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Artificial Heart Valve Surgery & Living with Warfarin: UK Info Support Group

Madeleine M Female London United Kingdom: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Home testing - getting a good sample
14 Replies

Much to my amazement, the anti-coagulation clinic have agreed for me to do home testing. My INR has only been in range twice, but they say I am stable enough even though I have had some very low…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Madeleine M on Friday.

Warfarin - Low INR
6 Replies

I'm now 8 weeks post op, and am still struggling to get to a therapeutic INR.I have an ATS valve, and my surgeon said I should aim for an INR between 3-4. My anticoagulation clinic have changed my…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by John French Jan 31.

Cardiac rehab
3 Replies

Hi,This is my first post here. I had an aortic root and valve replacement 7 weeks ago, and the hospital said I would be referred for rehab at my local hospital.I have not been sent an appointment,…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by John French Jan 17.

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Madeleine M replied to Bobby Thompson Jr.'s discussion 'If you could do it over again..'

The one thing that I wish I had practised before my surgery was getting up and shifting my position in bed without using my arms. The weight bearing restrictions include using your arms to help you move about, so when I slid into an uncomfortable…

Saturday

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Ok, time to eat a slice of humble pie. The clinic did call back at 6pm and apologized for not returning my call yesterday.

Friday

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

I don't feel more in control today. I know my INR is low, but no-one from the clinic has called me back. Actually, that is not true. A health care assistant called me at lunch time, and promised me a warfarin nurse would call…

Friday

olly sagar replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

I agree, don't despair! As have said before, the way Warfarin levels vary in all who take it is still a medical mystery! Everyone's different. The joy of the Coagucheck is that you are more in control and it's so much easier to keep…

Feb 16

John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

I have steadily increased does to 9.5 mg now. Every time I increase the does INR stays stable for a couple of weeks and then falls. Does is increased and the cycle repeats. It really does seems that my body gets used to the warfarin so metabolises…

Feb 16

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

My warfarin dose keeps rising too. I would not be surprised if it goes above 10 mg a day, I'm on 8.5 mg a day at the moment. A dose which works one week is insufficient the next. I'm really looking forward to when I have stabilised, and I…

Feb 16

John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Madeleine - once you find what works for you in getting the blood onto the strips it should be more straightforward - hopefully. My anti Coag clinic returns calls when I leave messages on their answerphone. The INR levels are a bit of a mystery…

Feb 16

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

My practice nurse was not much help when I went to see her. She tried twice to prick my finger, and both times got an error 5 message. She said that she thought I would struggle to use the machine because my fingers are so thin, and my hands are…

Feb 16

Elaine Howlin replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Hi Madeleine I have found that washing my hands in warm water helps to produce a better flow of blood and also makes the skin a bit softer therefore enabling the lancet to penetrate easily. Also try letting your arm hang down for a little while as…

Feb 12

olly sagar replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

The advice is not to massage the finger as this can affect the sample. Try putting finger tips in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes then making sure you keep your arm (and them!) pointing downwards until you've got the sample. Try pricking…

Feb 12

John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

I did the same when I tried the side of the finger - I kept increasing the lancet setting and still didn't get enough blood onto the strip.

Feb 10

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Thanks. I had my setting at 4 for the side of my finger, so I will reduce it when I try again on Monday.

Feb 10

John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Madeleine - I have my lancet set to 2 but probably could get away with less to be honest. I found that using the finger tip rather than the side was better in two ways - it seems to be more reliable in getting the right amount of blood and it is…

Feb 10

Madeleine M replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

I have been pricking the side of my finger, so perhaps that is where I have been going wrong too. My clinic also like to prick the finger tip, but I do find it more painful, so tend to ask them to do the side. However, if pricking the end of the…

Feb 10

Madeleine M replied to Curtis Huebner's discussion 'New to here'

Hi Curtis, My surgery was almost three months ago and was also my first operation. I was really nervous, and still do not like anything medical being done to me. The actual surgery and recovery was not as bad as I had anticipated. My op was to…

Feb 10

John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'

Madeleine - when I first tried taking a sample I followed the advice in the Coaguchek manual/ DVD and pricked my finger in the side as suggested.I wasted two or more strips as I never got enough blood to satisfy the test. I tried deeper and deeper…

Feb 9

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At 12:03pm on January 17, 2012, Graeme said…: Hi Madeleine,

and welcome to the MHV Forum! I notice that you have mentioned Marfans in your profile so maybe you might like to hook up with our sister site over at Aortic Dissection as we have a few Marfans syndrome members on this site as well. Dont be backwards either about reaching out to any of us - we are all here to help you as well as one another!

cheers

Graeme Archer

Founder

MHV Forum