Ross
Well-known member
Wrote a letter to Dr.Greenhorn (Young) thought I'd share it.
Dear Doctor Young
I'm attaching a .pdf file from the Journal of American Dental Association concerning dental surgery in patients on Coumadin/Warfarin.
I'm probably the first case you've had to deal with concerning this issue. I hope you've learned something from it. I know I did. If the leaker had been completely stopped before I had started Lovenox back up, we wouldn't have had an issue. Coumadin had nothing to do with it as Coumadin is a slow acting drug and takes 3 days to show in a blood test and usually 4 to be at therapeutic levels once taken off of it. I tried in vane to explain this to Dr. Miller because she doesn't understand how Coumadin works and talking with all of you, I don't think any of you do and you should. I talked with my Cardiologist about it and he said that he didn't expect you guys to understand it, since your only Dental specialists. I feel differently however. If your going to encounter people like me, which you will in the future, you need a working knowledge of this drug and it's effects. The truth about Coumadin patients is simply this, we bleed a tiny bit longer then the normal person. A normal persons blood starts to clot in 10 to 12 seconds. A Coumadin patients blood, so long as they are in there prescribed range, begins to clot in 20 to 35 seconds. Bleeding is controlled and stopped in the same manor as any other event. Direct pressure for a little longer time.
I learned all I know about this drug from taking it for 6 years, self dosing and self testing of my own INR. I had one of the best teachers in the U.S. Al Lodwick, a certified anticoagulation expert and pharmacist. You can learn tons of info from his site at www.warfarinfo.com He was here giving seminars in June. I got to meet him in person and had dinner with him. Including the pic of him and I so you don't think I'm pulling your leg! He now travels the country giving seminars trying to educate the professionals out in the field because surprisingly, many do not know what they are doing.
I'm giving you this link also to further your education on Coumadin. http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/635.html I don't expect you to become a professional anticoag expert, but so long as your a dental provider, you'll need to know these things and I want to be sure your getting the correct information about it to learn from.
Finally, I've never been able to apologize for our getting started off on the wrong foot the first time in the ER. You have to understand, I had been bleeding for more then 12 hours before coming in and when you said you've done all you can and were leaving, I got very scared and couldn't believe your were going to leave me bleeding like that. I know you were nervous. I was too. I'm sorry for being snotty and snippety at you when you decided to turn things over to Doctor Norch. I expected you to stop the bleeding then, not knowing that you and Dr. Levani would come in later. Hope you accept this apology.
As far as my mouth goes now, I'll see you on the 19th. I have one very sharp area to ask you about and I've pulled 3 pieces of bony tissue out at this point. No bleeding, just pain relief! I'll see you on the 19th with the rest of my minor tribulations and complaints.
Dear Doctor Young
I'm attaching a .pdf file from the Journal of American Dental Association concerning dental surgery in patients on Coumadin/Warfarin.
I'm probably the first case you've had to deal with concerning this issue. I hope you've learned something from it. I know I did. If the leaker had been completely stopped before I had started Lovenox back up, we wouldn't have had an issue. Coumadin had nothing to do with it as Coumadin is a slow acting drug and takes 3 days to show in a blood test and usually 4 to be at therapeutic levels once taken off of it. I tried in vane to explain this to Dr. Miller because she doesn't understand how Coumadin works and talking with all of you, I don't think any of you do and you should. I talked with my Cardiologist about it and he said that he didn't expect you guys to understand it, since your only Dental specialists. I feel differently however. If your going to encounter people like me, which you will in the future, you need a working knowledge of this drug and it's effects. The truth about Coumadin patients is simply this, we bleed a tiny bit longer then the normal person. A normal persons blood starts to clot in 10 to 12 seconds. A Coumadin patients blood, so long as they are in there prescribed range, begins to clot in 20 to 35 seconds. Bleeding is controlled and stopped in the same manor as any other event. Direct pressure for a little longer time.
I learned all I know about this drug from taking it for 6 years, self dosing and self testing of my own INR. I had one of the best teachers in the U.S. Al Lodwick, a certified anticoagulation expert and pharmacist. You can learn tons of info from his site at www.warfarinfo.com He was here giving seminars in June. I got to meet him in person and had dinner with him. Including the pic of him and I so you don't think I'm pulling your leg! He now travels the country giving seminars trying to educate the professionals out in the field because surprisingly, many do not know what they are doing.
I'm giving you this link also to further your education on Coumadin. http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/635.html I don't expect you to become a professional anticoag expert, but so long as your a dental provider, you'll need to know these things and I want to be sure your getting the correct information about it to learn from.
Finally, I've never been able to apologize for our getting started off on the wrong foot the first time in the ER. You have to understand, I had been bleeding for more then 12 hours before coming in and when you said you've done all you can and were leaving, I got very scared and couldn't believe your were going to leave me bleeding like that. I know you were nervous. I was too. I'm sorry for being snotty and snippety at you when you decided to turn things over to Doctor Norch. I expected you to stop the bleeding then, not knowing that you and Dr. Levani would come in later. Hope you accept this apology.
As far as my mouth goes now, I'll see you on the 19th. I have one very sharp area to ask you about and I've pulled 3 pieces of bony tissue out at this point. No bleeding, just pain relief! I'll see you on the 19th with the rest of my minor tribulations and complaints.
