Duke University Medical Center recommended the target range of 3.0 to 3.5 for the St Jude Medical leaflet valve. I have been on it since 1993. The instability has been only the last three years or so. Here's a link to a presentation that suggests vitamin K and the logic for doing so; http://www.dcpa.us/slides09/sun05.trujillo.vitk.
My father in law is an alcoholic who has Atrial Fibrillation and is on coumadin. His cardiologist will not perform a cardioversion for him until his INR is within an acceptable level but it never is! The coumadin nurses frequently tell him his levels are too high and tell him to not take any coumadin for days at a time then the cardiologist tells him his INR is top low and they post pone the cardioversion.
We usually admit the patients 3 days prior to the surgery when we withhold coumadin and start heparin once the INR is less than 2.0. After surgery we usually start the heparin 12 hours after the surgery and coumadin shortly thereafter. The patient usually don't leave the hospital until their INR above 2.0. These are not hard and fast rules, and some physicians are more careful than others.
The body has a hard time clotting the blood due to aging. Also, Coumadin is hard on the arteries and with her age her arteries may be weak or thin. Coumadin is a very strong blood thinner and has some very serious side effects such as stomach cancer. It also can cause osteoporosis. Before her doctor starts her on any blood thinner, make sure that she has blood drawn and it is proven that her blood is thick enough to require this. You also may want to seek a second opinion.
t do an ablation. I am now wearing and event monitor for 30 days. I have a feeling he wants me to go on coumadin. I don't want to do that because I am very active and I am petrified of bleeding out. when I went to my accupuncturist she said she believes it is happening because of the sympathetic nerve due to the stress I have been under. I also read where taking 40mg of vitaminB6 helps the arrhythmia. What are your thoughts on my situation.
She has really bad swelling in her legs, from the knees down, including her ankles and feet. Since her Coumadin dosage was doubled due to low INR levels about 6 months ago, the swelling has gotten worse. I understand that correlation is not causation, but is this common?
Also, do they ever decrease one's dosage of blood thinners, or is it always the other way around.
I have 2 artificial heart valves and am taking coumadin (target INR 2.5 - 3.5). I am living overseas and have very limited access to fresh/frozen fish. To help regulate my INR, I do have a portable tester that works well. I'm wondering if the blood thinning effects of fish oil (if any) will be measured by my INR testing machine. In other words, will the total blood thinning effects of both coumadin and the fish oil suppliments be measured by the INR?
t been feeling well. You can always call and ask your doctor these questions for guidance. Flonase is known to reduce nasal inflammation over time. The best thing is to blow your nose prior to using it and then wait as long as you possibly can before blowing your nose again. The longer you wait, the better chance the Flonase has of being absorbed into your nasal cavity. The most common recommendation is 15 to 30 minutes to wait to blow your nose after using.
https://www.webmd.
//www.rxlist.com/flonase-drug.htm. Is this prescribed to decreases swelling or to attend to the sinus issue contributing to the swelling?
I had later found out that her doctors had told her it was OK to take extra strengh Tylenol in addition to taking Coumadin and Plavix. Is this OK? In addition, what is the purpose of taking both Coumadin and Plavix? I understand they work by completely different mechanisms, but is taking both necessary? I am concerned she is not getting the correct information from her doctors. Also, I did my dissertation research in coagulation, so I can understand very technical answers.
Thank you, Dr.
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