I would like to know which INR home testing kit Dr. Hugh's suggest, and if my INR needs to be at 3.8 to 4 on serum draw what should it be on self test, I have been incorporating more greens in my diet and it has been hard adjusting my warafin
I think self testing would help?
Thanks
Hi
I use the coaguchek XS which I think many people do. You would need to run parallel tests with a vein draw and your machine to see what difference, if any, there is.
Kelly x
I agree with what is being said here. MaryF
I'm also in th uk and was advised/told not to increase my greens because of too much vitamin K interferes with Warfarin There's so much confusion with APS
The thing with Warfarin and INR is CONSISTENCY, especially with K-vit rich food and vegs.
We need the green vegetables as they are good for us but they reduce the INR if you start to eat MORE of them one day and if you eat less of them they will raise the INR.
If we do like that, we must observe our therapeutic level more often, otherwise we may have to change the Warfarin-tablets and that can be difficult, especially for those who do not selftest.
I try to eat the same amounts every day. But if I test and see that I am too high in INR I eat a little more of broccoli that evening and that is easier than to change the tablet with 1/4 (I take 2 tablets = 5 mg). It takes only 15 hours to reduce the INR and if you reduce the tablet it takes 2 - 3 days. As I selftest every second day (I have all three antibodies incl Lupus Anticoagulant in high titres since several years) I now know my body and how it reacts. What I want to say is, that if you do like I do, you have to have a close watch on your INR.
I have a close contact with my hospital here in Stockholm and the blood-Specialists and I have done double-tests both in vein and in finger within 4 hours very often for a long time to know if there is a difference. There is a difference between vein and fingerprick-test for me but it is important that the DIFFERENCE ALWAYS IS THE SAME, with a discrepence of 0,1 - 0,4 in INR which is ok. I still go to the lab every second or third month to double-control the INR in my vein.
Best wishes from Kerstin in Stockholm
Kerstin, What brand of machine do you use?
I use Roche-machine, CoaguChek XS and with it CoaguChek Softclix.
I know nothing about "patent" and things like that.
I have used it for almost 5 years and it has worked for its purpose.
Kerstin
What is "softclix"?
It is the "machine" you use to take the blood from your finger with a lancett.
Kerstin
Apologies didn't know there was a machine for this I just use a regular ole lancet. Thanx for the info tho
As my English is not good enough I called it "machine". It looks like a very big pencil. I do not know what a "ole lancet" is either.
I got it together with the CoaguChek. here in Stockholm, in a special case for all the things we have to use.
Could you please tell me if you are Lupus Anticoagulant (could be difficult to selftest) and also if you have an APS-Specialist? Has he suggested that you should selftest?
You have put 4 questions on here but never answered back on our advices to you. We are trying to do our best to help. Could be nice to have an answer to know if we succeed.
Kerstin
I am lupus anticoagulant, I also have a Hemotologist that manages my warafin.
I have read the book by Dr. Terry Whals, she had a form of MS that was progressive and was not able to walk and had to be in a zero gravity chair, she has put her MS in remission through food, she now rides her bike to work!! She is a professor at the University of Iowa.
I am trying her protocol which in her book she covers people on warafin and you have to adjust and this is why I am looking into self testing
Thank your for your answer!
But this is not MS even if they often are "mixed up". You have got APS and I hope that you also have a Hematologist who specializes in our illness. That is exstremely important to have; a) a diagnose , b) a Specialist who knows that we have too thick blood and knows how to treat us.
The INR can be difficult for you to handle if you have Lupus Anticoagulant. You must compare the vein-blood at a lab with your fingerprick-test within 4 hours several times to see if you have the same difference between the two, with a discrepence of 0,1 - 0,4 which is said to be ok.
Otherwise you are "sailing in the blue" (Swedish).
Many things (not only food) may change the blood and INR, like exercise, new drugs, viruses, alcohol etc etc.
Good luck!
Kerstin
This is for autoimmune disorders, hers happened to be MS.
I am in USA. I self test with Roche coaguChek. With prescription from my Dr. Initially when I had my blood drawn I pricked my finger within the hour there after for comparison. Luckily my finger stick was off by very little, like .5-1. My doc, as well as, I were comfortable with this. I am positive for all three LA, anticardiolipin and I can't remember the third....apologies. The prescription covers the machine and the strips. My doc also gave me a prescription to have my blood drawn weekly or whenever needed. So far it's been successful. Knock on wood( means: ward off any voodoo, bad luck for those in other countries to understand!)
Can't wait for trials to finish so I can use something different then warfarin🙏🏻
Self testing approval in the USA
