluated by your cardiologist. Your Primary could also do that, but will probably send you to a cardiologist anyway.

If you are seeing it in your ankles and feet, then it might be in your lungs also, which would make you feel terrible. short of breath, fatigued, possibly dizzy and even confused. This could all be from the low oxygen level that fluid in your lungs can cause. If this is the case, it can be helped and controlled with medication. But please do go and find out what it is. It is nothing to fool around with.

If it were my husband, I wouldn't want him exerting himself until it was diagnosed.

He battles fluid continually.

 

[atydev]

I feel like it may be fluid also but I am curious as to why now. I have never really had a problem with fluid. I have an appointment with my PCP on the 7th of Dec. but my next cardio visit is not till Feb. it will be the first one since my surgery.

 

[Karlynn]

Given your history, I would get a hold of my PCP and see if he can't take you sooner. I think you need to get this looked into right away. Your body has had more than it's share of problems and I think you would feel much better to err on the side of caution.

 

[bvdr]

April, you are right that you should be feeling better than you are. You do need to be evaluated to see why you don't. Being anemic can make you feel terrible but that doesn't account for the weight gain. You need someone to help you sort this out. You might need some medication changes.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi april!
i haven't been on much so i don't really know much about your case, but you are obviously not doing as well as you should be just a few months after the surgery, right? i agree with all the others in that it is time to see your PCP (before dec. 7, if you can).
i really hope it's nothing major, but please let us know when you are seeing him/her and how it goes, ok?
wishing you all the best, sylvia

 

[atydev]

Also

Also

I would like to know when I can start curves again I have not been able to exercise in 3 weeks due to the bleeding and lack of energy with head aches and dizziness. I am anemic due to the bleeding and I have not stopped just slowed down but get so short of breath and dizzy when I exhurt myself. I am steadily gaining weight and I am starting to freak out about the weight gain. I am so frustrated about when I will be whole again.

 

[Karlynn]

April, take it one step at a time. Get in to see your doctor soon so you can find out why you are feeling this way. We don't want you making yourself worse by working out when you shouldn't be.

In the mean time, take the time to do relaxing things. Watch movies, read books, listen to music. There will come a time when you are able to be so busy that you can't do those things and you will look back and think "Why didn't I just do that stuff when my body was forcing me to have the time to do it."

 

[Guest]

Many times doctors diagnose "Coumadin poisoning" without looking at why the INR went up. In your case it looks like the weight gain is some type of fluid retention. When this gets to more than a few pounds of water weight, the liver gets congested and blood cannot flow through it normally. Therefore, the warfarin does not get metabolized as fast as usual and the INR goes up.