With warfarin, 2.5-3.5 is actually a pretty narrow range. I can't ADVISE you to do this because of forum rules, but you'll probably save money versus what Alere is charging.įinally - although a doctor told you that your range should be 2.5-3.5, I wouldn't stress too much about 2.1. If your insurance doesn't cover your InRatio strips, you may consider buying them online. (My recent warfarin refill came with a pamphlet that perpetuated some of the errors in anticoagulation information, describing warfarin as a 'blood thinner' and warning against eating greens - people usually just throw these things away, but if they actually DO read them, they're seeing wrong advice). You can have 'thick' blood and a low INR and 'thin' blood with a high INR. We have the first person who mistakenly called anticoagulation 'blood thinning.' The two aren't related. In regards to your blood flowing more easily than usual - I'd like to clear up that this really has little to do with your INR. The quality controls on the strips helps increase confidence in the test (I avoided the word ASSURE in describing this), but for a meter to be used in a clinical testing, there should be some pretty good accuracy and reliability engineered into the unit.Īs long as your strips are current, your tests should be pretty accurate. I don't know how many thousands of tests were run on the meter, or how long it sat unused. I've been using an InRatio (the original) that I bought from a vendor on eBay who bought it from a hospital or clinic that upgraded. The doctors had me go for several extra INR tests at the lab and take Lovenox shots then as well, until my INR got above 2.0 on the initial startup with warfarin.Īs newmitral said, your meter should be fine. I should note that it took an equally long time to get me in range when I first went onto warfarin after the OHS to replace my valve. Now, I can't say whether my experience is typical or not, but in my case returning to "warfarin stability" after bridging seems to take a long time. It was not until three weeks of being back on my regular dose of warfarin that my INR got back into range at 2.5 on the test at week 3. Two weeks of taking warfarin after my surgery, my INR was still only up to 2.1, at which time I stopped the Lovenox since I was close enough and with the ON-X valve I felt I could be a bit loose with the target range lower end. I helped it a bit in the second week by taking a bit over my normal dose (13.5 to 14 mg) for a few days.Ī full 7 days of taking warfarin after the surgery, my INR was only up to 1.2, and I was continuing to take the Lovenox shots because the INR was remaining so low. After my most recent surgery this January, it took 3 weeks for my INR to get back into range taking my regular dose. Like you, I also take a fairly high dose (12.5/day) to maintain the 2.5-3.5 target INR range. I have had to bridge with Lovenox twice since I started taking warfarin in May of 2011. I'd appreciate any feedback you could give. Sorry for the length of this post, but I had several questions. Is there a life span for these machines? Could that be the reason for the ups & downs in my INR? I've changed the batteries to make sure it is testing accurately. When I ordered the strips from Alere, I didn't want Medicare to have to pay for another machine so I've continued using the one I purchased. Basically between July of 2007 and October 2011, I did not use my machine. Because BCBS wouldn't reimburse me, after I returned, I contined to go to Coumadin Clinic. I purchased my own InRatio machine in 2007 to take on a long trip. ![]() ![]() Now my INR is 2.1 as previously stated.ĭo Lovenox shots have residual affects? I self-test & because of the ease with which the blood flowed onto the test strip this morning, I felt my INR would have been high. I had begun taking krill, in addition to the Omega 3s I'd been on for 4 years based on recommendation from cardiologist. The morning of the evening I began taking the Lovenox shots, my INR was 5.1. To maintain that range, I usually take 12 mg 5-6 days a week & 10 the other day or two. ![]() My range for a mechanical aortic valve is 2-5 - 3.5. Now I've been back on coumadin for 7 days. I gave myself Lovenox shots for those days. My cardiologist thought this was too long, but radiologist said that was her requirement, so we went with her regime. However, due to a scheduled breast biopsy, I was told I had to stop coumadin for 7 days prior & 2 days post. I wish I would have taken the time to post my question pre-procedure. It's been so long since I posted, perhaps 5 or so years, that I can't remember my registered name.
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