Warfarin

[Lorna058]

Is anyone who is on Warfarin doing their own INRs? My GP is keen on the idea and so am I as it would mean much fewer clinic visits. Also, very many thanks for all the responses to my first post, really helped

[dedeottie]

I have done my own I.N.R. for the last 3 years and wouldn't have it any other way. Your G.P. sounds proactive. Lots of people have trouble getting their G.P. s to agree to fund the testing strips. X

[Lorna058 in reply to dedeottie]

My GP is indeed very proactive, and always on the ball. I am ordering my meter today now that he has said he will prescribe the test strips. Thank you for your help

[mpaulb3633]

My wife and I are both testing our INR. We got our meters from Philips Remote Cardiac Services, Windsor, CT., 800-367-1095. Our cardiologist uses the same system in the office.

[farmerwalt]

Hi Lorna,

I've been self monitoring, with the CoaguChek, for around 12 years now. Get my test strips on prescription, no problem. I know others, in other parts of the country, seem to have difficulty getting them on prescription, even though the NHS say they should be provided. So it's good that your GP is in favour. As you say, it saves lots of time sitting in anti-coag clinics. Due to a disagreement with the anti-coag clinic I was under, I now self-manage as well. My GP is OK with this and I just have an annual visit to the hospital haematology department to check my record for the year.

Hope you get on well with it.

Walter.

[Lorna058 in reply to farmerwalt]

Thank you for that encouragement.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry been away for a couple of days. Latest Nice guidelines are that GPs should support patients who wish to do self testing. How this works out we are not sure yet but my local centre may lease machines to patients. Still discussing the whya and wherefores.

Bob

[Hidden]

Hi there Lorna, yes been doing mine for around 5 and half years now - wouldn't have it any other way. Gives me total freedom, both in terms of work and travelling and enables me to keep tabs on exactly what's going on. I've even changed surgery because my original one wouldn't go along with self testing. So I phoned around locally, found one that did and changed. I'm on 70 days tests now, however, I don't let it go that long and test at the half way point, i.e. 35 days.

I test my self, phone my surgery INR Nurse - give the result and a message saying all clear, meaning I've not missed a dose, haven't varied my dosage or medications and have had no other probs like bleeds. INR Nurse later rings me back with the next test date and the dosage until the next test date - hey presto, that simple.

[AnneTS]

Yes, I do my own testing. I phone the result in to my local clinic and they call me back with my dosage. In addition they send me a letter confirming the dosage and telling me when to submit the next reading. It works very well. I also have an algorythm for when I am out of the country for long periods of time. Twice a year my Coaguchek machine is tested for calibration at the clinic. It is a very good system.

[MarkS]

I bought my Coaguchek 6 years ago - the best purchase I've ever made. It gives you control of your own health. Since then I've arranged for an elderly neighbour to get one - his daughter carries out his testing very successfully, plus my father-in-law used one. I think self-management is the way to go, you know best how your body reacts. I visit the surgery once a year to do a calibration check.

We're shortly off to the States so my monitor will be coming with me.

[Lorna058 in reply to MarkS]

Thanks for that. Do you take your meter in your hand luggage?

[MarkS in reply to Lorna058]

Yes I take the monitor in my hand luggage. I put the lancets in my hold luggage just in case they think I could attack someone with them! I split my warfarin between the two bags so I'm covered if one goes missing. I've flown about 10 times with the Coaguchek and never had a problem.

[Lorna058 in reply to MarkS]

That's all really useful, thank you

[Barb1]

Wow, an understanding GP. I e mail my results to nurse at my medical practice but they will only give me 12 strips a year so have to go there as well at times. Never had my CoaguCheck checked officially just sometimes check results against GP one. But limited as don't want to waste a strip

[pattiannj]

I self test & self medicate as spend lots of time in USA with my daughter. Surgery fund my strips & lancets. Am in France on holiday for 6 weeks so test more ofton as wine seems to push INR up & I do drink more here than at home. Best thing ever since started on Warfarin

[Dodie117]

I do mine also and adjust dose by small amounts if necessary.

I also control by adjusting diet - more/less spinach, brocolli etc.

I go to clinic about every 3 months to have a test done there (I am in London and testing done in inr clinic at local hospital) to double check readings. My gp does strips on prescription.

I have taken machine and lancets in hand luggage many times. No problems. I checked airline guidance for diabetics and said OK to bring lancets on board.