The old 'blood thinner' farce.

[Rich]

I have printed out a few things from Al's site, but does anyone know of an article that puts the blood thinner farce in perspective?
I want something that can be shoved in the face of some of these people who need to be educated.
Rich

 

[Wise]

I'm interested in the responses you receive Rich. My mother just spent 5 nights in our local hospital. She was sick the previous week with bronchitis which turned into a little bit of pneumonia. With COPD, mom had a difficult time getting better. Anyway, the hospital held her Coumadin for two days; her INR dropped from 3.3 on Sunday to 1.5 on Tuesday and 1.2 on Wednesday. I'm no expert on anticoagulation, but I knew their management of it was lacking. It was back above 3 by yesterday. I heard the "blood thinner" talk all week. I let them know what I thought of their Coumadin knowledge.

 

[Rich]

Wise I,m glad to hear she is back in range.
A similar thing happened to one of my wife's sisters. With her INR that low she suffered a major stroke and died a few months later from the complications.
Rich

 

[Ross]

What part of the farce are you looking for? I guess tell stupid me what it is you need.

 

[netmiff]

Rich :

Here are some from my bookmarks. Haven't checked them all out, but the clotcare one has a lot of good links on their links page

http://www.coumadin.com/coumadin/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/635.html
http://www.clotcare.com/clotcare/index.aspx
http://www.ismaap.org/
http://www.warfarindosing.org/Source/Home.aspx

Once you get to the sites, check them out for names and other links. I may (probably do) have others on my other computer, If I remember to check Tuesday when I get back to the store.

 

[Rich]

Ross and others

Ross and others

It isn't that I don't understand Coumadin, it's the medical professionals who just don't get it.
Iv'e been on it for the better part of twelve years, and I assure you I know what I'm doing.
I am looking for something I can put in front of their face to educate them.
Such as this from Al's website:
Of course you will feel cold when you take warfarin, it is a blood thinner. Warfarin does not thin the blood, it slows the ability of the blood to form a clot. While everyone calls it a blood thinner this is an unfortunate name because it is not what warfarin does.

 

[Ross]

Take a look at the stickies in this forum. Precisely what Coumadin does is told.

Blood thinner- Contrary to the oft heard term referring to what type of drug Coumadin is, it DOES NOT "thin" your blood. Your blood's viscosity (thickness) does not change. The drug blocks the action of vitamin K within the liver. The drug effectively competes for the same absorption sites within the liver needed for vitamin K uptake. Thus the levels of vitamin K within the liver decrease. Reduced amounts of clotting factors VII, IX, X, and II are produced, and the clotting action of the blood is progressively impaired. The term "blood thinner" leads people to think that their blood will run out of them if they are cut. If your blood is a bottle of ketchup, adding Coumadin to it is not like adding water to it. The ketchup does not "thin out" with the addition of Coumadin. It's consistency is still the same, it just won't stick to your hamburger as easily.

 

[lance]

Take a look at the stickies in this forum. Precisely what Coumadin does is told.

Blood thinner- Contrary to the oft heard term referring to what type of drug Coumadin is, it DOES NOT "thin" your blood. Your blood's viscosity (thickness) does not change. The drug blocks the action of vitamin K within the liver. The drug effectively competes for the same absorption sites within the liver needed for vitamin K uptake. Thus the levels of vitamin K within the liver decrease. Reduced amounts of clotting factors VII, IX, X, and II are produced, and the clotting action of the blood is progressively impaired. The term "blood thinner" leads people to think that their blood will run out of them if they are cut. If your blood is a bottle of ketchup, adding Coumadin to it is not like adding water to it.

The ketchup does not "thin out" with the addition of Coumadin. It's consistency is still the same, it just won't stick to your hamburger as easily.

Is this the voice of experience? Does your tie bear the evidence?

 

[Rich]

Thanks Ross

Thanks Ross

That is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.
In the meantime I hope you guys can get out of your house some day soon.
It sounds pretty rough down there.
Rich

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Rich - I think when you have your information, you should start with the pharmaceutical people. The warnings they enclose with my prescription are maddening! For instance, "Take care when using sharp objects, such as knives or scissors." I guess that means people who aren't on Warfarin can be careless with knives or scissors? I can't be a sword swallower, even though that has been my lifelong ambition? Another great recommendation, "Avoid falls." Like I fall on purpose? My warning pamphlet used to say, "Don't eat green, leafy vegetables." Now it just says, "It is important to eat a balanced, consistent diet." My favorite, "Avoid losing or gaining weight while on this medication." Don't tell Cooker!

 

[witzkeyman]

I have printed out a few things from Al's site, but does anyone know of an article that puts the blood thinner farce in perspective?
I want something that can be shoved in the face of some of these people who need to be educated.
Rich

Are there some people not aware that Coumadin isn't a blood thinner?

 

[lance]

Are there some people not aware that Coumadin isn't a blood thinner?

YES there are. One encounters them occasionally.

I think the term I take a "blood thinner" is a lazy way of using the English language. Much easier to learn than "I take an anticoagulant".

 

[Rich]

It just happened again the other day.
I'm getting ready for a test and have to monitor my Coumadin level.
The girl making the appointment tells me 'we want to make sure your blood isn't too thin'.
I kept my cool but it wasn't easy.
Rich

 

[MikeHeim]

I think the term I take a "blood thinner" is a lazy way of using the English language. Much easier to learn than "I take an anticoagulant".

I agree completely. The fact that medical professionals would refer to them this was is ridiculous. However, if I was explaining what Coumadin does to a person on the street, I wouldn't see any harm in calling it a blood thinner. While chemically it is completely incorrect, I think it paints a reasonably general picture for people who don't even know what the word "coagulate" means.

 

[Bina]

I must admit that if it wasn't for this site and the internet, I would probably still be relying on lab testing far away and the sole guidance of my doctor. Thankfully you all educated me and I, in turn, try to educate others about me being on an "anti-coagulant" and not on a "blood thinner".

 

[lance]

I agree completely. The fact that medical professionals would refer to them this was is ridiculous. However, if I was explaining what Coumadin does to a person on the street, I wouldn't see any harm in calling it a blood thinner. While chemically it is completely incorrect, I think it paints a reasonably general picture for people who don't even know what the word "coagulate" means.

I do understand your point of view.
But then doesn't this just spread the "rumour"?

 

[lance]

It just happened again the other day.
I'm getting ready for a test and have to monitor my Coumadin level.
The girl making the appointment tells me 'we want to make sure your blood isn't too thin'.
I kept my cool but it wasn't easy.
Rich

Been there, done that, didn't keep my cool very well at all. It reminds me of the time when I was on the waiting list for valve replacement surgery. Every time I had to go to the hospital for this or that, mostly a waste of time, I was asked when is your by-pass? Geesh! After months of it I was ready to deck someone. The feeling is very similar when I encounter "blood thinner" from people who should know better.
I was extremely impressed with the knowledge my occulist had about warfarin and told him so. In the next sentence, the very next sentence he referred to "blood thinner". I told him that someone with your knowledge and training should know better. My blood is no thinner than yours, it's anti-coagulated. He'll probably be out of town should I need another appointment.

 

[Karlynn]

I do understand your point of view.
But then doesn't this just spread the "rumour"?

I understand too, and have been guilty of using it for people who have no clue. However, lately I've found that the term "clot inhibitor" seems to be understood by many.

 

[lance]

Eureka!!

Eureka!!

I understand too, and have been guilty of using it for people who have no clue. However, lately I've found that the term "clot inhibitor" seems to be understood by many.

One small step forward.