Test how often?

[BubbaHooska]

Just curious -- For those of you with a home meter, how often do you check your INR?

 

[Ross]

Most of us, once a week. Some once a month. Depends on what insurance will allow. Medicare will allow once a week.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

STABLE patients are monitored every 4 to 6 weeks at Coumadin Clinics. When a dose change is made, they usually like to re-check in 2 weeks.

I have a home test unit but do NOT home test because my insurance won't cover the test strips but will cover my lab tests (by finger stick fortunately!).

If I were doing home testing, I'd probably do it every 2 weeks unless there was an out of range reading. I would also allow a little extra variation to my range due to possible test error. My recommended range is 3.0 to 3.5 which is too narrow IMHO. As long as my INR is between 2.5 and 4.0 I'm content.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[geebee]

I usually test every week or two. Never longer than 2 weeks. I test weekly if I am out of range until things stabilize but have been stable for over a year (except for when I was on Medrol).

 

[Karlynn]

Every 1 - 2 weeks for me.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi

We test every week....actually every Friday morning, if possible. It's fast, easy, and just part of the routine.

Evelyn

 

[catwoman]

2-3 weeks for me. Used to do it every week, then dropped to 2-3 weeks because I've been fairly stable and my insurance doesn't cover the testing supplies.
We change insurers Jan. 1. Will see what the new year/new insurer brings.

 

[Natanni]

My husband usually tests every Sunday morning, but does skip here and there.

 

[Bina]

I test every 2 weeks.....
If I have been sick or had a change in diet etc, then I check after one week.

 

[Blanche]

Al and I are both on Coumadin. We both test every week. We pay for our own supplies 100%. We had a negative experience in the past that might have been avoided had we been testing more frequently. We have every intention of testing weekly from now on.
Blanche