What is wrong with me???

[MNmom]

I got my INR result today after increasing to 8 all week and it was still at 1.6. So I still have to take the shots, and am increasing to 10 MGs and retesting on Tuesday when i have my next appt. I was going to be tough and refuse the shots (been on them a whole week now), but that would only hurt me in the long run, and no one would support that. They are not interested in increasing more than 2mgs, which I guess is safe- they dont want me to be in a rollercoaster of highs and lows, which gets even more frustrating. I just dont understand why my body isnt budging? Any insight? Cant they just take into consideration that I am active two weeks after surgery and eat vegetables and give me more coumadin and stop the shots?

 

[Nancy]

Remembering the situations after many, many of my husband's surgeries and procedures when he had to go off Coumadin and go on Heparin, it can take quite a while to get to therapeutic range.

The temptation is to do "loading" doses which would be higher than normal doses. Ordinarily, with other medications this is the way to go. But not with Coumadin.

EVERY time they did this with Joe, he ended up overshooting his range, and it set him up for a long battle with highs and lows that was very difficult to manage.

It is much better to do it slowly, and make sure you are protected with Lovenox until you get to the therapeutic range.

It's frustrating, I am sure.

There were times when they would not let Joe out of the hospital until he was therapeutic. One time it took 2 weeks. That was because they had given him vitamin K to do some emergency procedure. He was otherwise OK, so ended up just hanging around the hospital being quite grumpy.

You really wouldn't want a battle with multiple highs and lows. That would mean lots and lots of testing and is a real PIA.

 

[dick0236]

There is nothing wrong with you

There is nothing wrong with you

You are fresh out of surgery and have been put on a life long drug that can take awhile to settle into a theraputic range. The shots may be an inconvenience, but the yo-yoing of INR levels can be a real nightmare. I don't know your situation but increasing your coumadin dose slowly makes sense to me. You will eventually find the dose that keeps you in range...at least in range most of the time .

 

[Bina]

At 3 weeks post op I also had dropped to 1.9 and had the shot. Be patient and you will be rewarded!

 

[MNmom]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone

Sorry to complain. I know it could certainly be worse. I just got so discouraged. I think I need to put the mind over matter into play and just decide to get over it already and move on. SO I have the shots, but I am happy to be out of the hospital. I need to start looking on the bright side, and thank you all for reminding me! I am so thankful for this forum for my sanity as I go through this!
Ingrid

 

[Bina]

You are doing just fine! ( I was a complete basket case post op)

 

[Karlynn]

Sounds like you have a good metabolism already and a healthy liver so you're going to be someone on a higher dose. Increasing to 10/day (you're going from 56 to 70 for the week) sounds like a very logical, responsible adjustment. They are doing a 25% increase, so hopefully this will bump you over the hump.

Hang in there! You're taking this very well!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Sorry to complain. I know it could certainly be worse. I just got so discouraged. I think I need to put the mind over matter into play and just decide to get over it already and move on. SO I have the shots, but I am happy to be out of the hospital. I need to start looking on the bright side, and thank you all for reminding me! I am so thankful for this forum for my sanity as I go through this!
Ingrid

You've had to make a LOT of adjustments and taken in a LOT of new information in a very short time. It's natural to be frustrated and discouraged by the changes to your life. OTOH, you really are making good progress. OHS and with a pacemaker and anticoagulation to boot is quite an adjustment to get used to. Even without the pacemaker and Coumadin, recovery almost always goes SLOWER than any of us like. Try to keep that in perspective and be patient. (Easier said than done!)

Next year you will look back and be most grateful for your New Lease on Life.

(So who's going to be giving you the shots next week?
Hubby, your 6 year old son, or YOU? Inquiring minds want to know.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[MNmom]

You've had to make a LOT of adjustments and taken in a LOT of new information in a very short time. It's natural to be frustrated and discouraged by the changes to your life. OTOH, you really are making good progress. OHS and with a pacemaker and anticoagulation to boot is quite an adjustment to get used to. Even without the pacemaker and Coumadin, recovery almost always goes SLOWER than any of us like. Try to keep that in perspective and be patient. (Easier said than done!)

Next year you will look back and be most grateful for your New Lease on Life.

(So who's going to be giving you the shots next week?
Hubby, your 6 year old son, or YOU? Inquiring minds want to know.

'AL Capshaw'

Well, my aunt is actually going to be staying until Tuesday morning now, bless her heart. I go in Tuesday morning for my appt, and pray all will be well. Of course the reality is that I will need shots again, so my husband will be learning how to give them. I just cant cant cant give them to myself. A few years ago my dog had allergies that required daily shots, and I couldnt even do that! So no, I will not be self shooting. When talking with my husband about it last night, he said, "For better or for worse, right?" so he has agreed to do it. My six year old can watch, but I would never trust him with a loaded needle.

 

[Ross]

My six year old can watch, but I would never trust him with a loaded needle.

Now there is the person that can give it to you like a pro!

 

[aussigal]

Hang tough ...you will soon be past this tricky stage...many of us have issues early on getting the level right...good news is once its right or close to its usually fairly easy to manage...I think your son would be a great needle-giver...he would have no fear and wouldnt be likely to hesitate...I know I would hesitate and like you could never self-inject, lucky for me I have 3 teenage sons to pick from!.