Strategies for keeping vitamin K intake constant

[gazaeee]

Hi all,

I would love to know how many of you are able to maintain relatively constant K intakes for consistent INR?

I've been on Warfarin for around 11 weeks and struggling with it. Before my clots I was a bit random with my intake and probably could say didn't eat much greens. When I was out on Warfarin for clots, I freaked out and literally tried to stop eating any K as it felt like the only way to manage it. I've since read in here that's a bad idea because it is impossible to maintain, the body needs K and because it can lead to bigger fluctuations if you do end up taking some.

Since then I've mellowed at bit but I'm still struggling with what to eat. Im on 3 meals a day and have been alternating breakfast between porridge (organic) with honey and Weetabix. Breakfast is the only meal I feel good about.

As for lunch and dinner I really struggled for ideas in the knowledge that I need to get the right nutrition from it. I used to eat alot of potatoes, white bread/pasta and rice which I've since totally cut out after reading it has very little nutrition and leads to sugar spikes (worried if they've been playing a part in some of the symptoms I've been getting a few weeks in on Warfarin). Also used to eat alot of garlic, olive oil in my foods which I was told to avoid.

Would really really appreciate some help.

I just ordered a book Dr Coumedin hoping it may help and I'll need to update my clinic. Wondering also if my target INR of 2.5 should be changed now with my first APS blood result coming back positive

[gazaeee]

Used to like curries too but they're always loaded with Garlic, Turmeric and Ginger which I heard interact alot with Warfarin!

[daisyd]

Hi I am on Warfarin range 3-4 as most people with Hughes syndrome I believe,I would check with your Doctor

Vit k I try and eat about the same amount everyday but don’t go mad on high vit k products

Look at WellLife vit K registry, I have found it really helpful

[gazaeee in reply to daisyd]

Thanks Daisy. Yes after seeing what people on here say, my target INR of 2.5 does seem low! I'll take a look at the WellLife.

[Fra22-57]

Well with having to shop on line my order arrives with items not available or substituted so struggle with what can buy I asked for different greens and ended up with one cabbage.my haematologist told me to eat less greens so that cabbage has lasted me nearly 2 weeks kept in fridge. My INR stays stable for so long but then goes haywire up n down.I get poor support.my INR is 3-4 The good people on here advised my INR to be raised from 2.5-3

[judes]

With warfarin the best diet you can do is be consistent no matter what the food is but particularly Vit K

For example I eat the same amount of broccoli every week, lots of ways to cook it, doesn’t always have to be boiled.

As for garlic I do use a lot of it, a small amount goes in most meals, but again it’s a consistent amount.

I do avoid ginger but that’s cos I don’t like it very much! Also weirdly liquorice isn’t a good idea, after 20+ years on warfarin only recently find that out, which proves we are always learning.

J

[veganworld]

Hi

I am very into how food affects this condition as you can tell from my vegan world title. I eat a lot of veg including greens but try to make sure I eat the same amount each week. Three times a week I have a different green such as kale spinach or broccoli. I was advised by the clinic eat what I want but keep it to the same amount each week. I found benecol yoghurts for me always bought on a spike. I have mainly found for me that cutting out gluten makes me feel a heck of a lot better. If you get a self testing machine you can keep a food diary and test weekly and work it out but you the advice I was given is that you shouldn't need to cut out foods because of APS.

Take care

Kaz xx

[GinaD]

Well... I'm the weird one. I was advised by 2 doctors, back when I was first diagnosed, that fluctuating warfarin dosage IN SOME PATIENTS resulted in a more stable INR. They experimented with me and found that I was a "fluctuating" patient. In the 20 years ( plus 5 earlier years) I have been out of range 5times: 3 times too low and twice too high. The explanation is that in some patients, the body tries to compensate for the effects of warfarin and even though a patient stays constant in food and dosage, the INR will tend low.

Now, this is a very unusual, unsubstantiated medical opinion. And given that, a later GP wanted me on a strict, same day dosage. I complied and guess what!? Thats when the fluctuations started.

Now I take 6 mgs, Sun, Tues, Thurs and Sat with 7mgs Mon, Wed, Fri and my INRs have been downright boring. Again, this is the equivalent of a medical rumor. But for me --I remain cognizant of what.i eat, knowing which foods work with, or against the effects of warfarin. But I have learned that for me, I avoid liver ( which is loaded with vitamin K) and I pay more close attention to my INR when I am ill or when I am traveling. And remember - your warfarin dosage should accommodate your eating a healthy diet with lots of green veggies -- and NOT the opposite.

Usually I eat 2-3 servings of K vegetables a day. And if I grate some ginger into a dish I eat for a day or 2, I again, note no INR changes.

And this site is wonderful for managing our illness! However, the presentation and management of this syndrome is very individual. If you ever see a chart of the coagulation cascade you will note that there are a lot of dominoes in that chain. Hughes Syndrome may involve allergic reactions to varying dominoes, which may account for our varying effective treatments. But most of us do finally settle into a medicine, food and lifestyle regime and return to our normal lives. For me? My only change was obeying my hematologist request that, given the chances of an accident, I should give up mountain biking and stop my plans to learn to ski. Which I did. Oh well.

[christylee]

I had been making a green smooth every night prior to blood clots and warfarin so just kept it up with same amount of kale every day and my medication was adjusted to the greens. With covid, I just did not trust fresh veggies from what I have seen people do to veggies in the past so I am now off my green smoothy