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Warfarin Levels

Posted , 6 users are following.

george52691
george52691

My wife was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation just over a year ago and has struggled ever since with her IR levels, seemingly taking a mountain of Tablets. And back and forth which is a problem as she has other disabilities which affect her mobility. From my point of view no one seems to know or care why this is so and any questions are dismissed with a wave of the hand and a "Oh it's fine, don't worry about it" or "Those bruises / red spots are nothing"

​No advice etc. is forthcoming in any shape or form

 

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • afiblady
    afiblady george52691

    Posted

    there r lots of things that affect your platelets. what r her other medical issues, how old is she? has she tried other anticoagulants? is the IR level too high or too low?
  • marco
    marco george52691

    Posted

    Which anti-coag is she taking and what dose? A stable INR might take some time and it's a drag having to get frequent checks but there is no other way.

    What are the bruises and red spots you talk about. If they're result of taking blood you're seeing the wrong phlebo. If they're somewhere else see you GP and don't be intimated.

    • suzanne48640
      suzanne48640 marco

      Posted

      Marco -- there is another way and it's Pradaxa -- where you don't have to continually have your IR levels checks -- and there is a reversal factor for Pradaxa -- like there is for warafin.   no dietary requirements or frequent checking for levels.  
  • suzanne48640
    suzanne48640 george52691

    Posted

    George, sorry to hear about your wife's problems. I am assuming she is on warafin (Coumadin) because that's the one that people have to be monitored on. 

    Speak to to her doc about Pradaxa.  It is the only newer blood thinner that has a reversal factor.  The docs prefer the newer thinners to warafin because they seem to work better and don't need monitoring or have dietary restrictions like warafin. Pradaxa if the only one of the newer ones that has

    a reversal factor. .

    good luck. 

     

    Of the three, Pradaxa is the only one with a reversal. 

     

  • linda51222
    linda51222 george52691

    Posted

    Hi George are you in the UK? if you are a district nurse will come and take your wifes bloods for INR.

    I have been on warfarin now for 11 months and also have to go beack most weeks for INR to be done. As suzanne says there are other blood thinners on the market that I have been trying desperately to get changed to as I have other health issues that the meds for it does not like the warfarin, last week I went for second opinion with new cardiologist who wwas excellent she went into great details as to why some people are not suitable candidates for the alternative blood thinners, and explained why I am much better and safer on warfarin, I was disappointed but now someone has given me proper clinical evidence feel much happier about it.

    maybe it is one of the other meds your wife is on that is causing the bruising, but I agree with the others no point in guessing, try to get someone to give you some answers.

    Hope you get the help you need.

    L.

     

    • suzanne48640
      suzanne48640 linda51222

      Posted

      Linda, could  you please share with me why your doc said you are better and safter on warafin and not a candidate for the newer meds.  I would be interested in hearing that.  Thanks.  Suzanne
    • linda51222
      linda51222 suzanne48640

      Posted

      Hi Suzanne,

      Its all a bit long winded but basically other health problems make being on warfarin a better option for me,I wont bore you with it all but my immune system is for want of better terminology knackered I also have problems with my autonomic nervous system and because the only alternative available with an antidote is Pradaxa and no regular bloods are taken they need to keep track of whats happening with my immune system and regular INR is the way they can.  she did say that if I insisted I could try Pradaxa the patient always has a choice, then went on to give me the clinical evidence for her reasoning, I spent all weekend thinking about it and talking it over with my husband and decided that for now I am better off with the one I know. we are all different and react in different ways to the same meds as this forum often proves.

      hope this answers your question

      Linda.

    • suzanne48640
      suzanne48640 linda51222

      Posted

      Linda,thanks so much for your response. Please know I didn't mean to pry. It was just my courisity getting the best of me. I wish u good luck and God bless.  
    • linda51222
      linda51222 suzanne48640

      Posted

      Suzanne,

      I didn't think for one moment  you were prying, that is after all what this forum is all about to learn from each others experiences and I for one thank you and all those who use the site for their thoughts and insights, especially when some cannot seem to get the response they should from the people there to help them.

      my immune system reacts badly to most medication that the general population can use with no trouble, so the side effects of most AF medication my body throws out so when I have something that I am resonably comfortable with I need to stay with it (that is until the day it too gets spat out by my immune system. even something as simple as paracetomol that most people tolerate. where is says take two I can only take one, two within minutes has me covered from head to toe in an itchy rash. and it is the only anelgesia that I can have I am allergic to all of the others.

      Take care  Linda.

  • Maxine50
    Maxine50 george52691

    Posted

    Hi George,

    Sorry to hear about your wifes problems. Both my wife Maxine and I have been on many different drugs. My wife had terrible problems with Bisoprol and I with Antivastatin.

    Firstly every drug has different effects on different people depending on their age and what other drugs thay are taking which can often give side effects.

    I would suggest that you do some research on the current drugs that your wife is taking, the leaflet in the box that the drugs come in will give you a lot of information on the effects each one has and then go and see either your Gp or Cardiologist and stand firm on your results from your research.

    I did this and was able to sort out all the problems out and get rid of the drugs that had a bad effect.

    Good luck Ken.

  • thomahawk
    thomahawk george52691

    Posted

    Hi, what you eat can affect your IR levels. I know that eggs and leafy green vegetables make a difference. If you eat a lot one week but not the next it will cause variations but I find it difficult to find out what I can do about it .  I also bruise easily and get pin head red spots under the skin     
    • suzanne48640
      suzanne48640 thomahawk

      Posted

      FYI, There are no dietary restrictions with the newer blood thinners; i.e. pradaxa, xarelto, and eliquis.  Also, you do not have to monitor your IR levels .. you should check it would with your doctor.  As I have mentioned before, the only newer one that has a reversal factor (like warafin) is pradaxa.  
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