Surgery this Friday

[pellicle]

inr within 1-2 but unsure how many days that'll be.

not to seem pedantic, they need to get your INR to be greater than 2 for release. INR is Ratio and so your INR needs to be over 1 (normal is by definition 1) ... so if your clotting time increases then it becomes your clotting time over normal (you know, that's a ratio right). So if your clotting time is 12 seconds and your clotting time is 16 seconds your INR will be 1.3

If you're up to reading stuff then maybe have a look at this lengthy blog post of mine

INR management - the Goldilocks Dose

Since getting a mechanical heart valve ( in Nov 2011 ) I have naturally had to deal with life on a drug called Warfarin . This is known vari...

cjeastwd.blogspot.com

the first couple of paragraphs is where you are now, the rest is more or less academic. Then this post for hints about managing yourself (for later)

Managing my INR (some practical tips observations and theories)

A patients perspective I've decided to put this page together because on looking around the internet I see heaps of rubbish, mis-informatio...

cjeastwd.blogspot.com

again, that post starts general and becomes more specific as people read on.

If nothing else it should help you feel drowsy ;-)

 

[ValveAdmin]

Great news. Wishing you a smooth recovery. Good luck!

 

[Angel8642]

Thanks guys. This forum has helped me so much. Hoping the ticking gets a bit quieter. So loud! They need to get my inr within 1-2 but unsure how many days that'll be.

Didn't take me long for inr. About two days

 

[Adamlee]

I accidentally took Ibuprofen tonight with my Warfrain. I thought I was allowed to have it but my wife said I wasn't - I must've forgotten (still reeling from a bit of memory fog from surgery).

I've now read up on how you shouldn't take these two together and worried myself. I've got an INR appointment tomorrow, so I'll tell them what happened but is there anything else I should do tonight?

 

[pellicle]

I've now read up on how you shouldn't take these two together and worried myself. I've got an INR appointment tomorrow, so I'll tell them what happened

don't worry, its not as you may be led to believe

Ibuprofen

well a couple of weeks back I hurt my back and spent a lot of time playing caterpillar on the floor. Its getting better but still painful. This of course means that some of my projects (shed) are on hold. So my physiotherapist (among others) suggested I try some iburpofen to reduce the swelling...

www.valvereplacement.org

as it happens paracetamol will (if you take the maximum recommended dose for a few days) have a more significant effect on your INR

but is there anything else I should do tonight?

have a beer and relax?

 

[Chuck C]

I accidentally took Ibuprofen tonight with my Warfrain. I thought I was allowed to have it but my wife said I wasn't - I must've forgotten (still reeling from a bit of memory fog from surgery).

I've now read up on how you shouldn't take these two together and worried myself. I've got an INR appointment tomorrow, so I'll tell them what happened but is there anything else I should do tonight?

You should discuss with your cardiologist about whether it is ok for you to take ibuprofen from time to time. It is generally not recommended to go on ibuprofen long term, while on warfarin, but I would not worry about taking it one time.
I do get muscle injuries from sports from time to time, and my cardiologist allows me to take ibuprofin for short periods of time. It tends to move my INR up less than 10%, and that is taking 600mg 3x per day, usually not for more than 2 days.

 

[pellicle]

You should discuss with your cardiologist about whether it is ok for you to take ibuprofen from time to time.

oh, agreed entirely

Remember, from the book of Daniel 18: 56
... but shalt thou not go to a public internet forum seeking medical advice, seek only from your doctor, verily seek thee only once, for from a second seeking comes confusion.

;-)

 

[Dodgy Ticker]

Maybe you did, but in order to watch yet another bloody Liverpool match........??

Haha - well done old chap! Join the club, and you're damned welcome to be a member.

 

[Adamlee]

Had my INR test today. Was 1.5 so they upped it to 8mg for the next few days.

don't worry, its not as you may be led to believe

Ibuprofen

well a couple of weeks back I hurt my back and spent a lot of time playing caterpillar on the floor. Its getting better but still painful. This of course means that some of my projects (shed) are on hold. So my physiotherapist (among others) suggested I try some iburpofen to reduce the swelling...

www.valvereplacement.org

as it happens paracetamol will (if you take the maximum recommended dose for a few days) have a more significant effect on your INR



have a beer and relax?

Had my INR test today. Was 1.5 so they upped it to 8mg for the next few days. I mentioned the ibuprofen but they didn't seem too fussed.

I've noticed my ticking seems quicker at resting but they didn't seem bothered about that either. I haven't got a smart watch so it's hard to effectively watch.

