How often do you check your INR if on mech valve?

[ks1490]

Hi, this is a question for people with mechanical valves. How often do you, or must you, check your INR levels? Daily, weekly, bi-weekly, etc.? How long was it before you sized your coumadin dose correctly so that you consistently stayed at the therapeutic 2.0 level? Also, how do you check it - do you go to a lab, or are there adequate devices for home testing now, like those diabetes commercials? Thanks for your input!!

 

[greg]

It took me about 3 months to stabalize. Now I check about every 5/6 weeks.
I have the local hospital draw blood and do the test. Have been interested in the home test equipment but haven't gone that way yet. I try to keep my INR 2.5 to 3.0.

 

[JimL]

I go to a lab weekly for a finger poke, because my insurance pays for that completely, but not for a home test machine. I go weekly because those who have a home test machine test weekly; otherwise I could go every few weeks. It doesn't take long to get an idea of what dosage is appropriate for you, but if you are still active, your life and the factors affecting INR are constantly changing.

 

[Ross]

I home test weekly. It gives me much greater control then monthly. When I first started testing, I went to a clinic that did not know how to manage Warfarin, so it was never right for 2 months. I got tired of constantly going and getting vein sticks after getting an education here and took the bull by the horns and did it myself. I was in range and have stayed that way within two weeks.

 

[Cooker]

Monthly for me. I have been between 2.5 and 3.0 for five months now. If I continue to be stable I will not change unless I get out of wack.

Cooker

 

[Karlynn]

I home test and test weekly right now. Before home testing, I would test once a month and occasionally twice a month.

 

[fyrfytr]

I home test weekly and get a lab draw every six months. I have been told that I can test once a month but I like to weekly. Like Ross it gives me greater control than testing monthly.

 

[Teacher]

I go into the lab every three weeks if I am maintaining 2.5-3.5 and once a week if I'm not. I want to home test but my insurance company did not approve it.

 

[bvdr]

I home test every week. My INR is influenced by just about anything. By testing every week I can watch how it is trending and add or subtract 1 or 2 mg a week so I don't start yo-yo-ing. I am usually in range (3.0 - 4.0) but won't touch my dosage unless less than 2.5 or over 4.5. When I was feeling very good and exercising everyday 6mg a day kept me in range. It slowly has drifted downward and for the last 3 months 4 1/2 mg a day does the same thing. When I have lab work done for whatever reason I sometimes request an INR to compare to my home unit although I actually trust my results over their's.

 

[Sandy SHields]

I go to the clinic to test every month unless it's off then every two weeks. I try to stay 2.5 to 3.5 . I ask my doctor about home testing and he sayed he wouldn't be able to help me if I did that. He needs the money to operate his business. Actually I don't think they make that much off lab anyway but who knows.

 

[Mike C]

I home test either weekly or every other. Dont have to this often but I believe it provides you with better management. Stabilized a few months after surgery.

Home testing very easy.

 

[Blanche]

My mechanical valver, Al, has tested weekly for about 6 years on our inhome tester, the ProTime monitor from ITC. Prior to that, he tested monthly for 10 years at a lab. He changed from monthly to weekly when he suffered several strokes that might have been prevented had he been testing more frequently.

For more information http://www.hometestmed.com/anticoagulation.asp

 

[Ross]

I go to the clinic to test every month unless it's off then every two weeks. I try to stay 2.5 to 3.5 . I ask my doctor about home testing and he sayed he wouldn't be able to help me if I did that. He needs the money to operate his business. Actually I don't think they make that much off lab anyway but who knows.

My question to him would be, do you care about your patients or about your business? If business comes first, find another Doctor.

 

[Granbonny]

I home-test every 3 weeks..even, tho, my clinical nurse..Nurse to my Cardio..says I can go 4 weeks..... I want to know before I call in to her at 4 weeks.I am always in the 3.0-3.5 range.....I am never below 3.0......Bonnie

 

[EVELYN]

Tyce is a weekly tester with our coaguchek machine.....his inr range is 2.5-3.5 and we're usually pretty close.....above if anything, usually.

Evelyn

 

[geebee]

I home test every week to 10 days depending on how crazy my schedule is. I have been fairly stable for over 25 years, tweaking now and then but very little. I also do my own dosing but let my cardio know if I make any changes.

 

[Valve-Viking]

Hometest every week, in hospital every 6 weeks. If I am travelling far to
countries with different foods, climate, big time-differences, I probably test
twice a week. In for instance China or Vietnam, you come across a lot of
good green vegetables that you normally never eat, so you don´t know if
their full of Vitamin K´s or not. So like to be on top of things and ahead of
trouble.

/
Martin

 

[Marty]

Find total weekly dose and dose range

Find total weekly dose and dose range

Home test with INRatio every two weeks. Get central lab vein stick every year at time of my annual physical. This year on 9/11 annual physical came back from the lab INR 2.8. In my first two or three weeks post op I found my total weekly dose 19.5 to 21 .0 mgms. This has remained stable over the eight years post surgery. If the INR creeps up and goes over 3.5 on 21, I lower to 20mgms. If that doesn't do it and it almost always does I go to 19.5. I've never had to go lower than that. I'm always amazed ar what a narrow dosage range I have where one mgm in a week can make a difference. I believe every individual has a different total dose and dose range to keep them 2.5 to 3.5 which is recommended for a mechanical valve.

 

[aussigal]

I get my blood done every 2 weeks or every week if I want/need to make an adjustment.

 

[temp69]

From what I understand, theraputic levels differ. They want me at between 2.5 and 3.5. 2.0 would be too low for me, I think. I last went and tested at 3.9 and the dr. just said "eat more salads" which I've done. And told me to come back in a month. So in this case, they're pretty loose about it.

So far, it's been testing about every 3 weeks. I'm only 10 weeks post op. 55 years old. Teenage daughter causing huge stress.

But every breath is a gift!