new machine and INR of 1.2

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D

denobobeno

I am so excited to finally get my own machine. I have been testing at the Coumadin Clinic for over 2 years and have always wanted my own. It is so much more convenient!
The first two test were fine, but this last one was extremly low at 1.2! I'm supposed to be between 2.5-3.5 so it's kinda scary. Especially in light of my past stroke which happened after testing at .7 and occurred while thinning.
My Cardiologist is the one who ordered my machine and is now in charge of my Coumadin.
I have really liked my Cardiologist and was really surprised when his nurse called and said that he said to keep my dosage the same and recheck in a week. I knew that this was most certainly a sure fire way to have a stroke! I checked Al's chart and have raised my Coumadin 20%.
Since this is lower than my INR has ever been I'm wondering if this is correct dosage. Feeling alone and unsure!

I know tHat I have to talk to him, but right now I have to do something about my dose.
THanks! Denobobeno
 
Can you think of anything that could have caused an INR drop....new meds, diff diet, more exercise, etc.?
Are you keeping track of your weekly doses and past INR numbers? Could you post them?
 
I believe that being really busy and working harder with 2 college kids home etc has just had me on my feet alot more lately.
2 weeks before 4.1 (temp med)
1 week before 2.2
then 1.2
before that it was consistent. I take 10 3 x's a week and 9 4 x's a week. I have always required relatively high amounts considering I'm a small person.
I have probably not been watching my veggies and salads and more jalapenos lately. I usually probably keep better balance. Stupid I know!
 
With that big of a change, I would repeat the test to see if it was a fluke.
Your INR of 1.2 suggests that you have NO anticoagulation protection.
This is a MAJOR change and sounds suspicious.
There may be a problem with your machine, or your Test Strips.
Did you recently open a new batch?

You might also want to check someone who is NOT anti-coagulated which should yield an INR of 1.0 +/- 0.3(?)

Whenever my Coumadin Clinic gets a suspicious (high) reading, they order a veinous draw *right away* for comparison, before letting the patient leave.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Yes - definitely repeat the test. If it's still low - 20% sounds good and retest in 3-4 days to make sure you're going up at a good rate.

Welcome to home testing. It's the best!

PS - have you added any teas or prepackaged food products or shakes. I had a lovely home grown peppermint tea that a friend gave me drop my INR like a rock - it was a Vit. K cocktail! I still keep it on hand in case I get any really high INR's.
 
I agree with the 2 others above, I think you got a bogus result and adjusting your intake now is going to throw you way over range. Test again.
 
I opened a new batch so maybe it's the test strips? I tested twice in a row just in case and got 1.2 both times.
I tested on Sunday so I thought I might test today.
Is it my imagination or what but I swear I can tell when my INR is too low. My lips begin to feel kind of numbish and my tongue slower and generally 'not the same'. I wasn't due to check my INR until Tues, but those symptoms led me to test early. I feel better now, but I've been taking it easier.
If I use more strips than I am supposed to will I get penalized (if I tested my husband for instance to compare) other than financially?
and no Karlynn...no more than usual on the packaged items...much more activity than usual though! (day shopping trips etc)
Thanks! Deana
 
Glad you got an INR machine.
Have you tested your machine against results of a finger-stick test (hopefully it's a finger-stick tester) at your doctor's office?
Like others have suggested, I would "waste" an extra strip and test someone in your family who is not on Coumadin to see what their INR is.
 
You may also want to Call your Test Strip Supplier,
Tell them that you opened a new package of test strips
and had 2 consecutive LOW readings, way lower than your normal.

Ask them for a suggestion on what to do.

Personally, I would be calling whoever oversees your Coumadin management and asking for a comparison test, either on THEIR finger stick machine, or a Lab draw.

Something just doesn't sound right about your latest test results.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Test..test...test!

Test..test...test!

When this happened to my wife,Alice, with our regular machine I immediately rechecked got the same result and then raised dose 20%. The cardiologist searching for anything that might have caused the drop decided it might have been due to a flu shot. Alice got back to therapeutic in two days and has been steady now for two months. This can be a strange business. When I get out of therapeutic range which is rare,( last time thought to be due to Tylenol) I retest for confirmation. Then if I change dose(which means going up or down 10 to 20%) I check again in three days. If that test is headed in the right direction I keep the new dose and test in a week.This is when its wonderful to have your own monitor.
 
Are you sure that you didn't put in the wrong strip code or maybe didn't change it for the new strips?
 
denobobeno said:
I believe that being really busy and working harder with 2 college kids home etc has just had me on my feet alot more lately.
2 weeks before 4.1 (temp med)
1 week before 2.2
then 1.2
before that it was consistent. I take 10 3 x's a week and 9 4 x's a week. I have always required relatively high amounts considering I'm a small person.
I have probably not been watching my veggies and salads and more jalapenos lately. I usually probably keep better balance. Stupid I know!
Click to expand...

I'm going to bet that the 1.2 is an accurate reading.
Your previous readings showed a drop from 4.1 down to 2.2 in ONE WEEK.
That is a big clue...... I would test today and get some Lovenox if needed.
(My Coaguchek would not give such a reading in error....if there was a strip problem an error code would show)
 
Test your husband - if you get 1.2 on him, it's possible it's the strips.
 
One other thought...

Have you changed suppliers of your Coumadin / Warfarin?
Or opened a new bottle?

'Maybe' the medication is old or has otherwise lost potency, or you got the wrong dose pills (look at them to verify, also check the source / manufacturer).

Lastly, there have been cases of Counterfeit Drugs, especially from Asia, although it is hard to imagine someone wanting to counterfeit Warfarin given that the patent ran out years ago and it sells for so little...

SOMETHING is amiss and I would NOT stop looking until you KNOW why you got such a low reading. Sometimes YOU need to be in-charge.
 
denobobeno said:
I opened a new batch so maybe it's the test strips? I tested twice in a row just in case and got 1.2 both times.
I tested on Sunday so I thought I might test today.
Is it my imagination or what but I swear I can tell when my INR is too low. My lips begin to feel kind of numbish and my tongue slower and generally 'not the same'. I wasn't due to check my INR until Tues, but those symptoms led me to test early. I feel better now, but I've been taking it easier.
If I use more strips than I am supposed to will I get penalized (if I tested my husband for instance to compare) other than financially?
and no Karlynn...no more than usual on the packaged items...much more activity than usual though! (day shopping trips etc)
Thanks! Deana
Click to expand...
Do you by any chance have a friend on warfarin? See if you get a therapeutic reading from her. If you get 1.2, there is a problem.
 
I took all your help and put it to good use!
Tested today and up to 2.0. Not where I want to be, but better.
I am still having these feelings of confusion and 'not with it' frustrating!
Is this normal for having a really low INR?
Thanks for the help!
Thanks! Deana
 
I can't help you but glad you posted You've been in my thoughts since your first post, remeberring what you went for before I can't believe the nurse told you pretty much not to worry about it especially with your history. Glad you up'd it
 
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