Rocky
Well-known member
I have a St Jude Mechanical Valve. The surgery was done Mid January. Since then I have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride with the Warafin. My target INR is between 2.5 and 3.5. Most of the time I have been below 2 and as low as 1.2 on one test.
Last Tuesday, had a TIA. (Transient ischemic attack, or Mini Stroke). A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for up to 1-2 hours.
I lost the use of my right arm, had a minor headache and felt tingling in all of my extremities. I also went through about a 1/2 hour of confusion.
I have recovered completely.
I will be going in for a CAT scan this week.
My doctor, and the emerg doctor, both said it was due to the blood being to thick and it clotted up the Mechanical Valve. They are working very aggressively to get me back up to 2.5.
One of the treatments they are giving me is called ""bridging" where I take daily stomach injections of Lovenox HP. I should be on them for about 7 days or so.
One of the problems is that the INR was being monitored by a clinic to far away. My family doctor has now taken over that task. I get my blood work done in the morning and I know by early afternoon what they are and can modify the dosage as necessary as I take the drugs around 5 PM.
The other issue was that I did not clearly understand the huge difference between the INR being 1.9 as opposed to 2.5
Last Tuesday, had a TIA. (Transient ischemic attack, or Mini Stroke). A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for up to 1-2 hours.
I lost the use of my right arm, had a minor headache and felt tingling in all of my extremities. I also went through about a 1/2 hour of confusion.
I have recovered completely.
I will be going in for a CAT scan this week.
My doctor, and the emerg doctor, both said it was due to the blood being to thick and it clotted up the Mechanical Valve. They are working very aggressively to get me back up to 2.5.
One of the treatments they are giving me is called ""bridging" where I take daily stomach injections of Lovenox HP. I should be on them for about 7 days or so.
One of the problems is that the INR was being monitored by a clinic to far away. My family doctor has now taken over that task. I get my blood work done in the morning and I know by early afternoon what they are and can modify the dosage as necessary as I take the drugs around 5 PM.
The other issue was that I did not clearly understand the huge difference between the INR being 1.9 as opposed to 2.5