Orthopaedic surgery while on coumadin, and what I learned about the normal INR

[Guest guest]

This is my first day back on since my recent ankle surgery.

Apparently I have missed a lot, but will have plenty of time to catch

up while I recover. As I will unfortunately be confined to the house

for another week at least, pretty much.

I was scheduled for my surgery on Oct. 20, a Wednesday. Took my last

dose of coumadin the Friday before. Got to the hospital early for a

stat pro-time. Went ahead with all the signing in and

preparations.INR came back at 1.4. Too high, said my

anesthesiologist. Too high, said my surgeon. I asked him, then what

number are you looking for? Normal, he said.

Was rescheduled for the following Thursday, Oct. 27. My coumadin

nurse, Thom, told me to resume my regular schedule, then go off the

coumadin again, last dose Friday. Come in for a finger stick Tuesday,

and if necessary, he could give me a shot of vitamin K.

Went to see Thom on Tuesday, my INR was 1.1. Thom said, a normal INR

for him, a person who has never been on coumadin, is from .9 to 1.1.

You are now " normal " by anyone's standards, he said.

Anyway, surgery went off without a hitch last Wednesday. No excessive

bleeding, no one mentioned any bleeding. In my printed instructions

for home was the warning to call if I had anything more than a little

bloody oozing. Didn't even have that.

So I am now into my fourth day of recovery. I have a huge heavy cast

on my right leg from toes to knee. Am not supposed to put any weight

on that leg, keep it propped up.Not doing well at all with the

crutches, but can get around very well in the wheelchair.

Strangest thing is, in the last two weeks, through all of this stress

and uncertainly and some pain and recovery, I have had only a few

early morning episodes of afib, lasting minutes to an hour.

Otherwise, none. I can't figure it out. Any ideas?

For what it's worth, I offer this for any one else who might be

facing some surgery while on coumadin.

[Guest guest]

, I'm so glad your surgery went ok and it is good news for those of us

on Coumadin that we can be made " normal " pretty easily!

Brenta

Orthopaedic surgery while on coumadin, and what I

learned about the normal INR

>

>

>\> Anyway, surgery went off without a hitch last Wednesday. No excessive

> bleeding, no one mentioned any bleeding. In my printed instructions

> for home was the warning to call if I had anything more than a little

> bloody oozing. Didn't even have that.

>

> > For what it's worth, I offer this for any one else who might be

> facing some surgery while on coumadin.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

> be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

[Guest guest]

-Hi -

I am facing orthoepaedic surgery this Wed. Nov. 3. That is IF my

INR is " normal " . I went off the coumadin last Sunday so I think it

SHOULD be normal by Wed. am. I am having a knee " reconstructon " ,

i.e. ACL repair, and meniscus tear repaired. I had a stupid boating

accident on Labor Day weekend and tore my knee all up.

It is encouraging to me to know that you made it through everything

with flying colors. I am understandably apprehensive, just praying

that an a-fib attack does not occur anytime soon. I take Flecainide

300 mg and Toprol XL 50 mg./day, in addition to the Coumadin.

Best wishes to you in your recovery!! I'll be " in your shoes " in a

couple of days I hope!!

-- In AFIBsupport , " susanr20z03 " <susanr20z03@y...>

wrote:

>

> This is my first day back on since my recent ankle surgery.

> Apparently I have missed a lot, but will have plenty of time to

catch

> up while I recover. As I will unfortunately be confined to the

house

> for another week at least, pretty much.

>

> I was scheduled for my surgery on Oct. 20, a Wednesday. Took my

last

> dose of coumadin the Friday before. Got to the hospital early for

a

> stat pro-time. Went ahead with all the signing in and

> preparations.INR came back at 1.4. Too high, said my

> anesthesiologist. Too high, said my surgeon. I asked him, then

what

> number are you looking for? Normal, he said.

>

> Was rescheduled for the following Thursday, Oct. 27. My coumadin

> nurse, Thom, told me to resume my regular schedule, then go off

the

> coumadin again, last dose Friday. Come in for a finger stick

Tuesday,

> and if necessary, he could give me a shot of vitamin K.

>

> Went to see Thom on Tuesday, my INR was 1.1. Thom said, a normal

INR

> for him, a person who has never been on coumadin, is from .9 to

1.1.

> You are now " normal " by anyone's standards, he said.

>

> Anyway, surgery went off without a hitch last Wednesday. No

excessive

> bleeding, no one mentioned any bleeding. In my printed

instructions

> for home was the warning to call if I had anything more than a

little

> bloody oozing. Didn't even have that.

>

> So I am now into my fourth day of recovery. I have a huge heavy

cast

> on my right leg from toes to knee. Am not supposed to put any

weight

> on that leg, keep it propped up.Not doing well at all with the

> crutches, but can get around very well in the wheelchair.

>

> Strangest thing is, in the last two weeks, through all of this

stress

> and uncertainly and some pain and recovery, I have had only a few

> early morning episodes of afib, lasting minutes to an hour.

> Otherwise, none. I can't figure it out. Any ideas?

>

> For what it's worth, I offer this for any one else who might be

> facing some surgery while on coumadin.

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I am facing orthoepaedic surgery this Wed. Nov. 3. That is IF my

> INR is " normal " . I went off the coumadin last Sunday so I think it

> SHOULD be normal by Wed. am. I am having a knee " reconstructon " ,

> i.e. ACL repair, and meniscus tear repaired. I had a stupid

boating

> accident on Labor Day weekend and tore my knee all up.

************

,

Best of luck to you with your surgery this Wednesday. If you went

off COumadin last Sunday, I'm sure you will be fine. Have they told

you what kind of a recovery time you will have? My surgeon said, no

work for 2 weeks, no driving for 8 weeks.No driving for 8 weeks? With

the holidays coming up? Oh well. I'm glad I had it done, even so. It

was really becoming a problem walking. I'll be thinking of you on

Wednesday. Let us know how you do.