Saw new cardio today,getting meter, questions!

[COLLEEN S]

I had a good experience today with a new cardio who will allow me to self test. She seems very good at what she does. I will have to travel 2 hrs one way to see her, but hopefully after 2 wks from now, when I have an ECHO and another INR test, I will only have to see her every 6 mos or so. She is ordering my CoagUCheck machine thru QAS.Now for the bad news, my INR was 1.6. Previously, the other place had me on 5mg Mon and Fri and 10mg the rest for a total of 70mg a week. The new doc's office is saying take 15mg today and 10mg everyday thereafter. I looked this up on the algorythm and it seems for an INR of 1.6, I should take a double dose today, and 10mg a day thereafter...but I will go by what they told me. Also my BP was up there...at 158/90 ..when usually it is like 120/78.

1.Whats the turn around time for QAS getting the meter to me?? Anyone know?
2.They use the protime machine at the new place. Is there a diff in INR readings with that vs.other meters?

 

[Karlynn]

You would have had to take 10/day to get 70 for the week. You were on 60/week with 5/2 days, 10/5 days. Their dosing instructions will have you at 75/week and then it will be at 70/week with 10/day.

How quickly you get your machine depends on when the doc gets in the paper work, what insurance needs to be contacted etc. It may take a while.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Thanks Karlynn, yes you are accurate. Im not great at doing numbers in my head and getting the same number to my fingers (aka typing) is sometimes also a challenge!

 

[Ross]

75mg for week sounds correct. Wow, someone knows how to dose. Could this be a first?

If your insurance doesn't give you grief, it could be as little as a week or if they do, as long as months.

There should be little difference between meter readings.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Thanks Ross for answering all the questions. Yes, it seems, eureka...they are dosing correctly!

 

[Blanche]

I didn't know that QAS handled the CoaguChek monitor. I thought that they only carried the ProTime and the INRatio. Good information to have. Thank you.

We started out, in 2001, with the ProTime, which was the only monitor available to home testers. A couple of years back, we obtained the INRatio. We were pleased with both monitors. Our Cardiologist's office has Coagucheck monitors at all of his offices and hospital. The people there seem to like it very much.

Frankly, I think all of the monitors are excellent. And it seems that people love the one they have.

Blanche

 

[Ross]

I didn't know that QAS handled the CoaguChek monitor. I thought that they only carried the ProTime and the INRatio. Good information to have. Thank you.

We started out, in 2001, with the ProTime, which was the only monitor available to home testers. A couple of years back, we obtained the INRatio. We were pleased with both monitors. Our Cardiologist's office has Coagucheck monitors at all of his offices and hospital. The people there seem to like it very much.

Frankly, I think all of the monitors are excellent. And it seems that people love the one they have.

Blanche

http://www.ptinr.com/data/pages/home-inr-testing.aspx

 

[Chaleen]

new machine

new machine

QAS was an excellent company to work with, they helped me get my machine and I am so thankful. I have a 2 year old and can't imagine having to pack him up and drive an hour round trip once a week to get my INR results.

 

[Chaleen]

QAS Response

QAS Response

They seemed to have a fairly quick turn around I received my meter through a trial study after my surgery at mayo clinic when the study was done they worked with QAS to get a monitor covered by my ins and they had it out to me within a week or so before I had to give the trial one back. I found only a small difference in my readings with my machine vs. the Dr.s- like 2.5 from mine and 2.6 from theirs.

 

[olefin]

1.Whats the turn around time for QAS getting the meter to me?? Anyone know?

Normally only a few days after the paper work is complete. I faxed my form to QAS. I partially completed my cardiologist form and delivered it to his office. His office faxed it to QAS that day. I was approved from Medicare within a week.

It took almost another 2 weeks before the trainer delivered my INRatio 2 meter. It was no fault of QAS, I believe the first meter got lost in shipping to the trainer.

I rate QAS as Excellent.

 

[COLLEEN S]

From what I understood from the QAS rep, she told me if I had medicare I would get it alot quicker. I have insurance thru my husbands work, and they have to get an authorization. They told me it would be 2 weeks minimum and up to 8 weeks maximum to get my meter.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Approval for my machine is taking f o r e v e r !!! Ugh!

 

[catwoman]

Colleen:

That's why I forked over my own $$$ when I got my 2nd meter, then turned around and filed with Aetna for reimbursement. I was told it could take 6-8 weeks if I went through insurance. I had the cash (income tax refund), so I paid upfront.

P.S. Waiting for your first monitor is like a kid waiting for Christmas, isn't it???

 

[COLLEEN S]

Yes, it is quite like that!