Hi everyone!
I am new in this page same as in Warfarin. I am taking it since 10 days. My INR was 0.9 and now is 1.7. Don't know why but i am very nervous and sad that I am taking it.... Having Rheumatoid Arthritis for more than 30 yrs it's being very difficult to bear the pain.
Your experiences with Warfarin are more than welcomed!
Thanks,
G.
Well a major factor for you will be the problem of using nsaids as they will increase your inr.
The drug is very effective at preventing strokes which I presume you are increased risk for, assuming you have af. It is low in side effects but the frequency of blood tests can be annoying.
Greenb, I've been taking warfarin for over 13 years and consider it my friend. I know that it is helping to protect me from the worst type of stroke.
You may in time like to consider purchasing your own testing apparatus... Coaguchek....which saves the somewhat tedious repeat visits for INR testing. You can always test when you are away from home or feel you have over indulged in certain foods which could affect your INR.
You will soon get used to all this.
Regards
Sandra
Dear Yatsura, thanks for sharing your experience! You are right, I should focus on the fact that I am taking it to not get worst. I am gonna get used to it for sure 
I took it for about 5 years with no problems. Because of my work I am constantly bruising and cutting myself, but didn't have any issues, slightly longer to heal maybe, that's all. The tests are a nuisance and sometimes my INR would suddenly jump up or down. Personally, I think these were incorrect test results because you could see these results were out of pattern.
I bought a coagucheck machine and it worked well but I only use dit once as I'm fairly close to my doctors and found it easier to pop down there. Also, at our local hospital they have a phletbotomy dept (think that's the one?) and you could just walk in a get an immediate test in minutes.
Koll
Dear Koll, thanks for sharing you experience! Appriciate it
I was very upset when I learnt some time ago that I had to start taking warfarin.
However the reality has been very different. I saw an ad for the Coaguchek which I bought, and it's been great. Very little inconvenience (2 mins per week to take a reading), very good time in the 2-3 range, I eat what I want (including cranberries, greens, etc) and it has less bleeding risk than taking aspirin.
Hi. I took it for 10 years with few problems. I wonder why they havent put you on the new generation of anti coagulants. Ie Rivaroxaban. You dont have to get constant blood tests like you do for Warfarin.
I found my inr would fluctuate at times and you have to be careful with dark green vegetables etc. The desired inr is about 2.5 for af I think
I would defintely ask for the new oral anti coagulant (noac). though.
If you look at Goldfish's reply above you will understand why that would not be possible.
My doc says no way he put me on noacs. They are no better than wafarin!
I understand your feelings about taking warfarin, I felt the same too. I took it for a couple of years. I really didn't have any problems with it and soon got used to it. I invested in a coagucheck INR checking device, which was a godsend, as I could self monitor my INR levels at home and only had to go to the clinic every so often so the nurse could keep updated. Warfarin is protecting you from stroke - just remembering this will help you along . Hope this helps.
I think the noac's cost more which means some gp's are more budget than patient concerned. I had more problems on warfarin.
Hi GreenB, I to have Rheumatoid Arthritis for 16yrs I was diagnosed with A F 18 months ago whilst on holiday in Tenerife (quite a shock ) To cut a long story short I haven't altered any of my RA medication! I take Meloxicam 15mgs daily ( no problems with my NOAC - Apixaban!
My Rheumatologist and Cardiologist and GP all ok my prescription medication!
Good luck with your AF journey!
Hi Annekw! Oh, RA pains are killing me and for now i am not supposed to take any medicine ( till my inr gets better).
I was on Methotextrate therapy 3 months ago. After it just on Diclofenac which was okay.
GreenB I would ask about Apixaban,I've had no trouble taking my RA medication,I take Methotrexate,Meloxicam,and Pantoprazole- a stomach protector,also co-proximal and amitryptaline for pain at night.
I also have asthma,so the usual inhalers!
I take with Apixaban,Bisoprapol and Digoxin, and nothing seems to disagree with the other medications,maybe it's just luck!good luck!
Surely as soon as you go back to your usual meds your INR will go haywire ?
May warfarin users report joint pain.
