Update on Dad

[Karlynn]

I'm glad his INR is looking good. Just remember that most people's dosage does change from time to time and that is normal. Coumadin is not supposed to be a drug that you take the same amount of for the rest of your life like other maintainence meds are.

And what Ross said about diabetics and home testing. This has always been one of my major arguments for home testing. Ask the doctor if your Dad became insulin dependent if the doctor would require him to come in 2 or 3 times a day to test his blood and receive his dosing instructions. Then ask him what the difference is between him sticking his finger to get a blood sugar level and an INR.

 

[dick0236]

To Jiddo
I looked back at your first post and noticed that your Dad is 62. He is in kinda in my age range (I'm almost 72). I had my mechanica aortic vale implanted at age 31 and have been on Warfarin (coumadine) since that time. My range has always been 2.5-3.5 and I'm much more comfortable when I am on the higher end. INR's at 2.0 or below make me nervous.
Warfarin delays clotting time only. I have never had it cause unusual or significantly increased bleeding unless something else was going on.
I noticed from your "profile" that you show Asparin as a medication. Does your Dad still take Asparin with the Coumadine ?

 

[Jiddo]

Hi Dick.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, my dad is still taking aspirin (81 mg/day) and also on lisinopril. Any thoughts on this combo for your experience?

Jennie

 

[dick0236]

Jiddo
Lisinopril is a blood pressure med that I have taken for a couple years. It should have no interaction with coumadin/warfarin. I'm not sure about asparin. My docs do not want me to take asparin, but I understand that many docs nowdays have their patients on both. I would make sure that his docs are aware that he is currently taking asparin along with coumadin.

 

[Jiddo]

Hi Dick.

Yes, my dad's doc is very aware he is on coumadin. He said the benefits of aspirin outweigh the risks. My dad has a blocked artery (90%) behind his heart, which was detected in the cath prior to his OHS in June. The surgeon decided not to bypass it because he said it was a minor artery and the risk of doing anything to the artery during surgery created more probability of complications. BTW, this was my dad's 3rd OHS. So, the doc said they would monitor the artery and if needed, would place a stent down the road. My dad has a follow up with the surgeon in Dec so I am going to make sure he talks through this in some depth with the doc.

Thanks.
Jennie