PT/INR Results

[Taysgrama]

Good morning all - I tested last night and my PT/INR was 2.0 last night which is not in range (Range is 2.5 - 3.5). I decided to retest this morning before adjusting my warafin and it was 2.8. Could last night have just been a fluke or should I retest tomorrow to make sure that today was not a fluke? I am usually about 2.5, but have been as high as 3.7. Since I am new to this self-testing, I am not sure what I should do. Thanks all....By the way, I take 2.5 mg of Warafin everyday. I did not eat anything weird or strange yesterday so I am not sure if it was food induced or not.

diana
AVR - 5/16/08, Dayton Heart Hospital

 

[Ross]

I would side on it being a fluke. Unless you tested twice last night, back to back and got the same result, then maybe not, but there is no way your INR is going to jump up to 2.8 overnight unless it was.

 

[Karlynn]

Do you self-dose, or get instructions from a doctor? My other thought is, if you do self dose, depending on your weekly dose total, you may want to bump your dose a smidge. You say you're usually around 2.5, which is the bottom of your range. Most of us like to be in the upper half of our range so we don't have to worry about going low as much.

Just a thought. Depending on your weekly dose. I might mean only bumping a few days by 1 mg.

 

[Taysgrama]

That is what I thought. I only tested once last night and decided after I called it in to QAS that I would test again this morning to make sure. QAS wanted to page my cardio, but I told them not too since I was not real concerned with that low reading. I think maybe it was just a fluke and I was really close to 2.8 last night and maybe the tester did not have enough to test accurately. I think I will just wait and retest in a week instead of waiting til the 31st to retest. What do the PT/INR Guru's recommend?

diana

 

[Taysgrama]

My doc will not let me self dose yet. He is afraid I will stop seeing him, I think. He is still making me go to the hospital for a monthly test cuz he is soooo old fashioned. One doc in the office loves that I self test and he was not concerned with me self dosing, but my regular one hates that I self test and does not, under any circumstances to stop the hospital testing and he wants the results everytime I test. I have been running in the 2.5 range since I came home in May and the only time they have had me take more than 2.5 mg per day was when I first came home and started eating my greens again and it dropped to 1.5 three times in a row. I would feel better if I was on the higher side but they like me on the lower side for some stupid reason. I thought that maybe being a little on the high side would help my PVC's and PAC's but I guess not (?).

My weekly dose is 17.5 mg (2.5 mg every evening)

Thanks again guys...you are AWESOME!!!

diana

 

[Ross]

I think it would be fine to wait 7 days, but if your really worried about it, check it sooner. I really do think it was just bad test.

I like to keep mine above 3 if I can. That way, if I want to eat more greens, I don't have to worry about falling too low. Don't know if you saw my chart in one of the other posts or not, but I went from something like 3.3 to 2.6 because I made a pig of myself on spinich and brussel sprouts. I love that stuff.

 

[Taysgrama]

I love that stuff too! My downfall, I think, if I have one!! LOL We eat alot of green veggies here since my hubby loves them too. Thanks Ross - I think I will just wait a week. My DH was just worried about it.

diana

 

[Ross]

If you like to indulge as much as I do, you might consider bumping up the dose a touch to get you a little above 3 most of the time. Yeah I heard what you said about "They want" but they seem to be a little clueless too. It's not like your talking an INR of 5 or even 4, just a tiny increase that would add maybe a whole 4 seconds to your overall clotting time.

 

[Freddie]

My doctor was the same way about getting concerned if I went above 3.0. But after explaining that being on the higher side gives me more room too to play with - if you know what I mean.
Yesterday I tested at 3.6 (my range is 2.5 - 3.5) and I haven't heard from the doctor - so I guess I got my point across.

Just thought I'd let you know about my experience with my doc.

 

[kpearse]

My Doc wants me to go to a clinic where his office is to get tested. He is against home testing, self dosing. I'm not dumb, he gets paid pretty good every time I go which is just about every 6 weeks. I am one of those who is hard to "get right" as I'm told. I eat pretty much the same things everyday? I am thinking of getting my own monitor and trying it out for myself, just a thought.

 

[Ross]

My Doc wants me to go to a clinic where his office is to get tested. He is against home testing, self dosing. I'm not dumb, he gets paid pretty good every time I go which is just about every 6 weeks. I am one of those who is hard to "get right" as I'm told. I eat pretty much the same things everyday? I am thinking of getting my own monitor and trying it out for myself, just a thought.

When it's obvious that it's all about money and revenue to a Doctor, it's time to find a new Doctor. This ones interested in his profits, not necessarily whats best for his patients.

 

[Bina]

Diana, I'm sure that your tester is fine.....they can have a variance of .2 sometimes which is another good reason to stay closer to the middle of your range.
Since you are taking a low dose, like me, you may just want to get some 3 mg pills and take one per week, and test again in a few days.

 

[Eva]

.........
but I went from something like 3.3 to 2.6 because I made a pig of myself on spinach and brussel sprouts. I love that stuff.

For self testers, of whom I shall become one in a couple of weeks--Horay! , what do you do in Ross' case...if you binge one day and INR drops next day...do you increase the dose slightly or ? as I do love spinach, cabbage, and grape leaves and I cannot be satisfied with a small portion of these!

 

[Bina]

For self testers, of whom I shall become one in a couple of weeks--Horay! , what do you do in Ross' case...if you binge one day and INR drops next day...do you increase the dose slightly or ? as I do love spinach, cabbage, and grape leaves and I cannot be satisfied with a small portion of these!

Eva, since we don't test every day, most of the small ups and downs aren't noticed.
The ideal situation is not to binge, but enjoy your greens in moderation and test regularly.

 

[Freddie]

My doctor was the same way about getting concerned if I went above 3.0. But after explaining that being on the higher side gives me more room too to play with - if you know what I mean.
Yesterday I tested at 3.6 (my range is 2.5 - 3.5) and I haven't heard from the doctor - so I guess I got my point across.

I'm sorry, but I've told a lie. My doctor DID called me today.....kinda sorta to touch base but to also tell me I was a little high. I explained that I have been very inconsistent with my diet for the past 7 days (I was out of town dealing with a family issue) and to give me a couple of weeks to get back on track and I should be fine. My Doc figures I know what I'm doing. Pass the pickels

 

[Ross]

For self testers, of whom I shall become one in a couple of weeks--Horay! , what do you do in Ross' case...if you binge one day and INR drops next day...do you increase the dose slightly or ? as I do love spinach, cabbage, and grape leaves and I cannot be satisfied with a small portion of these!

My range is 2.5 to 3.5. I like to keep it as close to 3.5 as I can to allow me to be a green veggie pig and not have to worry about falling too low. Tis better to be too high then too low. You can replace blood cells if you bleed, but you cannot replace brain cells if you stroke out.

We'll have to work at finding the correct dose for you, then see about tweaking it up a notch to keep you on the higher side of your range.

By the way, I test once a week.

 

[Eva]

Thanks, Diana for starting this thread.

Thanks, Ross
Thanks, Bina

Once I get my machine, we shall experiment and see!

 

[Ross]

Thanks, Diana for starting this thread.

Thanks, Ross
Thanks, Bina

Once I get my machine, we shall experiment and see!

Experiment? No. We'll help you get set to live a life of enjoying the broad spectrum of GREEN VEGGIES.

 

[Eva]

I am impressed and amazed, Ross. You do not miss a beat!!
Thanks in advance for all the help I shall receive when I get my machine.

 

[Karlynn]

Oh Ross - I have a huge bag of "little cabbages" in my fridge!!! Wanna come for dinner?