Re: Having problems getting blood regulated

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/2003 5:44:30 PM Central Daylight Time,

donnab@... writes:

I am getting discouraged. I have been taking Warfarin. The nurse

is going to send me out some coumadin.

Any suggestions, please??????

Donna B

I've been on Coumadin a long time now and my INR values sometimes fluctuate

for no apparent reason, including being low for a while and then coming back up

to where it should be. At one time I did have more difficulty in

maintaining consistant values when I was on warfarin. Now I'm on Coumadin all

the time

and there is less flucuation in my INR values. People are so individual in

their response to drugs like Coumadin, especially in the early days, that one

person's experience is hard to relate to another's. It seems to me that you are

doing the right thing by having blood tests more often during this time and

staying in close touch with your doctor and following his advice.

Brenta

[Guest guest]

Donna: Sometimes it takes a long time to get your INR anywhere near

regulated. I got sick of trying to regulate my diet, and love green

leafies, so I just left it up to my doctor. He says, if your going

to eat them, be pretty consistant about it. I started out at 2.5mg.

Warfarin/day and after 6 or 8 months of changes I am up to

10mg./day. Sounds like alot, but my doctor wants my INR to be 2,5 to

3.5 because I have a prosthetic mitral valve (as opposed to the usual

for afib which is 2.0 to 3.0.

Pam

> Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

> it should be after starting on coumadin? I have been on it now

> for 5 weeks, and I just got a call from the nurse saying that it

> hasn't come up yet. > Donna B

[Guest guest]

> > Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

> > it should be after starting on coumadin? I have been on it now

> > for 5 weeks, and I just got a call from the nurse saying that it

> > hasn't come up yet. > Donna B

Thank you, Pam. You made me feel better. I increased my dosage yesterday

to 6mg. I think I will eat my veggies now too. I, too, have had mitral

valve surgery. Mine was able to be repaired with a ring. Thanks again.

Donna B

[Guest guest]

Donna B:

It took me 5 to 6 weeks to get theraputic, and only after switching to coumadin

from the generic. I don't think your situation (or mine) is unusual.

Thor

Having problems getting blood regulated

Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

it should be after starting on coumadin? I have been on it now

for 5 weeks, and I just got a call from the nurse saying that it

hasn't come up yet. It was 1.1, and I have been taking 4 mg. for the

past week. They are raising me to 6mg. I started out on 2 mg., and

they have increased me every week.

I have been watching my diet very closely.

I am getting discouraged. I have been taking Warfarin. The nurse

is going to send me out some coumadin.

Any suggestions, please??????

Donna B

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/2003 5:44:12 PM Central Daylight Time,

donnab@... writes:

Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

it should be after starting on coumadin?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Donna

I had to go to 15mg /day to get my INR between 2 & 3. Amiodarone makes it

lower either through itself or by making you absorb more coumadin. Now I am

taking

7.5 mg STWTS and 5mg M & F. I also found that my INR is much more stable with

coumadin.

Guy

[Guest guest]

Donna

I went thursday and got my inr checked it was 1.5 on 7.5 mgs a day. The dr uped

it to 11.25 for 4 days I had it checked again today and it was 2.56

so now Im taking 7.5 every other day and 11.25 every other day. I will get it

checked again in 2 weeks. Before this I was on a strict no green anything diet

and was at 2.5 but I have started eating some green things. So I dont know the

cause but I know your pain

Lee

Re: Having problems getting blood regulated

Donna: Sometimes it takes a long time to get your INR anywhere near

regulated. I got sick of trying to regulate my diet, and love green

leafies, so I just left it up to my doctor. He says, if your going

to eat them, be pretty consistant about it. I started out at 2.5mg.

Warfarin/day and after 6 or 8 months of changes I am up to

10mg./day. Sounds like alot, but my doctor wants my INR to be 2,5 to

3.5 because I have a prosthetic mitral valve (as opposed to the usual

for afib which is 2.0 to 3.0.

