4 weeks post-surgery

[Atreus]

First of all, I want to thank all of you for the valuable information and insight into your experience with the mechanical valve, I posted a few months ago about my concerns about having a mechanical valve at a young age (as in young young age, not medical young age ) and your comments helped me very much. I am slowly but steadily returning to normal activities, I am back on track with my everyday walking, 6-8 km per day Also the pain is decreasing and my mobility is increasing. I am accustomed by now to the sound of the valve, it isn't as loud as I thought it would be. Also, my INR got in range quicker than I expected for now, but so far so good.

I am having a few concerns related to managing my INR at home. I understand that everyone self-tests once per week, but in that week do you keep a constant diet? As in eating the same 3 types of food? Because I mainly eat around 5-6 types of food/ week with different nutrients, should I test after every time I change my "diet"?
Second question, I am aware that if I eat in moderation my INR changes will be minimal, but for example, if I eat once a Mediterranean salad will that affect my INR severely in a short time?
Thank you again all of you, you gave me hope which kept me afloat. Also, your information helped me in arguing with a few doctors who went full war against eating green leaves.

 

[Chuck C]

Thanks for the update and welcome to the other side.

I am having a few concerns related to managing my INR at home. I understand that everyone self-tests once per week, but in that week do you keep a constant diet? As in eating the same 3 types of food?

In my experience, there is no need to worry about the diet, aside from avoiding a very small list of foods, such as grapefruit juice. You should not need to keep a constant diet and you can consume foods rich in vitamin k foods. Do test, and make sure that this is the case for you- know thyself as we say, but it seems that the vast majority here eat what they want. Dose the diet, don't diet the dose. In other words, eat what you want and make small adjustments to your warfarin to stay in proper INR range when needed.

I am aware that if I eat in moderation my INR changes will be minimal, but for example, if I eat once a Mediterranean salad will that affect my INR severely in a short time?

Warfarin has a long half-life. As such, INR tends to usually change very slowly. Unless you have some rare genetic disorder, eating a salad will not severely affect your INR, per your question- not short term, not long term. I eat several Mediterranean salads per week, loaded with vitamin k rich foods. Usually, I eat one large salad per day. Some days I eat two. Some days I don't eat any salad. I have not found any noticeable effect on my INR whether I eat 1, 2 or zero salads per day. Test yourself and know yourself, but I think you will find that others here on warfarin experience the same- we tend to eat what we want and don't generally see diet related fluctuations in our INR. If you do see a change, I would expect it to be very small, if you are like most people.

 

[dick0236]

I agree that there is no need to adjust YOUR normal diet. We all eat a normal diet, just do not binge on food high in vitamin K. A little too much Kale or Spinach won't make your INR go crazy. Try eating your usual foods and see what change there is to your INR.....my bet is there will be little or no change.....and if there is adjust your Warfarin a little. Warfarin management is not "rocket science"....we just make it that way sometimes.

 

[tom in MO]

I eat what I want, when I want and how much I want. I can have breakfast for dinner one day and a tuna fish salad for dinner another. Hot dogs one day and eggplant casserole another. I test about every 2 weeks unless I am out of my range of 2-2.5. It's worked for 10 years now. When I need to adjust, it's usually a one time adjustment but I test again in a week 1.

 

[Superman]

I’m on a strict see-food diet.

I see food. I eat it.

 

[Timmay]

Same here. I eat whatever (except the small list that Chuck mentioned).

If you can, find an experienced mentor to assist you with self-managing. It makes all the difference in the world.

My INR tends to run around a fair amount . Lots of people tend to report that their INR is super consistent. Mine can vary between 2.1 and 3.5. I’m much less reactive to that now as compared to 6 months after surgery. That’s what a mentor can do . Keep you sane. Now I’m more like “meh, I’m still in a safe range”. I’m still the oddball though … testing twice a week.

 

[pellicle]

I see food. I eat it.

I've been to Korea, sometimes what others call food isn't (in my opinion) edible (but yes, I ate it to see)

Beondegi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[pellicle]

Just echoing the sentiments of the other INR testers here:

Because I mainly eat around 5-6 types of food/ week with different nutrients, should I test after every time I change my "diet"?

no and don't bother counting stuff (sitting in front of a plate of rocket with salad dressing, cucumber and fetta cheese atm).

INR undergoes a natural fluctuation, the best you can do is just accept it.

Reach out by "Conversation" if you want a method to monitor and guide your process here (but you will need to take weekly INR measurements and you will need to write it up and you'll also need a gmail account).

 

[Superman]

I've been to Korea, sometimes what others call food isn't (in my opinion) edible (but yes, I ate it to see)

Beondegi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 889555

Fortunately my diet allows me the flexibility to decide if that which I see is or is not, in fact, food.

 

[DJ-Rae09]

I eat and drink what I want whilst I've been on Wafarin. no changes for me

yes drinking alcohol may elevate it but I just adjust my dose if I'm outside my INR range, all good. The benefits of self testing at home