those who take warfarin

[bugsy]

<span style="color:#FF6666"><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:100%">Hiya style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif

Those of you that take warfarin - how often do you get tested.

I went to the clinic for my INR check on wednesday and it is 2.6 which is fine for me as my target is 2.5 - so they have left me on the same dose of 10mg daily but i don't go back for it re-checking for 10 weeks thats gonna be august before i have it checked again.

I think this is way too long to go between having it checked, i just wondered if anyone else went that long between having it checked - the thing is i have been so unstable for nearly 2 years but it seems that it only takes that once for it to be alright and they leave me for a long time.

I purchased a coagucheck machine for this reason so that i could keep a check on it myself in between visits.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Take care XxX Jo XxX </span></span>

[Christine UK]

<span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#3366FF">
That is just not acceptable if your anything like me that could spell disaster...thank goodness you ahve your own machine HOWEVER it is their responsibility to moniter you...my rheumy would have a fit if they did that to me.
my range is 4/4.5...but its like a yo yo sometimes....
i would definatly jump on it flower....just dreadful x x</span></span></span>

[alobreto]

Hi, Flower! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif
My heavens, that's a LONG time between checks!

Having worked in long term care settings, it was my experience that folks on warfarin whose INRs were stable for at least 6 months, the INR was checked AT MINIMUM on a monthly basis in order to avoid problems. In the event that a problem was found at the monthly check, the time interval was shortened accordingly.

Even in people who were stable, the INR was often checked every two weeks simply because it is much easier to correct a problem when it is caught early.

Take note, though, that this was just my experience in one health care setting. However, since you've had unstable INRs it seems reasonable to me that a MINIMUM of once weekly until stable for a few months would be more in line with accepted practice.

So glad you have your own machine. Did the doc know that and take it into consideration when ordering the test so far into the future? Are you supposed to report results to the doc's office in the interim?
Angela style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[peonyprincess]

I get my PT/INR checked every two weeks. I agree, that is FAR, FAR too long. I would ask your physician why he is waiting so long.



Nancy