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Has anyone had to use cumidin and the series of shots that go with it before?
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Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers. -
I was on heprin drip in the hospital for one of 3 weeks in ICU. During the other 5 weeks of my fun-filled stay and through the next 18 months I was on warfarin sodium (aka the active ingrediant in D-Con aka coumidin) of varying strengths with daily blood tests to make sure they hadn't given me enough to kill me yet.
Whatcha wanna know? -
warfarin
Warfarin is an anti-coagulant, otherwise known as a blood thinner. It is used to prevent the formation of growth of blood clots. Frequent blood tests are necessary to keep the blood within the therapeutic range, ( thin enough to not clot off causing tissue to die and thick enough to prevent uncontrolled bleeding resulting in death). This medication is given for any condition caused by blood clots.
The shots given before are either heparin or lovenox. Heparin is very powerful and also requires frequent blood test. Lovenox does not require blood tests. These are given to quickly get the blood thin enough and then the patient is changed to warfarin.
People who are taking warfarin need to limit the amount of dark green leafy vegetable they eat because it increases clotting. They also need to avoid. white oak bark and white willow as they will make the blood much thinner.Comment
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I was asking because I was about how long everyone had to take it? I'm on cumindin and plavix and my blood pressure has really dropped to the low range now and if anyone else had had that problem? I also miss my greens and cranberries which they say I'm not allowed to take now.
Did anyone else have to get the daily shots with it? I've just finished 10 days of it and according to the weekly labs may be back on it in the future. That shot is a kicker!
Oh and yeah, I've got a blood clot.Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help about cumindin! They are trying to get my dosages regulated and it's a pain in the rear.
Hug's
AnnieCourage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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The shot is probably for the clot - the coumadin is to keep new clots from forming by thinning the blood. Plavix is also to prevent clots, but I believe it works by making the platelets less sticky. My husband is on both and has been for many years - he is allowed to have greens, but must be consistent with the amounts because the coumadin level in his blood will go up or down depending on what he's eaten (greens have Vitamin K, which is what they give you if your coumadin level is too high). It's important to keep up with the tests as often as your doctor recommends, because if the coumadin level gets too high, you can bleed to death internally, and if it's too low you can get another clot. Don't freak if they want you on coumadin and Plavix indefinitely - keep things managed, and you'll live for a long time on them.Originally posted by Annie Fawn View PostComment
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Thanks for the help. I was on cumidin as a teen for a clot in my leg, and didn't have to take it but for a few years, this clot is in my brain and caused me to have a stroke, so I know they will probably be on it for years to come. I was really wondering if anyone else had their blood pressure drop when they were on both cumindin and plavix?Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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My husband's blood pressure has dropped, but he's on so many things it's tough to determine what caused it. 100/70 is about normal for him now. Make sure you tell your doctor about it, just in case he doesn't want your bp lower than it used to be. And be careful standing up - it's easy to get light-headed, but you've probably already figured that out.Originally posted by Annie Fawn View PostComment
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Mine was 71 over 54, but it seems to steady at 107/70 for now. The docs are freaking over it, but it used to be 84 over 64 normally. Thanks!Originally posted by trob226 View PostCourage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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Yeeks! I'll BET the doctors freaked! I hope you're recovering from your stroke OK.Originally posted by Annie Fawn View PostComment
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They kept asking if how I managed to walk in there without help. They also wanted to know if I felt faint. I'm going to find out this week if the clot is disolving yet or not. Thanks.Originally posted by trob226 View PostCourage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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Well ya'll the largest section of the clot has dissolved. Now the BAD NEWS was that I a genetic mutation in the Prothrombin/Factor 11 gene and will have to constant be checked for clots for the rest of my life. The SCAREY part is that I am of this gene and my children and grandchildren. Now I have to have them tested too, just in case.Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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Glad to hear things are improving!
When I had my clot problem, they did an emergency surgery to put in an IVF (inferior vena cava filter) - it's a filter that keeps any clots that might form in my legs/arms/etc out of my heart and lungs. I have to go in periodically to have my clot rates and such checked too (although no one said anything about a genetic predisposition). I also have -always- had a normally low blood pressure (90/60 when I was younger, still 110/70 now and I'm overweight) and a low body temperature.
I haven't had to go back through the coumidin regimen (thankfully) since 2002-2004.Comment
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Hang in there, Annie, and keep up with your checkups and meds and you'll probably be at no greater risk than the rest of us. At least now you know and can address it.Comment
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Well I saw my neurologist last Monday and he told me the oddest thing. He says I have brain damage from the stroke and have lost my long term memory. Odd thing is I haven't lost my long term memory and my hubby and my friends haven't noticed any brain damage problems. Hubby says since the doctor only met in May, and hasn't done a MRI since July how can he know if I have lost my long term memory?
Oh and he also took me off Plavix since I am also in Cumindin. He says I have been over medicated. BUT my Hemotologist says that he had called my neurologist before he prescripded the Plavix.
Cummindin levels are still up and down.
Meanwhile, I'm still teaching ceramic classes, sponsering and running the American Red Cross Blood Drives, bowling on a league each week and running the community center monthly breakfast and luncheons once a month. Not to bad for someone who is suppose to be brain damaged. lolCourage is just fear that has said it's prayers.Comment
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