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Gastric bypass / mechanical heart valve / Warfarin

Kimstyles profile image
5 Replies

Hi has any one on here had a gastric bypass and a mechanical heart valve , my self and a good friend have and we both really struggling with fluctuations in our INR. my friend is worse than mine going from 1.1 to 12 in two days ?

Mine swing but not as dramatic as her I can go from 1.8 to 4 /5 in three days , we both self test because of our fluctuating levels .I’m 7 year post gastric bypass and 5 year post cardiac and aortic mechanical valve replaced,

My friend had mitral Mechanical valve replaced first may be ten years ago ? then gastric bypass 6 years ago .

As every one know we have to be on Warfarin and we can’t take alternative

We just wondering if it’s just us or other that had gastric bypass and replacement mechanical valve has similar Duffy with their INR

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Kimstyles
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Smarticus profile image
Smarticus

Hi, I cant comment directly on your question, but two things, INR is greatly affected by your diet and hydration levels, has anything changed? The home monitors as good as they are aren't super acurate. If I was getting swings like that I would speak to my GP to get blood based tests for a while, things should settle down once you find the correct dose again. HTH

Annaelizabeth profile image
Annaelizabeth in reply to Smarticus

I self test and have done for the past 15 years, like you warfarin with prosthetic mitral valve and now pacemaker. The warfarin levels can fluctuate wildly for no apparent reason, you are an old hand at this so you know the spinach, kale asparagus etc route. Check you vitamin pill that there is no vit K. I maintain a level between 2.5 and 3.5, it can go up and down in-between which is perfectly acceptable. I am sure I am teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, maybe there is something there for you - good luck!

Kimstyles profile image
Kimstyles in reply to Annaelizabeth

Hi thanks we have to take vitamin pill as we had gastric bypass the hospital dietitian recommendation

the ones I’m on

, if we don’t take Vit we can have serious Neurological problems my friend has some of these ( this is the side effect of gastric bypass )

We are really looking for other who had gastric bypass and heart valve mechanical replace. , We think it’s a problem and need to be look at ,

I told my heart surgeon about gastric bypass and in reflection perhaps should have bio valve nothing I can do now but pay it forward and make sure other who had gastric bypass are aware

Kimstyles profile image
Kimstyles in reply to Smarticus

No it’s been like this since my heart operation Season don’t seem to make much difference we thing it the malnutrition from the bypass effecting medications

and I’m under the warfarin clinic My GO written but nothing can be done

Smarticus profile image
Smarticus in reply to Kimstyles

I'm sorry, well beyound my knowlege or imagination then... Have you tried the BHF nurses?

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