Warfarin or not Warfarin?

[Tickertalker]

First a little background. Around three years ago I was fitted with a mechanical heart valve. Which, of course, means a lifetime of Warfarin. Unfortunately, I suffered a stroke mid-surgery and was transferred to a different hospital. Blood tests showed that my platelet levels were low and the ward doctor, incorrectly, decided that I must be allergic to my blood thinners. He put me on a drip which I later discovered was pure vitamin K. When, a week or so later, they resumed my Warfarin treatment, my liver was so pumped full of vitamin K that it took huge doses for quite some time to budge my reading above 1.0. To be honest, I was terrified for a number of months, convinced that blood clots were unavoidable. None came. So, my question is, am I given Warfarin more as a precaution against clots than a strict necessity? I'm not about to put that to the test, but I do wonder how much I should worry if I lost my bags on holiday.

[Hidden]

You should address questions like this to your health professional either your cardiologist if you are still under them or your GP if you have been discharged back to their care. No-one on here has access to your detailed medical history and the vast majority of members are not qualified to answer your question, and can only comment from their own experience or what they have read. In short there is no substitute for a professional medical opinion specific to your needs.

[Hanibil]

I have been on warfarin since having a mechanical aortic valve in 2005 without any problems, as for losing your bags going on holiday place your medication in hand and hold luggage, that way you should always have medication.

[Wingnutty]

I would be very worried if I lost my warfarin on holiday. You might get away with being OK until you got home, but if you are not, the consequences are anything from mild disability to death which would put a real crimp on your holiday plans. It would be a bit like Clint Eastwood standing over you pointing a magnum 45 with possibly 1 bullet left in the chamber and saying "the question is punk...do you feel lucky".

[Classof1988]

My understanding from my cardiac rehab course is that clotting is likely due to the valve not being tissue but that it would probably be around two to three weeks after stopping Warfarin before it became fatal. However, always follow the recommended procedures and get an INR test asap if you have missed more than one dose. It may help to get an SOS bracelet, these contain your key medical history (which you fill in). They are recognised world wide so if you have lost your supply show the bracelet to a pharmacy or local hospital as evidence that you are taking Warfarin. I have not tried this myself but it should help you (the main purpose of the SOS is to alert medical professionals attending you in the unfortunate event you are unconscious that you are on Warfarin to avoid them giving you inappropriate treatment by mistake).

[Yorkshirehead]

I have been taking Warfarin for 41 years, following replacement of the aortic valve.

No problems to report. Expect variation in INR readings and therefore dosages, and follow instructions from the professionals. This has worked for me.

[ILowe]

"So, my question is, am I given Warfarin more as a precaution against clots than a strict necessity? I'm not about to put that to the test, but I do wonder how much I should worry if I lost my bags on holiday."

Wow, you have good reason to be nervous. But the fact that those with mechanical heart valves are kept on Warfarin and not a newer alternative says something about the importance of Warfarin.

As always, it is a balance of risk. Warfarin protects against clots, which are more likely in Afib and even more likely with mechanical valves. In addition, with all the detailed discussions I have had with health professionals, many would say that high INR is safer than low INR. I am self testing/dosing, and by agreement with my consultant, I try to run high.

When I go on holiday I am paranoid about medicines. I set up three sets, for various places in hand luggage, and give another set to my spouse. I regard airport security where everything is displayed as a thieves paradise. I know people who lost items such as computers at the scanning stage.

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[Julie_O]

You MUST take it to protect your heart valves from clogging up and keep them working! I have two mechanical heart valves and I have extreme health anxiety now x

[Shar28]

My husband has a mechanical aortic valve and warfarin. Last year he needed surgery for an unrelated condition and was referred to cardiology for a check up as it had been a couple of years since his previous one. The consultant he saw happened to be on the hospital’s anticoagulant panel. He aid as my husband has a new-type valve he was ok stopping warfarin for a few days before surgery without having anticoagulant injections until after surgery, when his INR would be tested and proceed in light of that.

So, it depends on the mechanical valve you have, you being in range, and even then, only for a few days.

Obviously, as already said, only to be done under guidance from appropriate doctors and if you're away from home, the warfarin service is international so you can get some.

[Hylda2]

I put enough for a week in my carry on luggage in case my bags go missing