I have not been posting a lot, because I really don't have anything interesting to tell you. And this post is not very interesting, I'm warning you now. I'm doing fine. I had a check-up with my surgeon and everything looks good. I have one more appointment with my cardiologist next month, and after that I might be able to go back to seeing him twice a year.
However, I do pay a visit to coumadin clinic once a week. And I will have to have blood tests at least once a month for the rest of my life.....unless they come out with a new drug that requires zero monitoring.
Having a mechanical valve means taking the anti-coagulant, coumadin. The last thing I want is a blood clot forming on my sweet, new valve, because that clot could cause a stroke.
When I was in the hospital, they started me out on a high dose of coumadin. My PT-INR levels were through the freakin' roof. This is why I was kept in the hospital longer than intended. Releasing me could have been dangerous. Since my blood was extra, super thin, it was risky. They gave me a transfusion and that brought my PT-INR down to a therapuetic level.
Now, I have to go to a coumadin clinc for a weekly finger prick to have my INR tested. Since being released from the hospital it has been too low. For the past two weeks it has been at 1.2 when it is supposed to be at 2.5 to 3.5. When I was in the hospital, it was at 7.
Today, I went for my finger prick, certain that I was going to be therapeutic, but no luck. 1.2! DAmn! Not to worry though, this is not abnormal. Some people are therapeutic from the get go, and other people take long time to get straightened out. Once I get therapeutic, my blood tests will be moved up to once every two weeks. And if I maintain a healthy level after that, once a month.
I hope I didn't make this PT-INR thing sound like a pain in the ass, because it isn't. The coumadin clinic is right down the street from my house, the nurse is a pleasure to talk to, and the test is painless. I like painless!
So, that is it. That is what is going on with me.
Oh, and I'm excited about scouting out cute onesies for Mollie's babyshower
So when do you get clearance to drive around? I'm anxiously picking restaurants for our immenent lunch.
Hey, maybe we can go shopping for Mollie's shower?
Posted by: Julia | March 30, 2004 at 11:27 PM
I chanced across your little corner in cyberspace while doing some research on pyrolithic carbon... of all things. It is really none of my business, but I am aware that there is this self testing rig for PT-INR from ITC called "Protime". It isn't prohibitively expensive to the best of my knowledge -- around $1500. Maybe you should look into that.
Take care and be well!
Posted by: Dwight | March 31, 2004 at 03:03 AM
Glad to hear that things are boring. I've been wondering about you, and hoping things are well. Can your valve write posts when you don't feel up to it?
Posted by: getupgrrl | March 31, 2004 at 11:39 AM
I've been thinking about you as well. I like getupgrrl's suggestion -- put that valve to work so we can hear from you more often. We miss you!
Posted by: Monica | March 31, 2004 at 01:43 PM
I have always been scared of people who take coumadin. Not really scared of them per se, but their blood.
When I was a CNA and worked in the alzheimers unit, one of my tasks was to go around and shave the little old men (and sometimes ladies). Often we couldn't use electric razors because the sound of a whizzing machine coming near their face was much more unpleasant than a 23 year old chick with a disposable razor and a hangover, but whatever.
So I would make my rounds and shave the man who took coumadin for last because shaving him was the worst. First of all he couldn't ever stay still and every 2 minutes he would stop me mid shave ask what I was doing and I would have to explain to him that once again, "I'm here to help you shave down your whiskers Mr. Boyton, is that okay?" and he would say, "Oh, alright, go ahead little missy" So I would start where I left off last time he grabbed my hand and said, "What in the sam hell do you think you're doing little missy?" But not before I got at least 1 nick on his poor wrinkly chin and neck. I always felt so bad and would have to go and get the nurse to help stop the bleeding because he was on the coumadin and it could be dangerous, he could "bleed out". He was the only person I ever cut up on a daily basis and it was because he kept grabbing at my hand the whole time. I don't know why they insisted I get the shaving duties, but I did and ever since then I've been afraid of coumadin patients "bleeding out" on me.
So just be careful Michele and don's let someone like me shave your legs or anything okay?
Posted by: Andreah | March 31, 2004 at 02:22 PM
zzzzzzzz....*snork* huh? What? Did you say something?
It's just that this post was so incredibly...
Oh, Michele, come ON!!! We are all hanging on every word here. We care about you and what's going on. You had OHS, you kooky biscuit! Even if you're having a normal happy recovery, I, for one, want to hear all about it, since I tend to extrapolate and invent in the presence of silence. I mean, even if all you posted each day was, "Feeling fine, had some Funyuns, levels not quite therapeutic," I'd be delighted.
I, too, want to know when you'll be okay to drive, since I need a ride to the store. But you can't take me if you might have some sort of "fit" while driving the car. No way. So I'm going to need a doctor's note, if that's okay.
And if you want boring, wait till you read my next post.
Posted by: mollie | March 31, 2004 at 03:12 PM
Boring is good!! I just wanted to thankyou-thankyou-thank you so much for the gifts for our daughter! I was totally blown away! Can you email me your address so I can send you an announcement after we come home? {{hug}}
Posted by: Carrie | April 01, 2004 at 12:26 PM
Yeah, what Mollie said! Like, EXACTLY....
Posted by: Kendra | April 02, 2004 at 10:49 PM
Hello
My name is Mark. I came upon your corner of cyberspace here and took intrest in your INR posting... I have a St. Jude Mechanical valve in the aortic position and have been on coumadin since 1989 or thereabouts... I have never had any major problems so far...minor fluctuations here and there. I have a doctor who is very knowledgable and does a good job monitoring the INR.... I would recommend you to educate yourself on the whole process and keep a chart of your INR and dosages...
YOU are the one that will suffer the most if something is calculated wrong.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Bunch | May 31, 2004 at 09:17 PM
I'M A COUMADIN PATIENT. I WAS STARTED AT 5.0MG AND MY PT/INR LEVEL WENT UP TO 5.7. I WAS REDUCED TO 2.5MG AND NOW I AM LUCKY IF MY LEVEL GETS UP TO 2.0. WHAT IS THE NORMAL LEVEL IN HUMANS? I MUST NOT HAVE ANY.
Posted by: LEE | July 02, 2004 at 01:24 PM
I know a friend who is taking coumadin she had a mechanical valve trasplant 11 years ago. She is taking coumadin. She wants to have a baby, but it is to risky. If she gets pregnant she has to be switched to hiperin. Do you know someone that got pregnant, and she was taking hiperin during pregnancy and she is okay, and her baby is okay too? Please answer me.
Posted by: Madeline Orbone | April 28, 2005 at 03:14 PM