BBB is in the hospital

Glad to see you're doing so much better, BBB. Good on you for making the effort to visit the doctor to let him know your outcomes.

Yep, that's him!

He's such a nice guy - no arrogant traits - just friendly competence.

BBB

This is very good news, Butrflynet & BBB.
Wonderful to hear!

Excellent BBB and Butrfly... EXCELLENT NEWS. Thank you for letting us know. xx

The visiting nurse was here today for the first time and did the blood test for the coumadin levels. She also checked mom's blood oxygen levels and they are still going down...now at 93.

Later the nurse called and relayed instructions from the hospital that mom was to double up on her coumadin tonight and the nurse would be back early in the morning to do the test again. Apparently the hospital is concerned about what they're seeing in the test results.

Any of you fellow members of the coumadin club able to shed some light on what might be happening and why they're concerned enough to have her double up on the meds tonight?

We were repeatedly told by folks in the hospital and the Walgreen's pharmacist not to double up on the coumadin if a dose was missed. She's faithfully taking them every night and doing the injections every 12 hours.

Im on it. Ill be back this PM after I talk to a cardiologist friend whose a big coumdain believer..

I believe they are concerned re: clots forming at the lower O2 adsorption.
Remember to have BBB be careful about bumps and bruises at these high coumadin levels. It can be a dangerous thing if she slips and hits herself on furniture. Please dont let her go about on the ice because a fall could be very dangerous at those doses.

I can add very little to FM, I don't know very much. In the hosp my O2 varied between 89 and 91, 90 seemed to be the majic number; I only got the Heparin injections for 3-4 days and then went to Coumadin only, following hosp discharge from hosp my Prim Doc demanded that I see the Coumadin clinic (one at Caseman and one at UNM Hosp) because the Coumadin clinics had IMMEDIATE anaylys results. Apparent the Counmadin level needs to be between 2 and 3. Mine varied between 1.8 and +5 and the Coumadin clinic varied my dosage immediately. I went to the clinic about 2 x weekly until the levels became stabile and then weekly. this continued for about 3 months. Things I had to be watchful about were nose-bleeds, dog claw sctaches (bleeding) and bruising. Diet seemed to be a major factor re my Counmadin levels, I also experienced noticable nauseausa while taking the Coumadin as will as constant chill.
Keep in mind I am essentially stupid and don't know more that than medical professionals treating me.

The nurse is here now. You guys are correct. She says the theraputic level for the coumadin is between 2.0 and 3.0. Mom's is at 1.7 after a week of the coumadin and the lovenox. Her blood oxygen levels are at 9.4 this morning and she's experiencing a slight twinge in her ribs again when she takes deep breaths.

Apparently this is all just the process to stabilize the coumadin levels.

Her coumadin level after doubling up on the dose last night only increased to 1.8 so they are probably going to change her dosage today.

You may be on to something regarding the diet. I read again the list of food items that are high in vitamin k and it seems most green vegetables, especially the leafy green ones, are the culprits that are high in vitamin k. We've been eating lettuce salads regularly for lunch as we have always done.

I'm wondering if we should cut that out and see if it effects the Coumadin levels. I'll talk to the nurse about it when she calls to check in this afternoon.

I remember when dys was dealing with this that different sites I looked at would say no, no, and no re spinach, and others would say a little bit is fine. So, of course, see what BBB's coumadin folk have to say on the subject.

BBB I am so sorry to hear abt yr recent medical problems ! I hope you are much better now and am sending good wishes and good mojo from our little island !

Getting great service from the Home Care staff. Good news. My lung sounded clear this morning. My coumadin count was up at 2.8. Now I'm in the acceptable 2 to 3 zone, which means I may not have to continue the shots much longer and just take the pills. Whoopie!

I've lost 6 pounds in December, which is good for my body. I've been losing about 1 or 2 pounds per week, a healthy rate.

The physical therapist examined me Wednesday. She doesn't want me to use any exercise equipment and confine my activity to walking so I don't create more blood clots. I'm able to relieve some of the tasks that Butrflynet has been doing and I feel a tad more independence.

Poor Butrflynet has a bad cold. So glad it has remained in her head and not in her lungs.

Dolly and Maddy doggies are well and still silly. They are loving the dusting of snow we are getting in the high desert. Not enough to be a problem. Just enough for them to play in.

Happy New Year everyone!

BBB

All good news..

Happy New Year to you both, and the doggies too.

This has come up for hamburgboy as well. The specialist said that while some particular greens were a problem, overall the concern was that there not be big variations in intake. i.e. if he wanted to have salad, he was good to have a small amount each day - not a lot one day and then none for 3 or 4 days.

Keeping things well-balanced in terms of diet seems particularly important with some meds, especially in the coumadin/warfarin range.

Now that you mention that, I remember reading that too - and it makes sense.

The best of luck BBB. That coumadin is a life saver (re-blood clots) if managed carefully. Be conscientious and keep your Latino doctor on his toes.

Just popping in to wish BBB & butrflynet all the very best for 2010. I'm even wishing you quite a bit of boredom, after all the drama & anxiety of 2009!
Seriously, a much gentler year for both of you.

Things are getting organized and the visits from the nurse and physical therapists are reassuring and helpful for both BBB and I. They still have her on the 7.5 dose and today's blood test showed the coumadin levels are still in the therapeutic range.

I'm still fighting off a bad cold. It keeps wanting to drop down into my chest, but so far I've been able to just keep it in my head and throat. If successful, this will be one of the few colds in 20 years that hasn't turned into acute bronchitis. Don't know what to give credit to - the growing number of years since I quit smoking or the flu shot I got. It has zapped a lot of my energy, but I'm over the worst of it I think.


There is a new kind of blood thinner coming out to the US market that we're going to look into. It is supposed to be as good as Coumadin without any of the side effects or frequent testing needed.

http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/heart/articles/2009/12/07/new-blood-thinner-could-replace-warfarin-to-fight.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/news/fullstory_92707.html