Expectations of Anti-Coagulation Therapy V. Reality

[Karlynn]

Thanks for pulling this one up again Nancy. It's interesting to go back and reread the posts. My guess is that some in the medical community would be surprised as to how well received the drug regimen appears to be in this poll. I appreciated a few of the posts that mentioned the lack of knowledge of some in the medical community was what made it harder than expected. We see that demonstrated in our Anticoagulation forum every week here. Hopefully things are improving steadily.

 

[Sierra Bob]

I can't vote. I didn't know what to expect.

 

[Cooker]

I had my monthly INR stick this morning. It was 2.8. I have been in range ever since three weeks post op. I would like to go to testing every two months but my cardio said he would track me down and kick my but if I did not show up at the appointed time. I know that every other month is not an option.

I am truly grateful it has been so easy. Hope it continues to be.

 

[Karlynn]

Cooker, I think in Europe it's not uncommon to go every 6 weeks if you're stable. But every other month - uh.....no!

 

[Cooker]

Cooker, I think in Europe it's not uncommon to go every 6 weeks if you're stable. But every other month - uh.....no!

Meanie Between you, my wife and cardio I can't get away with pooh

 

[tommy]

Cooker, I think in Europe it's not uncommon to go every 6 weeks if you're stable.

I'm on 3-week cycle due some bouncing around the margins. BTW, when you refer to being "stable", I assume you are referring to INR.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

The nurses in the hospital made me feel like life was going to be a struggle with Coumadin. I'm stable and don't fret over every little deviation in my number. I manage the "tides" and don't worry about the waves. I honestly have more day-to-day issues with my diuretics and anti-arryhthmics.

 

[kbheart]

The information I was given prior to receiving a mechanical valve was inadequate and is the reason I voted the way I did.

All I was told was that I had to take the drug for life, have my blood tested every month and watch my intake of Vitamin K and so I thought it wasn't a big deal.

Had I been well-informed of the reality of warfarin I would most certainly voted differently.

Same thing happened to me. Before going into emergency surgery, a resident told me that if I received a mechanical valve I would have to take a pill a day and could I do that. I said sure. He didn't say anything about blood tests, diet changes, or risks of being out of range. Oh well, it's usually no big deal.

 

[Ross]

Same thing happened to me. Before going into emergency surgery, a resident told me that if I received a mechanical valve I would have to take a pill a day and could I do that. I said sure. He didn't say anything about blood tests, diet changes, or risks of being out of range. Oh well, it's usually no big deal.

I do hope everyone here is not falling for the "change the diet" baloney. Keep your diet the way you always have and adjust the dose to fit the diet, don't diet the dose of the Coumadin.

 

[lance]

Same thing happened to me. Before going into emergency surgery, a resident told me that if I received a mechanical valve I would have to take a pill a day and could I do that. I said sure. He didn't say anything about blood tests, diet changes, or risks of being out of range. Oh well, it's usually no big deal.

What's even worse--

what about subsequent surgeries requiring first-class management (luckily I had it), issues surrounding Lovenox (luckily I had someone to inject it), and the very nature of ACT that requires all of the above. This is not another aspirin or antihistamine we're dealing with--this is a potentially dangerous drug. Too bad our surgeons, PCP's didn't take the time to fill us in. I feel that Health Canada prefers mechanical to avoid the cost of tissue valve replacement. Mad? You bet. But I'm getting over it.

 

[kbheart]

I do hope everyone here is not falling for the "change the diet" baloney. Keep your diet the way you always have and adjust the dose to fit the diet, don't diet the dose of the Coumadin.

Yeah, now I know that... but before I found ValveReplacement.com I was convinced that I could no longer have my beloved herbal and green teas, and that I had to carefully space out my green vegetables. I did that for several months before finding you guys.