Recent content by doyo

Brian My wife was having a problem getting enough sample initially until she began using the following method. She grabs the target finger with the the other hand (thumb and index finger) and push the blood toward the finger tip a few times. Then she wraps the last joint of the finger with a...

I second Ross' statement, "It's really a matter of your preferences. They are all good meters." We've been using CoaguChek XS for over 2 years and been really, really happy with it :D. Have not tried InRatio but many members seem to be equally happy with InRatio :). I hear they recently came...

I second Evelyn's thanks to Lance for pointing out that we should change the chip with every new box of XS strips. Like everyone else, we were using the same chip when the boxes had the same code / lot number. EJ

I think XS Plus came out at the same time when XS came out. It looks like it is baiscally the same as XS except it has some extra features to enable multiple patient testing. http://www.coaguchek.com/com/index.php?target=/en/professionals/products/coaguchek_xs_plus_system

lance, What does message on the outside of boxes of XS strips say? We are still using the strips bought last year with the expiration date of 08/2008 and did not notice any message about changes. EJ

My wife had her surgery done at Fairfax INOVA by Dr. Speir 1 1/2 year ago and the care we received from his team was excellent!. Her surgery was a really high risk case with extensive dissections throughout the entire thoratic aorta. In additiona to replacing her aortic value with a mechinical...

Hi, Betsy Like Marty, my wife did not have smooth "hand off" between the hospital and the cardiologist office. First we got the feeling that her cardio did not want to manage coumadin. The hospital arranged for the initial home nurse visit for INR check, but the cardio refused to order...

Based on our own experience and other members', flu shot has no effect on INR. My wife also takes an anti-biotic before the dental visits. I forgot the name of her antibiotic but think it was different from the one you mentioned. We found her antibiotic had no effect on INR. But I do know...

We use CoaguChek XS and do not have direct experience of using InRatio. However based on past posts and our first hand experience with CoaguChek XS, CoaguCheck XS would be easier to apply sample for 2 year old. A member in Singapore has been using CoaguCheck XS on her little girl since her...

Lance, U.S. Price for a vial of 6 XS strip: $120 USD. ($20/strip). InRatio strip or Protime Cuvette: $13 / strip. EJ

Like lance, we use CoaguChek XS and love it. Like he said, I do not see why anyone would switch from InRatio to CouguCheck when they like InRatio and it works well. :confused: In the U.S. CoaguChek strips cost about twice as much as the InRatio strips. Roche claimed that they do not...

Sounds like the model Computec is referring to is the new CoaguChek XS. Yes, you can take the machine to your finger with this one :D You can drop the blood from the top or touch the side of strip with the fingers and it will pull in the sample. We did not find a need to hold the machine in...

Al, Thanks for the wise advice. Despite my feelings, I was actually planning to leave a copy of an official portocol with a polite note pointing out that his old practice may be harmful to patients instead of a having a face-off... :p I just went to ADA site but could not find the...

Well, Ross. Here is the most recent example. My wife's dentist is young and like many young doctors, he is up to date on Warfain protocol. We've had no issues with him on this. She called last week for semi-annual routine check up and cleaning appointment. Her dentist was on vacation. Another...

Marsha, http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/635.html After Al's chart, I like this one from American Family Physician the best. You might want to print it out and give it to your husband's PCP. It gives a really good overview of how the drug works and things to watch out for such as drug...