Scared to bits about the prospect of warfarin

Oh dear! I don't know my away around the block yet with this website, but I have joined to try and find some support with this latest tribulation of life. Six days after days implantation, I am feeling very optimistic. At the same time worried about the implications of taking warfarin. I am a committed vegetarian and have been thriving on watercress, soya-based products, brocolli, spinach and all the leaves plus asparagus. You name it, my diet has been very high in Vit K. Also, I really enjoy drinking wine.

Is it all doom and gloom from now on?

8 Comments

Eat what you like

by golden_snitch - 2014-08-10 03:08:20

Hi!

Get a home monitoring device to check your INR more regularly (Roche Coaguchek, for instance). Because you can check your INR more often, you'll soon have figured out how the foods you like influence your INR, and then can adjust your Warfarin dosage accordingly. The aim is to eat what you like, and adjust the dosage to that. Also, if you eat vitamin k-rich vegetables etc. very regularly, and about the same amount, your INR is likely to stay stable. You might need a higher dosage of Warfarin, but other than that, you should be fine. The problem is when we eat this stuff every now and then, and have no way to monitor the INR closely. But when you eat it regularly, your INR already reflects that.

In the past, doctors often told patients who were on Warfarin, not to eat this and that at all. There were pretty bad dietary restrictions. Today, this is different. I was on Warfarin for about 8 years, and learned how to home monitor my INR from day one on. I was encouraged to eat whatever I like, and then - in the first couple of weeks or months - check the INR often, so that I get a feeling for how my INR reacts to certain foods, but also for instance to regular painkillers (Ibuprofen, in my case, always increased my INR). I learned to adust the dosage. Within those 8 years, my INR was never too low, and only like three or four times a bit too high (4. something).

If you have doubts about Warfarin, there are new oral anticoagulants out there: Pradaxa (Dabigatran), Apixaban (Eliquis) and Xarelto (Rivaroxaban). These do not interact with foods. Ask your cardio about them.

Best wishes

Inga

why

by Tracey_E - 2014-08-10 03:08:42

Why do they have you on warfarin? Is it just because you have a pm or is something else going on? Simply having a pm is not generally a reason to need a blood thinner. There are a very few drs who recommend it but most do not. Discuss it with your dr because the are diet restrictions need to be considered.

Stop Worrying...

by donr - 2014-08-10 04:08:59

...& learn how to adapt the warfarin to your diet.

There all sorts of warfarin sites on the web that will help you out. Start here. I used them when I started out. Lotsa good info.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whasc.af.mil%2Fdepartments(clinics)%2Fanticoagulationclinic%2Findex.asp&ei=kcnnU6PZNsf_yQSptoHQAQ&usg=AFQjCNEzHVbvwtIV1y_5CU8ux0U7y5qikw&bvm=bv.72676100,d.aWw

This is a site put out by an Air Force base in Texas. Anyone can read what they publish.

If the UK is anything like the US, they will not let you go to self monitoring till you can show that you are stable & faithfully take your meds. Takes at least 3 months. I'll second everything Inga said, especially about being consistent in how much Vit K you eat. I've been on Warfarin for nearly 12 yrs & my experience is the same as Inga's w/ highs & lows.

Donr

Fantastic advice

by PK1960 - 2014-08-11 01:08:31

What Inga and donr said was terrific advice that I would encourage you to follow. You need to be in touch with your body and get everything in sync the best you can. I charted what I ate for a while so I could tell what caused a change and what didn't, then it would change. I took Warfarin probably far longer than I should have since I have had diagnosed Afib since 1985, I am on eliquis now, and am very satisfied with it. The warfarin for me never kept me from my greens, but I was careful. Good luck and take care. Great question!

caveat emptor

by Theknotguy - 2014-08-11 09:08:27

Good advice you've gotten so far. I won't disagree with them. However....

I was one of those individuals who couldn't tolerate rat poison, er, ah, I mean Warfarin. It put me in the hospital six times. My cardiologist would watch his charts, he'd be happy because my blood numbers would match his charts. Unfortunately I'd start to bleed internally, not know it, and end up in the hospital to get a blood transfusion to stop the bleeding. Got really tired of having a colonoscopy every time to check on where I was bleeding.

I'm on Eliquis now, no problems. I've got a different cardiologist too.

So if you start having problems with rat poison, consider switching to some of the newer alternatives. I'd figure one unnecessary trip to the hospital would be a good enough reason to switch.

I hope everything does work out for you.

Consistency

by Mozer - 2014-08-12 01:08:24

I'm on a new blood thinner now, which is heavenly - no monthly lab work. However, before that I was on warfarin for years due to a-fib. My brother who takes warfarin told me a long time ago that you eat what you want to and let the doctor adjust the amount of warfarin to put you within the theraputic zone. The most important thing is to eat the same amount of Vitamin K food every day so that it can be regulated. Therefore he is able to enjoy salad, green peppers, or broccoli, etc. every day and not feel deprived. He just remains very consistent and it works out fine.

Option

by Jackw - 2014-08-15 10:08:32

Xeralto is expensive but I thought it was a good trade off to avoid warfarin. No dietary restrictions and no blood tests. Have been on it for 9 months with no problems.
Oh, I have aflutter and slow hr.

Also....

by Jackw - 2014-08-15 11:08:09

Like wine. Doc says less in better so I try to be moderate. (It is a good excuse to drink the good stuff if you have to drink less!)

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