Unable to eat due to flu..............

[EireCara]

Hi all, been in bed ill with ''flu'' since last wednesday (even my hair hurts) 8-/

Havent been able to eat much, so Im wondering could this cause my INR to rise ? Should I reduce my warfarin?. I currently take 5mg daily. Having monthly testing and my next appt is in about a week or so.

Thank you.

 

[Ross]

Yes your INR will rise, you need to be tested much sooner because of this. Don't change dosing without knowing where you stand.

 

[Karlynn]

Have you seen a doctor? Being in bed since Wednesday makes me think it's not the typical flu.

 

[catwoman]

Jacqui:

Are you drinking lots of fluids? That will help your INR from getting too high, but if you're not eating very much it definitely will increase. Most of the time when we don't eat because we're ill, our fluid intake is down, too, because some of the fluids we take in are from foods. Dehydration is one of the many factors in an increased INR.

I agree with Karlynn. You do need to be seen by a doctor ASAP. If you've been ill since Wednesday, this is not a typical flu. Are you sure it's the flu and not something else (such as endocarditis or another infection)? Best to be checked out.

A co-worker was out all last week with the flu. I'm sure she went to the doctor.

 

[Bina]

Jacqui, I don't want to ask for too many details about your flu.........but I've heard other members mention that if they had a flu with vomiting and/or diarrhea, the INR could very well rise.
A couple of summers past, I had a stomach flu and I couldn't eat for a few days, but no vomiting, no diarrhea, no fever.
I did drink some home made chicken broth, and water too. Nibbled on dry soda crackers.
My INR stayed perfect.
Can you get a doctor's opinion? Can you check your INR sooner?
Best wishes.

 

[njean]

Hi Jacqui,

I hope that you make an appt to see your doctor, like this coming week if possible.

Force yourself to drink as many liquids as you can, (sprite, 7-Up, tea) even though you don't feel like it. Will help prevent dehydration which could land you in the hospital. If you can get some low-sodium chicken soup in the can, force yourself to eat that too.

Praying that you start feeling better real soon!

 

[Jkm7]

Can't the lack of activity by extended bed rest also raise INR?
Hope you feel better soon but agree with the others about seeing a doctor ASAP.

Feel better.

 

[CThrock]

Hope you get this checked out soon. Try to push alot of fluids if you can maybe some broth or something. Anything out of the ordinary takes a toll on our bodies when were sick. So please be careful and hope you feel better soon.

 

[jorsarge]

Hi Jacqui,

I am on Warfarin 2 years after my operation. I attend the Mater they are really sweet about dropping and sorting out any problems with my numbers. A month seems a long time seeing as you were sick. I have been attending the clinic every week for the last 4 because my numbers were all over the place because I had a course on antibiotics. Give the clinic a bell and go talk to them.

God bless

Jorsarge

 

[EireCara]

*THANK YOU ALL* for you replies. I have upped my liquids as per advice received.

Will phone my gp tomorrow if I dont feel any better by then.

Funny thing is, I went to my gp last Wednesday morning, and at 7pm that evening I suddenly felt 'fluish'. Went to bed early and during the night I woke up feeling really bad. I actually met a lady I know in the waiting room, who shook my hand as she left (as I shook her hand my mind was going NOOOOOOO) and I guess that must have been it. I made a point of NOT TOUCHING anything while there and made a ''note to self, wash hands as soon as you get home'', but my son Thomas left his art project in the car when I dropped him to school that morning and he phoned just as I left the docs frantic to get it, so I rushed (no, unable to rush so lets just say, in my mind I was rushing) to his school with it, then got distracted by my daughter Sarah who needed money to pay for an exam...suffice to say I forgot to go straight home to wash my hands.

 

[Bina]

Keep a little bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse, and in the car.

Dyna, head north and kiss a pig from Alberta.

 

[catwoman]

*THANK YOU ALL* for you replies. I have upped my liquids as per advice received.

Will phone my gp tomorrow if I dont feel any better by then.

Funny thing is, I went to my gp last Wednesday morning, and at 7pm that evening I suddenly felt 'fluish'. Went to bed early and during the night I woke up feeling really bad. I actually met a lady I know in the waiting room, who shook my hand as she left (as I shook her hand my mind was going NOOOOOOO) and I guess that must have been it. I made a point of NOT TOUCHING anything while there and made a ''note to self, wash hands as soon as you get home'', but my son Thomas left his art project in the car when I dropped him to school that morning and he phoned just as I left the docs frantic to get it, so I rushed (no, unable to rush so lets just say, in my mind I was rushing) to his school with it, then got distracted by my daughter Sarah who needed money to pay for an exam...suffice to say I forgot to go straight home to wash my hands.

Jacqui:

The regular flu's incubation period is usually at least 2 days, from what I saw online. So this may not be where you acquired your "bug."
Have you been running a temp?

 

[EireCara]

Marsha, I havent taken my temperature, but I dont feel terribly hot.

Good idea, Bina !! They had a hand sanatizer in the hallway at the docs, but it was broken 8-/

 

[catwoman]

Jacqui:

Do they have tiny sample bottles of hand sanitizer available in stores near you, or some of the individually wrapped sanitizer wipes?
A bleach solution (1 oz bleach to 32 oz water -- don't know how to convert that to metric system) is a good, cheap virucide (sp?). Alcohol (sanitizer or wipes) is good too. Applying friction by rubbing your hands when using the sanitizer or wipes helps break down the cellular walls of viruses -- that's from a veterinary book.

 

[Cozycat]

Funny, I just heard something about this on TV yesterday. The big stress was that in the lack of any type of sanitizer, DILUTION IS THE SOLUTION. Even if you can get to a water fountain, let the water run over your hands for as long as feasibly possible and it will help tremendously to reduce exposure. Of course the soaps or sanitizers or wipes are better, but just plain water can wash away alot.
Midge

 

[Eva]

Take care, Jacqui,

I hope you will feel better on Monday morning, but I would still call the doctor and tell him. Keep us posted.

 

[Bridgette]

Funny, I just heard something about this on TV yesterday. The big stress was that in the lack of any type of sanitizer, DILUTION IS THE SOLUTION. Even if you can get to a water fountain, let the water run over your hands for as long as feasibly possible and it will help tremendously to reduce exposure. Of course the soaps or sanitizers or wipes are better, but just plain water can wash away alot.
Midge

Hey Midge, I've read/heard exactly the same thing.

I work in a kindergarten and that sort of environment is a hotbed of germs and bugs
According to our Ministry of Health, the best prevention is washing with plain soap and water - and washing hands thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds working the soap in well and rinsing off completely. Of course if you are out and about and don't have access to soap and water then hand sanitiser is good.
Sorry, this wasn't meant to be a hand washing lecture, LOL..

Jacquie, I think your flu may have been brewing before you shook that lady's hand.

 

[catwoman]

Jacqui:

How did you feel today? Did you go to the doctor, or are you back to normal?

 

[Bina]

Hey now, all the Canadian women can't be that bad looking?

Is this where I apologize to all the lovely women of Alberta?
My brain was focused on other things.....ooops.

 

[Bina]

Bina, is this what you meant?

Most definitley.....kiss a REAL pig.....(the pink ones that oink).