Wish I could have a beer but feel like it is too soon. Want to feel more myself and get my INR confidently in range before adding alcohol to the mix.

Thanks again for all the replies,

Adam

 

[pellicle]

Had my INR test today. Was 1.5 so they upped it to 8mg for the next few days. I mentioned the ibuprofen but they didn't seem too fussed.

Hey mate

1.5 is out of range, I hope they bring you in soon... Personally I couldn't imagine going back to some clown managing me.

It's not in your "about" section, but how far out if surgery are you now?

 

[Adamlee]

Just over two weeks. Friday the 4th of November was my surgery date.

 

[pellicle]

Just over two weeks. Friday the 4th of November was my surgery date.

right ... well ... yes ... wait another few weeks at least before a beer. Start with a Mid and see if it triggers anything. I had to lay off for months.

Do you have any intention of self managing INR?

Your about section:

provides very little guidance (although I appreciate you may not yet have had time to fill that in) so I'm not entirely sure:

• which country you reside in (I can guess)
• how old you are

to make any calls about INR managment and its opitons.

But if you are in the UK, then you will perhaps be supported by NHS to self manage and if you aren't a doddery oldy then you really should consider that (no rush just yet). However as a priority they really SHOULD get your INR to above 2.0

Best Wishes

 

[Adamlee]

right ... well ... yes ... wait another few weeks at least before a beer. Start with a Mid and see if it triggers anything. I had to lay off for months.

Do you have any intention of self managing INR?

Your about section:
View attachment 888915
provides very little guidance (although I appreciate you may not yet have had time to fill that in) so I'm not entirely sure:

• which country you reside in (I can guess)
• how old you are

to make any calls about INR managment and its opitons.

But if you are in the UK, then you will perhaps be supported by NHS to self manage and if you aren't a doddery oldy then you really should consider that (no rush just yet). However as a priority they really SHOULD get your INR to above 2.0

Best Wishes

Thanks for that. I think I've updated it with the relevant information.

I am going to self-manage once I'm in range. I can get the test strips on prescription which is good. I was in my range in hospital, today was the first time I wasn't. Hopefully won't last long. They want it in range for 7 days before setting me off on my own.
When you're not in range, do you ever feel a bit disoriented or anything? Could just be the surgery/recovery but felt out of sorts last 24 hours but recently took my updated Warfrain dosage and feel a bit better already. Probably all in my head.

Thanks again!

Adam

 

[pellicle]

Hi

They want it in range for 7 days before setting me off on my own.

that's good, as its easier to manage when its just "adjust"

reach out if you want a hand with that, I can show you a method (my own data driven model) which will make decision making easier

When you're not in range, do you ever feel a bit disoriented or anything?

nope, that's pump head , it will settle down between one and maybe up to 3 months ...

 

[Adamlee]

I will do! I think I'll definitely have some questions when it comes to self management. Particularly when to test after having alcohol

Thanks for letting me know about pump head. Definitely seems to make sense for me. Some days I'm okay others I'm not but definitely getting stronger, walking further and in less pain.

 

[Adamlee]

Just used my wife's smart watch and it is saying my resting heart rate is 130 bpm.

My surgery date was 4th November.

Is this normal to be this high? Again, I feel better each day but seems worryingly high to me. I'm pretty sure I left the hospital around 100 bpm maybe more.

Sorry for all the questions again!

 

[leadville]

Just used my wife's smart watch and it is saying my resting heart rate is 130 .

I would suggest taking your HR manually to compare the rate over a minute.

The smart devices can often show errors.

130 bpm at rest is high

Its worth the comparison.

 

[Adamlee]

Yeah taken at rest.

 

[leadville]

Postoperative Tachycardia is common following OHS.
Your 100bpm on leaving hospital seems reasonable.

130bpm seems a little high.

Are you taking a Beta Blocker and is the heart rhythm regular?

 

[Superman]

Just used my wife's smart watch and it is saying my resting heart rate is 130 bpm.

My surgery date was 4th November.

Is this normal to be this high? Again, I feel better each day but seems worryingly high to me. I'm pretty sure I left the hospital around 100 bpm maybe more.

Sorry for all the questions again!

I’ve had my smart watch show 120 when I can hear my ticks at 60. Best guess is sometimes it’s picking up two locations and double dipping, but I don’t know how smart watches actually work so just a guess. Still, I’d recommend manually taking your pulse to see how accurate the watch is.