I have an INR test next week which means a visit to the hospital and a blood sample being taken.
I have been checking the hospital website to see if this appointment must still go ahead or whether it can be deferred. My INR is fairly stable and it is only checked every 2 months.
Do any of my fellow warfarin takers have any info on this? We must all have to have these checks.
My dentist is now closed so hoping I don't get a toothache....
I have had textbook INR results for years and on a very personal level I have a mind to not go for my INR tests for the time being as I have a number of underlying issues that put me firmly in the at risk category.
I am not telling anyone else to adopt this action and it is important to be guided by your doctor/hospital.
Pete
I missed a test some time back because of a mix up and they got quite stroppy about it, threatened to stop testing me if I couldn't be bothered to turn up.
Tried to phone the hospital but just not getting through, and I don't want to be a pest, but I am in the high risk category also....really just want to know if anyone has cancelled a test, or had a test cancelled to reduce the risk or the pressure on the health service?
I has to be your call. I would advise talking to your GP surgery for guidance.
Pete
Can you email the anticoagulation department? Here on the S coast I can email the anticoag department in Chichester with my self tested INR results and get a response the same day. However, I haven't tried recently!
I've been ringing them and leaving messages, but so far no reply. I spoke to the reception but they say they only work half day and some people are out....I'll just keep trying.
I self test from home with my own handheld device. Did it this morning. Kool! I have rung the INR result to my GP surgery and will soon get a return phone call telling me my next dose and test date.
What do you self test with?
If only it were that easy for me! (see my reply further on)
I had this problem too and my surgery will only accept hospital blood tests. I have a Coagucheck machine and also a very stable INR and I check my own blood from time to time if I am worried. However I asked if they would accept my own readings and they wouldn't unless I attend the hospital for a complicated verification that my machine corresponds with theirs. Obviously at this time attending the hospital for this and risking exposure to the virus is out of question so I'm stuck!
I finally got through to the anti-coag clinic and they said the blood test dept is still working normally so I should turn up for my appointment.
The waiting area for blood tests is normally busy, be interesting to see how they cope, I have an appointment booked and it's normally a quick process for me.
Stay safe
Hi reinway,
Well if it were possible I'd phone around other surgeries in your area and see if any of them support a patient self testing with Coaguchek and if so, and if convenient/ suitable for you then switch surgeries.
Meantime, I'd test whenever they say on your handheld device ( even if it means buying your own test strips) as well as going to hospital, and making comparisons with the hospital test results - HOWEVER- I would make the Coaguchek test results the absolute norm.
The point is in these difficult times you just can't rely on a hospital - makes sense to do all your testing on your device - if you amass enough records - and they see enough records of your stability then you'll be able to argue with them.
I take all the results off my device and put them onto a spreadsheet format, I now have years of records.
Finally of course you could make a formal complaint about your GP and local CCG to your MP and you could use the findings of NICE to support you. I had to do this once regarding knee replacement surgery and that soon sorted out the local NHS hospital trust I can tell you.
John
Thank you John for your kind advice and it certainly makes sense to do what you recommend if only I had the courage! Unfortunately to get into a argument with my surgery at the moment is beyond me. I would only go into AF as I am a bag of nerves!
Self-testing machine for checking INR
Dabigatran and INR test. 
Coagucheck INR testing machine
Self testing INR - Provision of test strips on prescription. A follow-up.
