COUMADEN AND ME

Leaf color's been better. We apparently had August and September and most of October with little rain, but just enough to allow the color to develop somewhat. I guess there was enough residual soil moisture to satisfy deep rooted trees. The smaller trees are turning brown, young walnuts have already all lost their leaves and small oaks are a lovely brown shade

Wow my INR numbers are still not where they should be (I was lucky in the last month). Ive gotta take 5mg one day, then 7.5 the next. Ive got 5 mgs and 3 mgs (Im living on free samples of coumadin till I get this INR set right).

What are some of the combinations I can make with these dose levels?

See? This is why we worry!

(No practical advice, though, sorry...)

I think we all need to be able to email our md's. I can to most of my old ones, and I'm still semi in-touch with them, all clearly of good will, but not yet email connected to the new ones. Need to rectify.. my new optho and I talked about exchanging emails on my last visit, positively (I just know I fascinate him, in all the wrong ways, but I do like him as a person and my probable surgeon). Anyway, we both forgot, what with this and that. (Plus my readings are presently steady state.) Plus I could probably get there through a general departmental email if I really needed to. In the meantime, I probably just have to call to get it, at least shortly.

I'm less sanguine about the boob guy. Maybe he'll retire and handsome-in-the-hallway will take over...

So, farmer, maybe your Observer is available online...

You should consult a pharmacist ( PharmD), who's affiliated with your medical doctor and medical clinic.

Good luck...

well, i have found my own way. I cut 1 3mg and , together with 2 other 3 mg's I get 7.5. Then I have some 5's which, when cut can give me a 7.5 with one 5 and a 2.5. I accumulate a bunch of halves and use em up as they pile up.
They dont make a partial dose. There are some generics but my doc doesnt like them because of QA problems she noticed. I ont know why anyone would scrimp on warfarin, its cheap as hell.

The latest is that theeyre gonna "Paddle" me with a heart starter to restore a normal sinus rhythm. When I was in Argentina, I was worried that it couldve gotten worse and I noted that with too much mjatte or even decaf, the AF was worse. After they paddle me, my docs gonna put me on some rhythm med (I hope its not Jesuit ).

The docs arent too concerned about it unless I start getting pain or lightheadedness. Theyve not really understood why my K levels dont sustain. Im dealing with some really bright guys at Lankanau hospital in Phila, which is a regional cardiac research center along with Penn.

So, Ive just given up chocolate, decaf, as well as leafy greens. Whatother surprises are in store for my dwindling diet.

Damn, for sure don't let those Jesuits put you on the rhythm method. That's how a friend of mine got knocked up (not by me).

yikes! I hope they know what they're doing! When do you go in?

My father-in-law just had this done and it worked like a charm. The mother of a friend has had it done a couple of times, years apart.

Eeeeek! Well, take notes and come back and tell us..

One of my closet friends had his atrial fibrilation "paddled",as I may have mentioned to you earlier (I need to have my memory paddled), and it worked beautifully. I'm confident for you, Farmer (for your PHYSICAL state, that is).

Im afraid Im going to be reduced to a state where I will write something like "Zen and the manual of Motorcycle Repair", or just channel Hunter Thompson.

and the problem is? You might try Dancing Wu Li Masters as well as Zen and the art of Archery and the Tao according to Pooh.

You could do worse.
BTW, with all my zen pretensions, I've not read any of those works. One day; after Proust.

I once sat at a table sorta in the woods overlooking a lake in southern arizona with JLN just chatting away. As I am basically illiterate I enjoyed our conversation and found immense enlightenment from JLN even though that was not all that much agreement. I do believe he lives what he preaches so to speak which, in my mind makes him unique among the "zen budhists I have met before. He has had a profound impact on my understanding (but then so has Alan Watts).

I had no idea the procedure was so common. Glad to hear it is bound to help.

How nice, Dys. It's mutual by the way.

The trouble with being a Rugged Individualist is that medically speaking, one size usually doesn't fit all.

Hold your dominion.

Ive been checking with so many sources about atrial fibrillation and , of all the procedures used to control it,most are loaded with serious side effects or arent effective with long term success. Ive looked into laser ablation of ectopic heartbets and have found that this has an almost guarantee of repeat symptoms.

Ive talked to a guy who, at 72 is a bike marathoner who's suffered from AT Fib for about 15 years and has gone through a number of procedures and is now using a self administered procedure called Val Salva procedure where air pressure is forced up ones throat and held and then released after about 10 seconds. Hes been able to control his symptoms and has suffered no major " walletomectomies" from failed surgical or other invasive procedures.

Ive been learning that nthis At Fib is much more common than I first thought.