I have increased back pain that only comes with standing long periods also my feet get hot sometimes like they are going to burst ,itching on my back
I have only been on warfarin for 16 months but for about 8 months of that, I have been on 10 weekly testing. I get it done at GP surgery and the nurse is very helpful about getting appointment s to fit in with my full time job. I don't self test, but if there has been something out of the ordinary, like a course of antibiotics, I have asked for an extra test. As I understand it, they are checking if you are staying in range, so getting exactly the same reading every time isn't essential. My warfarin dosage settled down very quickly_appreciate this is not the same for everyone.The dietary thing can be tedious, but realistically, not sure I really want too much kale or cranberries.
I understand your nervousness and sadness, GreenB. I've written quite a bit in the last couple of days about starting anticoagulation. If I say I wasn't keen, it's an understatement.
Warfarin is very personal and some people don't take much and some need much bigger doses. Most people, but not all, get on well with it and see it as their best friend.
My advice is don't worry too much, follow the instructions but don't let it rule your life and see how you get on. No need to feel you have to cut down on foods you like, because the warfarin dose will be adjusted to suit your diet. The more greens you eat, the higher your dose will be. The only thing that's really off the menu is cranberries, but I've found that many people on warfarin eat the odd cranberry and don't worry about it.
If you have trouble getting in range and staying there, don't feel it's you getting it wrong. A few people have difficulties - I was one - and it is no fun feeling unsettled about being only just in range, or having tests too far apart. Speak out if you are unhappy about anything and discuss it with a doctor rather than the INR nurses.
Hi Rellim296, thanks for the suggestions, very helpfull!
While I dislike taking warfarin I do not want to stop my greens or glass of red wine. I am on 8 mg of warfarin and often wonder how low my dosage would be if I cut the out wine and greens.
Well if that was me I would want to find out!!!
The only way is to stop greens and wine for a month but then my INR would shoot up and I expect that would not result in the INR nurse making much of a reduction in my dosage.
I was on two monthly checks with my INR 2.5. When I went last week it was 3.6. The nurse asked if I had any changes to medications. Not really I had changed from one PPI to another the week before.
I had missed out on broccoli a few times as we had run out between online grocery orders. I had missed out on wine a few times as my digestion had been playing up hence the change of PPI. I don't think that was enough for such a leap in INR.
The nurse reduced my warfarin from 8mg to 7.5mg and will check it again next week, actually it will be a different practice nurse.
I have the feeling that alcohol makes your INR go up, so your wine and greens might be balancing each other, seasider 18. There's a short list of things that raise INR - chick peas, ginger, mangoes and alcohol spring to mind. How much exercise you take might have an influence and I feel people who walk a lot tend to take a higher dose of warfarin.
Actually I think mangoes and grapefruit too tend to be a bit dubious as far as INR goes, though not as much as cranberries which can make INR spike.
One can be too introspective about it all. Eat, drink and be merry!
This business with cranberries and Warfarin I don't think is anything to worry about. I have recently started taking Warfarin for PAF, I also take Cranberry tablets everyday because I suffer with frequent Uti's and it might just be coincidence but it does seem to help. I was told to carry on taking them if I always have, in fact not to change my diet at all, just keep it the same whilst on wArfarin.
I was on warfarin from 17 to 36 (19 years) followed by 13 years of Aspirin and now I'm once again embarking on a "rest of life" relationship with Warfarin. Things have changed a bit since I was first prescribed Warfarin and I was very unsure to begin with but it turns out it's like riding a bike! I haven't changed my diet at all as the anticoagulant clinic have told me that they will accommodate whatever I eat which is great as I eat lots of "green" things. Try not to worry about it too much, it really isn't as scary as all that.
The thing to do is be consistently with the green things and not binge then nothing for days or a week or two.
Hi Greenb. Im 62 and been on Warfarin for at least 6 years. Like you, I was upset that I had to start taking it. But you know what! Its been fine, nothing to worry about my friend. You will have to go for regular blood tests, but when you get used to it, its not a problem. I've had no side effects or any problems with it, my doctor said to me once, if every one was on Warfarin, there would be no such thing as Strokes. Thats got to be a positive in my book. Hope this helps. Good Luck and best wishes. Regards Barry.
I had a choice between a tissue arotic valve replacemen that would need replacing after 15 years but no warfarin or a mechanical valve that would not need replacing but with warfarin. One pill a day for the rest of my life seemed the better option than more surgery so i chose warfarin
Off warfarin 
Warfarin preferred to NOACs ?
warfarin
Anticoagulants - Warfarin v NOACs
