Update on my INR

[Rich]

Well as I posted one week ago, my INR had jumped from 2.5 to 4.7.
The schedule they wanted me on would have reduced my weekly dosage by 40%.
The 40% reduction was to be followed for TWO WEEKS!
Of course I didn't follow that and just reduced my dosage by about 10%.
I also didn't wait two weeks for a re-check but went today instead.
My INR today was 2.5.
Mathematically speaking, following their schedule, my INR might have been .30 after two weeks.
The point here for all is to take responsibility for yourself.
There are far too many stories posted on this site with these kinds of problems.
Pray for those who don't have access to a site like this, and especially for those who just do what the doctor orders and never ask a question.

Rich

 

[Karlynn]

The point here for all is to take responsibility for yourself.
There are far too many stories posted on this site with these kinds of problems.
Pray for those who don't have access to a site like this, and especially for those who just do what the doctor orders and never ask a question.

Rich

AMEN and AMEN!

 

[Guest]

I have started running some of the fiascos that I hear about past my receptionist. She can dose warfarin better than a lot of the stuff I hear coming from doctors.

I told the guy who does the audio-visual stuff for our hospital that he should have an honorary MD for sitting through all of the continuing education that he does. He told me that he can't always predict what the outcomes of new research will be, but that he almost always knows what is not going to work.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Rich -

Who is (are) the "they" that wanted your to reduce your Coumadin by 40% for two weeks?

Did you show / tell "THEM" what you did and that your current INR is 2.5? If not, please DO SO. SOMEBODY needs to teach these mal-practicioners that their advice is NOT WORKING!

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Rich]

Right on Al

Right on Al

Al,
My cardiologist is a really good guy.
A few years back he was appointed to be vice chief of cardiology for Wm. Beaumont hospital here. It is in my opinion the very best hospital in Michigan.
The problem is there are two hospitals and these days he must split his time between them. So he added two more cardiologists to his practice to ease the patient load on him.
Those are the 'they' people.
I was so ticked off yesterday that I composed a letter, a very STRONG letter and sent it to my cardiologist.
I addressed it to him as personal and confidential, and at the end told him he better be aware of what is going on at his practice during his absences.
I hope he gets the idea here, it is my belief that if a tragedy should occur to one of his patients due to these 'they people', he would ultimately bear responsibilty for it.

Rich

 

[Karlynn]

Al,
I'm sure he will appreciate the heads-up your letter will give him. Who knows how many lives your letter will save from tragedy.

 

[terryj]

2 weeks ago my husbands INR was 3.4. Doctors office said come back in 1 week for recheck. WHY??? He will go back in 4 weeks like always when it is in range.

 

[Rich]

Karlynn,
I hope he understands, I'd be real dissapointed if he didn't.

Sue,
I don't know where these people come from sometimes, I check monthly also and don't go back sooner unless there is a problem. I feel being on the high end of his range is a good thing.

Rich

 

[terryj]

Rich,
Its funny how we pay a 20.00 copay everytime he gets his blood checked and then we decide how to handle it when its high or low. My doctor more or less goes along with whatever I say once he realized I know more then he did about coumadin, But, hes a great PCP other than that and hes the one who found the heart murmur and referred us to the cardio.

 

[loretta]

Pcp

Pcp

What is a PCP?

Rich,
Its funny how we pay a 20.00 copay everytime he gets his blood checked and then we decide how to handle it when its high or low. My doctor more or less goes along with whatever I say once he realized I know more then he did about coumadin, But, hes a great PCP other than that and hes the one who found the heart murmur and referred us to the cardio.

 

[terryj]

Primary Care Provider-General Physician

 

[Rich]

Sue,
I know exactly what you mean.
I also have some great doctors but they do the same thing.
After all it's not coming out of their pockets!
For example between Medicare and Blue Cross we are covered pretty well,
but they only pay for certain tests once per year.
So when one of these guys says come back in six months instead of an annual check-up, I ask 'why is there something not quite right'?
Oh no they say, everything is fine, if you want to come back in a year that's OK.
Well I think maybe they would just like to pocket a little more cash.

Rich

 

[Marty]

Nice going, Rich. You are now ready to enter the world of self-testing and self-dosing. Get an INRatio and......go!

 

[Ross]

Rich,
Its funny how we pay a 20.00 copay everytime he gets his blood checked and then we decide how to handle it when its high or low. My doctor more or less goes along with whatever I say once he realized I know more then he did about coumadin, But, hes a great PCP other than that and hes the one who found the heart murmur and referred us to the cardio.

He check your insurance policy, if laboratory testing is free, this should not have a copayment to it!

 

[Rich]

Marty,
That has been on my mind lately.
But I wouldn't have a clue how to get started, I will have to read a lot of the posts.
Besides getting a needle stuck in my arm for the last nine years is getting a little old...............and pretty darn uncomfortable.

Rich

 

[Sherry]

Rich,
I'm eight years out from surgery and just got started with the paperwork myself this past week. The nurse from the cardio's office gave me the needed paperwork, and then my cardio (who's with a different practice) filled out the order, and I submitted it to the company. Right now I'm in the waiting game. Best of luck.

 

[Guest]

Anybody who has brains enough to use a computer can self-test and self-regulate their warfarin.

 

[Marty]

Marty,
That has been on my mind lately.
But I wouldn't have a clue how to get started, I will have to read a lot of the posts.
Besides getting a needle stuck in my arm for the last nine years is getting a little old...............and pretty darn uncomfortable.

Rich

OK Rich, I'd get started by giving Brian Woodard at QAS a call. Then you and your doctor fill out some forms and you are on your way. QAS will get you trained with an INRatio DVD( or video tape) and over the phone. They are giving some good prices on the monitors now because they know they will sell you the test strips on a continuing basis. Like Al says its not hard for someone to learn if they know how to use a computer. Good luck, Marty

 

[Blanche]

Rich:
I agree with Marty. Begin with a call to Brian Woodard (Woody) at QAS. In March 2001 we did just that and have been so happy to have home testing since. Albert got his own machine because we feared that his cardiologist's partners were likely to kill him sooner or later!!! Albert was recovering from two strokes which the doctors said were probably caused by a "Coumadin failure." His INR was 1.6 and 1.8 as tested right after the strokes. He was hospitalized for three weeks. A week after he was sent home, a test at the lab showed his INR to be 4.2. The doctors has increased his range to 3.0 to 4.0 because of the strokes. Well, one of the partners got the INR report and advised that Albert should hold for two days....Which he did. His next INR, 6 days later, was 1.7. Imagine the fear.

Well, this kind of thing continued. One partner regulated INR one way and another partner did something different. On Albert's next office visit, I took the cardiologist to task at the top of my voice and with a few words that could definately not be used in church. The cardio told me about home tests, but he did not know any of the specifics. Thank heaven and the internet, we found Brian Woodard and the ProTime monitor was received by us in about three weeks. Brian was wonderful with the paper work, advice, and general hand-holding that he provided. This step scared the living beegeebers out of both of us, but we are convinced that having home testing has saved Albert's life. Home testing is so easy and it sure does provide peace of mind.

By the way, Albert's cardiologist started his own anticoagulation clinic two years ago.

Best of luck to you.
Blanche

 

[Ross]

Anybody who has brains enough to use a computer can self-test and self-regulate their warfarin.

Oh I don't know about that, you should see some of the things I run across when helping computer users.