Pam

> Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

> it should be after starting on coumadin? I have been on it now

> for 5 weeks, and I just got a call from the nurse saying that it

> hasn't come up yet. > Donna B

[Guest guest]

> Did anyone have problems getting their blood level where

> it should be after starting on coumadin? I have been on it now

> for 5 weeks, and I just got a call from the nurse saying that it

> hasn't come up yet. It was 1.1, and I have been taking 4 mg. for the

> past week. They are raising me to 6mg. I started out on 2 mg., and

> they have increased me every week.

> I have been watching my diet very closely.

> I am getting discouraged. I have been taking Warfarin. The nurse

> is going to send me out some coumadin.

> Any suggestions, please??????

> Donna B

Thanks to Pam, Brenta, Thor, Lee, and Guy for your replies and

encouragement on this INR thing. It helps me to know that it hasn't

been

easy for anyone. This is all new to me. Let's all go eat a

" big " salad!!!ha ha ha

I eat a lot of nuts, and love avocados. Do you think they have much

vitamin K in them? What do some of you eat for breakfast. I read that

eggs have a lot of vitamin k.

Donna B

[Guest guest]

Donna - I too take warfarin and have been taking it for over six years. I

take 5 mg with an occasional extra 2.5 mg once or twice a week when I fall below

2.0.I get my blood checked every month ( a bit of a nuisance) and my m.d. uses

e-mail to communicate the results and her recommendations. I usually stay the

same. I believe that your physician was wise to start you at a lower dose

and then raise it gradually until you get the level you want. All of us are

different, of course.

Sharon in El Paso

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/2003 7:06:03 PM Central Daylight Time,

donnab@... writes:

I eat a lot of nuts, and love avocados. Do you think they have much

vitamin K in them? What do some of you eat for breakfast. I read that

eggs have a lot of vitamin k.

Donna B

Donna, many of us have been told by our doctors to eat what we want,

including salads etc,, just do it regularly--that way your Coumadin dose will be

adjusted to fit!

Brenta

[Guest guest]

This is all new to me. Let's all go eat a

> " big " salad!!!ha ha ha

> I eat a lot of nuts, and love avocados. Do you think they have much

> vitamin K in them? What do some of you eat for breakfast. I read

that

> eggs have a lot of vitamin k.

> Donna B

Donna: Please don't make yourself miserable trying to take

every microgram of K out of your diet. You should go eat your big

salad, and if I was nearer, I'de meet you for lunch. Use Iceburg

lettuce, as that's the one green leafy that has the least vitamin K.

I eat what ever I want, but do try to be consistant with the green

leafies and cabbage and broccoli. Those have the most. My doctor

told me about the all or none law. If you love those and can't give

them up (and they're so good for you), try to eat one of those every

day; that way your doctor adjusts your dose to YOUR lifestyle. It

works. If I go one day without a high K vegetable, I'm not going to

have nightmares about it. You have to look at your habits through a

wide frame. I love avocados too and don't know about their K

content, but will look it up and post it for you.

Be happy,

Pam

[Guest guest]

Donna; All I know is that leafy green vegies are the highest in vit K. I

haven't really changed my diet. I still eat salads, brussel sprouts and

broccoli.

I am told that if your diet is consistent you will be OK. I have a cholesteral

problem so I don't eat eggs very often, I eat oatmeal with toast and honey

for breakfast.

Guy

[Guest guest]

> Donna - I too take warfarin and have been taking it for over six

years. I

> take 5 mg with an occasional extra 2.5 mg once or twice a week when

I fall below

> 2.0.I get my blood checked every month ( a bit of a nuisance) and my

m.d. uses

> e-mail to communicate the results and her recommendations. I usually

stay the

> same. I believe that your physician was wise to start you at a

lower dose

> and then raise it gradually until you get the level you want. All of

us are

> different, of course.

> Sharon in El Paso

Thanks, Sharon for sharing . I am doing my 6 mg. a day now, and will

go for a test on Sat. I go every week. Kinda a pain to have to do

that

every Sat., but that too, will pass. Looking foward to just going once

a month.

Donna B in Wimberley