Hi there. I just have a quick question. I went to see an OB/GYN doctor last week. He gave me a prescription for prometrium. While telling me about the drug, he said that the literature says that it can cause blood clots. But I was to ignore that, as that was more for estrogen. So, I got home and looked at the info. Sure enough, there is a lot of stuff there about the potential for clots. My INR has not been stable in the two years since I had my mitral valve replaced. I will be getting my own machine in two weeks. Should I go ahead and start this medicine? I am really concerned about getting a clot. Thanks for listening. Diane
prometrium and coumadin
- Thread starter farmgirl
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I do not find anything that says that progesterone (Prometrium) is a risk factor for clotting with a mechanical valve.
Estrogen, taken by mouth, (the other part of the female hormonal cycle) is a risk factor for clots in the legs. It is a risk factor for stroke when taken over a long period of time.
If there is a risk it will not cause a change in the reading on your meter. This is because the strips for the meter are only designed to measure one tiny part of the clotting mechanism. However, if an INR is low from another reason AND you were taking estrogen you could be at increased risk for a clot but not on the mechanical valve.
All clots are not created equal. It makes a great deal of difference what part of the body that you are talking about because they are started by different mechanisms.
Estrogen, taken by mouth, (the other part of the female hormonal cycle) is a risk factor for clots in the legs. It is a risk factor for stroke when taken over a long period of time.
If there is a risk it will not cause a change in the reading on your meter. This is because the strips for the meter are only designed to measure one tiny part of the clotting mechanism. However, if an INR is low from another reason AND you were taking estrogen you could be at increased risk for a clot but not on the mechanical valve.
All clots are not created equal. It makes a great deal of difference what part of the body that you are talking about because they are started by different mechanisms.
S
Spring
blood clots
blood clots
Al, you mentioned that clots are started by different mechanisms. I posted recently that ultra sound has detected a blood clot in my sub clavian vein (five months after valve repair and pacer). My INR has been stable. It deeply troubles me not knowing what "mechanism" would trigger a clot in that location. Nurse Practitioner answers, "you know you have atrial fib". Not enough.
Lois Rempel
blood clots
Al, you mentioned that clots are started by different mechanisms. I posted recently that ultra sound has detected a blood clot in my sub clavian vein (five months after valve repair and pacer). My INR has been stable. It deeply troubles me not knowing what "mechanism" would trigger a clot in that location. Nurse Practitioner answers, "you know you have atrial fib". Not enough.
Lois Rempel
G
Guest
Nurse Practitioner needs to brush up on her "plumbing". For an atrial fib clot to get into the subclavian vein, it would need to go all the way through your arm - miraculously passing through tiny veinules only big enough to let one blood cell at a time through - and then reform into a big clot and get stuck on something in the subclavian vein.
A fib is a risk for a stroke type blood clot. It could go out and get stuck somewhere else but this would by in a tiny vein somewhere not the subclavian.
Subclavian clots almost always mean that they formed on an IV line or central line. Barring that it means a major clotting disorder.
My guess is that it got started when you had your surgery and either grew or moved recently.
None of the scenarios that I proposed are very likely but they have a much higher probability than from a - fib.
Remember - in every graduating class there is someone who finished last. Sometimes they make big names for themselves - like General George Armstrong Custer.
A fib is a risk for a stroke type blood clot. It could go out and get stuck somewhere else but this would by in a tiny vein somewhere not the subclavian.
Subclavian clots almost always mean that they formed on an IV line or central line. Barring that it means a major clotting disorder.
My guess is that it got started when you had your surgery and either grew or moved recently.
None of the scenarios that I proposed are very likely but they have a much higher probability than from a - fib.
Remember - in every graduating class there is someone who finished last. Sometimes they make big names for themselves - like General George Armstrong Custer.
S
Spring
Blood Clots
Blood Clots
God Bless you for helping me in "sorting out" my confusion. I will ask lots more questions and expect clear answers. Yes, I'm 79 yr. old, but I'm not senile!
Lois Rempel
Blood Clots
God Bless you for helping me in "sorting out" my confusion. I will ask lots more questions and expect clear answers. Yes, I'm 79 yr. old, but I'm not senile!
Lois Rempel
