Hospital appointments and confined to house.

[hellwung]

Like many of you I am classed as high risk and on various medications. Being on Warfarin and having to go to hospital for my INR tests, my question is do/can I still go to hospital in this virus outbreak when I have been confined to the house for 12 weeks?

[izzyg43]

Hello hellwung.

If I were you give the hospital a ring and ask first before your appointment date.

I get mine done at the gp surgery but Iam in two minds as to go or not as I have been self isolating since last week Iwill give them a ring to see if it is safe for me to go. Hope this helps.

Izzyg

[hellwung in reply to izzyg43]

Thanks for that izzyg43.... Will do as you said and phone them first.

[Hidden]

I got a text reminder about an appointment I knew nothing about on Monday. On Tuesday another text saying not to go to hospital, it would be a telephone appointment. Then yesterday a phone call to postpone because they have to rearrange doctors. Then I discovered this was in response to a request from 2018 when I was in hospital. The department I found was Digestive Diseases. I told him there's nothing wrong now and we cancelled it

[ajaxer]

Yes ,you should still go for blood test.They are taking as many people as they can off of

warfarin and prescribing alternatives that do not require inr tests in future.

[hellwung in reply to ajaxer]

Hi ajaxer.... I hope not ...lol. I have been on a blood thinning drug called Rivoroxaban for 7 years, but due to it contributing to me having CKD my consultant took me off it and only recently put me on Warfarin. I see where you are coming from, but I hope and wish they would stop mucking me about . Apart from my CKD, I was doing OK on my medication.

[kefalonia1]

Unless you have a mechanical aortic heart valve like me, its dangerous to switch from warfarin. l am going to my rural GP and putting my hand through the downstairs window for lNR testing should be fun !

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to kefalonia1]

Easier than the letterbox! 😀

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to kefalonia1]

This could be called "minimally invasive"! 😁

[Ashleigh_BHF]

Hi hellwung

Most hospitals are using telephone appointments now wherever possible, so your INR clinic may have come up with a solution to stop so many people being in the hospital at one time. If your appointment is coming up then call them and they can advise further.

Take care,

Ashleigh

[lilymeg]

Hi Hellwung, I was prescribed Warfarin for life in 2008 and my 3rd DVT. I was on it for 4 yrs with frequent blood tests, then my GP, with assent from my cardiologist put me onto Pradaxa. No more blood tests, it was wonderful, but I still had to take 2 capsules daily. Then I heard about Xarelto, 1 pill per day and no blood tests. I have been on it for 5 years and had two knee replacements, no problems at all. My problems are Leiden Factor 5 and activated Protein C genetic blood clotting problems , Atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal), tachycardia and syncope (that affects my stomach, my bowels and makes my head sweat and I lose strength if I do too much in a short time. I have been seeing a cardiologist for 21 yrs, he has just retired and I am seeing his son next week, he has taken over his father's practice. Yesterday I had a sudden day surgery operation on my hand, ortho didn't want to leave it and Elective surgery is banned as of 1st April. I hadn't by chance had my tablets before the appt and they were using a tourniquet so no problems with bleeding. I have many medical appts for many medical appts and none have been cancelled. I had a Cancer Clinic appt today, I had a mask with me but the receptionist said it was my choice whether I used it so I chose not to and merely practised social distancing and used a lot of hand cleaner, as I did yesterday too. Which have have been doing and will continue to so do. Try not to worry about it, check with the place of appt, you can chose to use a mask I have seen a few people to so and please wash your hand with soap frequently of use a hand cleanser a lot more than you think you need to. Kind regards and best wishes Carole Sarvis in Maianbar, Australia.

[Sodsocks]

I am in the same boat. I am due for an inr test on Tuesday at the doctors so I am going to phone the centre and follow their instructions.