INR readings

[scooterLOVE]

Can anyone explain INR reading and their importance please? My wife needs to be at a 1.8 but is currently at a 1.6. They've put her on a shot to raise her level but we're not sure what that really means. We're very new to this new lifestyle change. 1 week ago she had mitral valve replacement. Thanks

[scooterLOVE]

Her foot also swelled up and hurt after the first shot in her stomach! What does this mean? Thanks

[Midnight_Voice in reply to scooterLOVE]

The international normalised ratio (INR) blood test tells you how long it takes for your blood to clot. it’s informally referred to as ‘blood thinning’, but it isn’t really that.

‘Normal’ people have an INR of 1; those in danger of getting blood clots need a higher reading - less readiness to clot - and 1.6 is very slightly more ready to clot than the 1.8 that has been recommended.

It sounds like she has been put on Warfarin (Coumadin) to raise her INR, though a stomach injection sounds more like heparin, which is much faster acting.

A swollen foot that hurts could well be a clot that has formed there; not a result of the heparin, but another symptom of what the heparin was for. You need to get that looked at urgently; report it to whoever is providing her continuing care, and if you don’t get an answer, go to A&E (the ER).

It’s potentially serious; the misdiagnosis of such a clot as phlebitis killed me in 2005; fortunately they got me back, but I will be celebrating my 20th birthday next year, as well as my more conventional one.

[scooterLOVE in reply to Midnight_Voice]

Wow that's great information & advice. Thank you very much.