I’m fairly new to being on warfarin following valve replacement , but it’s taking awhile to get the dosage stable, despite tying to be consistent with my diet. The nurses at my surgery are great but recently my reading was very low just before we went away. The nurse suggested less green food and increase dose by ½ mg. Also to take daily aspirin as instructed by the consultant as the level was so low, until it was back in range. My worry was that while away I had no sense of my level and whether to continue the aspirin! The advise from the nurse was to watch out for nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Neither of which I had when my levels were was to high before.
I would be interested to hear if anyone has a home testing kit and where from.
TIA
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LGBE
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Hi I got my Coaguchek INRange machine from Williams Medical Supplies (wms.co.uk). I rang to place my order and they were really helpful and delivery was very quick (2 days). Added bonus is that you don't have to pay VAT as the machine is for a long term condition. It's great for checking my INR levels and I only have to go to the clinic twice a year to get it calibrated against their machine.
I have been on warfarin for 48 years now. Like you my inr was out 2 days before going on holiday. That was 8 years ago. I was on the Isle of Mull. I spent 2 days looking for a practice to get tested? Thinking I. Would have to wait a couple of days for the result.low and behold thay had acoaugchek machine and I had a result right away. So I thought I am having 1 of these machines. I put my case to the GP. He was not to keen but he foworded my case to the local health board and thay were all for it. I bought the machine and the health board supplied the strips via the GP the cost of the strips is about 60 pounds for 24 as far as having the machine calibrated twice a year that is a fallacy. Each pack of 24strips comes with a new chip that is what calibrates the machine automaticallyPs. Dose to suit diet don't diet to suit your dose
Goaug uchek bought direct from goaugchek UK and I will say again it it the micro chip that comes with each pack that calibrates the machine. So if you are testing weekly after 24 weeks new pack and the new chip thar comes with the pack is inserted in the machineYour's werd
Hi there, i am new to warfarin too, im just 16 weeks post op. My husband invested in the coagucheck machine for me, so we could check at home. I go to clinic weekly [ currently] as my INR has been low, to the point that i had to inject myself due to my new valve. Once i am happy that my INR is stable, i will probably switch to home testing only, but as others have said you will need to get the machine calibrated. For me, the peace of mind knowing you can check your INR anytime is well worth the investment. We do go away for weekends alot so its good if you do miss a clinic appointment too. I do find that the nurses are very reluctant to increase warfarin too quickly as its a sensitive medication. But i am sure once you find the right dose it will settle. I know we shouldnt eliminate any foods from our diet, i tend to avoid leafy green veg and only have a couple of blueberries per day (trying to avoid fruit and veg high in vitamin k). Its all a bit of experimenting but its also very worrying. I hope you get your levels stabilised soon.
I'm 4 months post surgery but am resting getting Coagucheck machine because I become obsessive with things and now that I would be checking much more than I need to.It's taken the full 4 months for my INR to settle but my clinic appointments are now monthly after being twice weekly, weekly and then fortnightly.
There is a lot more discussion of this on the sister forum for Afib, so I invite you to take a look.
In your release notes from hospital, it should state all the medicines you are to take. It should also state the ideal range the surgeon set for your valve.
More care is needed in the first year. it does settle down. For instance, in the first year I bruised my hands pushing a push-chair for an hour over rough ground. Subsequent years were no problem.
I have been self dosing since my mitral valve was replaced in 1993. I then worked abroad, and would get a blood test whenever I wanted to, then do my own dosing. Then I purchased the machine most people use: coaguchek which is currently sold and supported by Williams Medical Supplies Product Code - W3706
Some people persuade their GP to buy it for them. Many people buy it themselves, then some manage to get the strips on prescription. Others, like myself, have to cough up and buy their own test strips. They come in tubs of 24 with a shelf life of about a year. At the beginning, some people find it hard to use the machine -- it requires a different technique to diabetes test strips.
Some people self-test, then phone their anticoagulation nurse for advice on the dose. Others self-test and self dose, and do an annual comparison with venous blood.
Hi. I bought my coaguchek machine from Williams medical supplies as Roche told me they were the official supplier. It cost £295. I still go to the inr clinic as my level has been unstable for the majority of the time that I’ve been on warfarin. It’s only ever been in range for a few weeks at a time as I seem to forever be on new medication or antibiotics which the warfarin doesn’t like. I like the reassurance of going to the inr clinic and while I can self test I tend not to do it very often. I’m hoping to use it on holiday though and have an agreement with the inr clinic that I can email my results and they’ll tell me my doseage. I’m prescribed the testing strips only for holidays and otherwise I have to pay for them. It can get expensive as there’s a technique to getting the right amount of blood. ILowe gave me some good advice but it’s trickier than it seems. For example, the pharmacist told me that if I squeezed my finger too much I could damage the platelets in my blood and get a false reading?? I know some people on here are able to calculate their own dose and rely wholly on self testing. You need to do whatever suits you best. Good luck.
Hi,3 years post op here and on warfarin. Like you I had a real problem initially getting the dosage of warfarin right. I think some of it may be the body getting used to the new medication. Anyway, I am now settled on 8.5mg and don't remember the last time I changed it.
I use the Roche Coagucheck home testing machine, the same as most people, and currently test myself about once per month (or if I have had a few beers). The local INR clinic then see me about every six to eight weeks. The reading does fluctuate a little between 2.3 - 2.8 (target of 2.5), so no real big deal. I have had it as high as 3 also. I have now been in range for over 2 years (crosses fingers) and I do think the home testing helps enormously. I had to buy my own machine and strips, but it is well worth the spend to alleviate stress.
Good luck, I am sure it will all work out in the end.
I have the coagu chek machine really easy to use and gave me reassurance when needed. Also much nicer just a finger prick rather than a needle in your arm. I set it up with the anti coagulation clinic and now just email them my results and if needed they adjust my dosage by return email. I’ve recently been back into hospital and a change of medication was messing with my inr so again it’s been great!
Hopefully that helps I had to buy it myself but it really helps me settle any anxiety.
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