Home INR Monitoring

I was wondering for all of us on Warfarin (Coumadin) for atrial fib if anyone is doing home INR monitoring? I know the requirements and have done a lot of research on it and am thinking about it. The people who run the our local INR clinic may be RNs but they really only know to follow the guidelines set up by the physicians and the person I'm dealing with wants my INR between 2.5 and 3 even though my providers and I have agreed that 2-2.5 is better for me. I've had a relative who died of a brain bleed while on anticoagulants and I have extreme bruising when my INR is greater than 2.5. Enough said but I just don't want to deal with that group anymore and believe I can manage my INR better in the home program. If anyone is doing it which meter are you using an how has it worked for you? You can respond here or by private email if you prefer. Thanks. Dottodot

4 Comments

HELLO

by mytrose43 - 2009-08-24 09:08:26

thought about it and what a great idea .Unfortunatly the tester is very expensive as are the strips,l looked into it and the price ranged from $750 -$1000 for the metor and strips were like 5 bucks apiece or close to it, If you find a cheaper model plase lt us know,I had a situation that i lost almost 3/4 of my blood and almost dies so i know what coumadin can do first hand and would love to test without going to the lab.

Valerie

Blood Thinners for afib

by ElectricFrank - 2009-08-24 11:08:29

It is only a matter of time before some new research project shows that blood thinners for afib don't pass the risk-benefit test.

They are very effective, however, in treating Physician Anxiety.

frank

Home INR Testing

by dottodot - 2009-08-25 08:08:58

For those of you who are in the US Medicare covers the meter and weekly testing strips. You need to have a provider who is able or willing to be available as the results need to be sent to them and they need to agree to manage any adjustments. The Medicare change that allows for home testing for atrial fib was effective in 2008. Not all persons are candidates and there is an educational requirement, etc. Many insurance companies are also covering this. One of the requirements is that the individual would do testing once a week and the data out there shows that these patients are managed more apporopriately. Also for frank and I agree there is a clinical trial going on-just completed phase 1 for a procedure called the Watchman Device where a filter is placed in the left atrial appendage. They believe 98% of strokes from afib come from this area. My EP told me that phase 1 didn't show any different results than managed by coumadin but there are exciting things out there and Frank I agree with you. dottodot

INR testing

by jeanmarie - 2009-08-25 10:08:17

dottodot, thank you for the information, I am on 5mg of coumandin and seems like every 2 weeks it has to be adjusted, would love to have my own testing device, did not know medicare would take care of it, I will be looking into this..again thank you

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

I love this new part of me, and very, very thankful that this technology exists and I know that it's all only going to get better over time.