Just joined today and following 18 months of issues where I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my leg and prescribed Rivaroxiban I thought all would be fine.
However having went 12 months I encountered more issues and when my blood was tested my INR was 1.
I was the transferred to Warfarin and over the following 6 weeks eventually got to 2.4.
I decided to purchase a self checking device and was just looking for some support that I have made a good choice.
I would also appreciate any information on how people cope when on holiday when obviously we may tend to eat and drink more than normal.
Written by
Oldfox81
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I've had my Coaguchek device since April 2010. It was the best thing I ever did. It gives me freedom. Whenever I travel it goes with me, even when I go to Australia for holidays. It gives me the comfort of being able to do an INR test anytime, at the scheduled test periods as well as at any other time at random.
More importantly, overtime it has given me a pattern of readings and from this it enables me to monitor the results with food that I have eaten. Cause and effect so to speak.
In terms of food and drink, both alcoholic drinks as well as tea and coffee and any sort of food I have made no concessions to Warfarin at all. What I have done is to eat and drink modestly AND consistently! Emphasis on consistently.
Over the years I have had two medical procedures which have required me to stop and restart Warfarin, no problems at all. One was a CT scan,the other was knee replacement surgery.
Occasionally, for inexplicable reasons my INR drops to lower than 2.0, usually about 1.9 and on other occasions it might hit 3.5. My INR Clinic usually advise me on doses to correct this or with years of experience behind me I adjust my own green vegetables consumption to correct whatever the reading may be.
Hope this helps, remember CONSISTENCY AND NO BINGEING with food or drink, tea, coffee or alcohol.
I decided not to buy one despite having suffered a blood clot on the brain.
That was 2014 and since then I travelled to many far flung places... Moscow, China, Mongolia, South Africa, India.
The key to any inr stability is consistent levels of vitamin K in your diet.... But I never restricted them but did what the warfarin clinic nurse suggested "dose the diet, don't diet the dose"
I simply adjusted my dosage according to the lack of greens when travelling and not allowed alcohol anymore anyway.
As a vegetarian I regularly eat spinach, chickpeas, Stilton, broccoli etc... And she didn't want me to miss out on the benefits thereof.
I also didn't want to stress about the wavering inr by over testing.
I must have had my coagucheck machine for about 17 years and has never let me down yet, I have my INR checked also with my nurse at my gp surgery to make sure my machine is correct.
Diet is definitely a factor with your INR and I find green leafy vegetables affect it as does pomegranate, cranberries and salads do. Just be consistent with what you consume and your dosage to adapt to your diet.
I’ve found red wine is the best I can drink modestly without it affecting me too much. In fact it can be adapted yet again to your dosage but again be consistent. No problem to me!
I always take my machine on holiday with me, it gives me piece of mind and is very easy to pack.
Bizzle thanks for your comments. I’m a bit annoyed just now as I tested myself and found the readings high (4.9 - 4.7 - 3.7) and called my GP to get an appointment with the nurse to check with her. I told them the reason I wanted the appointment and booked me in only to call back and say not to come in but keep to my appointment on the 13th August. I also asked about getting the strips on prescription but told I have to buy them myself ( Thats no great hardship)
I have been using my Coaguchek since 2013. Totally agree with Carneuny that consistency is the key. I drink alcohol moderately but more regularly now than before I needed it. One other thing I would add is that for those of using warfarin with a mechanical heart valve, regulating the INR is important and (in the UK) warfarin is the only drug authorised for use with a mechanical valve. With regards your strips you should be able to get these on prescription by lobbying your GP. There was a consultation by NICE a few years back and there is some good text in there you can use in your justification.
The strips are expensive so I would certainly push for a prescription. Most GP's recognize the benefits and potential cost savings (no need for regular appointments) so push them on this. If you are successful purchase a 12 month pre-paid prescription card, which will save you money.
I was told on Apixaban then I would never need another blood test so I’m not answering your question at all, just being cheeky and asking what made you have one.
You’ve got some good advice there - people far braver than I am with all the overseas travel - and more knowledgeable. Warfarin made me so sick I had to come off it btw.
It's true that you won't need an INR blood test while you're on apixaban, because the new drugs don't affect the INR value. It's not true to say you won't need another blood test, because you'll need things like your kidney function tested, usually once a year.
You have a very good set of replies and advice, that if you take on board will help. Only one thing I sense is still a little ambiguous. My understanding is that Apixaban and the other DOAC anti coags manage clotting differently not by increasing INR as with Warfarin. So a reading of 1 is what's to be expected and was normal when you were on Apixoban. TC
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