This afternoon I got tested again. The score was 2.3. Excellent.
There are lots of food restrictions associated with taking Coumadin, both in getting it to work right and to promote accurate testing. I can't eat green, leafy vegetables or cranberries, among a whole list of forbidden healthy foods. I also have to avoid some prescription drugs and OTC anti-inflamitory medications.
Because of the Coumadin I have been off Mobic, an anti-inflamitory for my joints, for a week now. I have taken it or other drugs like it for about eight years. I hadn't realized how effective it was.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
The second PT/INR test result
On Monday I dropped by the doctor's office and they checked my (new and thinner) blood clotting level. It's 2.0. And that is a good thing.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dermatologist appointment
My doctor wanted me to get the purple, pink and black mole on my right calf looked at. So I went to the dermatologist and her PA cut it all off and sent it to the lab. (A week later I heard it was OK.)
It had been there at least 50 years so I wasn't very worried about it being malignant. But it had alarmed lots of doctors throughout the years.
It had been there at least 50 years so I wasn't very worried about it being malignant. But it had alarmed lots of doctors throughout the years.
Coumadin test -- PT/INR
Late last week I called the MD's office and made an appointment for a cortisone shot today. But that's not going to happen.
Meanwhile my MD got back from a conference in Orlando and called me Tuesday night to discuss the test results and medication. I am to take Coumadin, 7.5 mg, once a day. And continue with the Lovenox injections twice a day. I can stop the shots when the Coumadin takes hold. I may be on the latter for six months.
The test for how thin, or thick, your blood is done by a hand-held machine and a finger prick of blood.
When I saw the doctor on Thursday afternoon I had received two doses of Coumadin and six shots of Lovenox since Monday evening. The PT/INR level was 1.1 and it needs to be between 2 or 3.
PT/INR stands for Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio and if you want to know more about it go to Google.
BTW the x-rays taken on 11/11 show advanced arthritis in the right knee. And this morning the dermatologist's PA scooped off most of the mole (from the lower right leg, of course) to send to testing.
I noticed the swelling of my right leg and ankle has gone down a lot. There's almost no difference between the right and the left. I guess there's less inflamation down there and it must be because of the Coumadin and Lovenox thinning my blood.
Meanwhile my MD got back from a conference in Orlando and called me Tuesday night to discuss the test results and medication. I am to take Coumadin, 7.5 mg, once a day. And continue with the Lovenox injections twice a day. I can stop the shots when the Coumadin takes hold. I may be on the latter for six months.
The test for how thin, or thick, your blood is done by a hand-held machine and a finger prick of blood.
When I saw the doctor on Thursday afternoon I had received two doses of Coumadin and six shots of Lovenox since Monday evening. The PT/INR level was 1.1 and it needs to be between 2 or 3.
PT/INR stands for Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio and if you want to know more about it go to Google.
BTW the x-rays taken on 11/11 show advanced arthritis in the right knee. And this morning the dermatologist's PA scooped off most of the mole (from the lower right leg, of course) to send to testing.
I noticed the swelling of my right leg and ankle has gone down a lot. There's almost no difference between the right and the left. I guess there's less inflamation down there and it must be because of the Coumadin and Lovenox thinning my blood.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Root canal: tooth #29 -- part 2
I premedicated with 2 grams Cephalexin an hour before the treatment. It took longer than I expected and he was not satisfied with the first results so lots of x-rays got taken. He still did not finish the procedure and I will return on December 15.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ultrasound adventure
At 3:15 PM I arrived at the huge local medical center's cardiac testing facility and soon got ready for an ultra sound on my right leg. It was very uncomfortable, all the pressing on sore leg muscles. She tells me I have a blood clot down my leg from upper thigh to my foot. A doctor needs to examine me. Right now. I can sit up and get in a wheel chair. And that's all. No, I cannot go to my car and get a book, cell phone or iPod. I get wheeled to the emergency room at 4:00.
They are very busy. Lots of accidents today. There are no rooms available. At 6:45 I am on a gurney in the ER hallway by the nurse's station.
At 8:00 PM an MD comes by and tells me I have DVT -- Deep Vein Thrombosis. I need to take blood thinners to help disolve the clot and not let bits of it crash around inside my body.
The final result: I can go home if I can give myself a Lovenox injection. Or they will admit me to the hospital for the night while I learn how to do it. With doctor and nurses watching closely I give myself the shot, in the lower belly, and at 9:00 PM I am driving home.
They are very busy. Lots of accidents today. There are no rooms available. At 6:45 I am on a gurney in the ER hallway by the nurse's station.
At 8:00 PM an MD comes by and tells me I have DVT -- Deep Vein Thrombosis. I need to take blood thinners to help disolve the clot and not let bits of it crash around inside my body.
The final result: I can go home if I can give myself a Lovenox injection. Or they will admit me to the hospital for the night while I learn how to do it. With doctor and nurses watching closely I give myself the shot, in the lower belly, and at 9:00 PM I am driving home.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Regular checkup with primary care MD
Prior to this regular checkup I went to the lab for blood tests last Thursday. The results were mostly good. Cholesterol is still up and the bad kind is up more. So I have to take a Simvastatin at bedtime. The A1C was up a little from 5.7 to 6.1 but not bad and not unexpected. He didn't even bother to check my PSA as it has been so low.
The left leg and left knee replacement are doing fine.
I mentioned the problems with my right leg: the knee seems to be arthritic; the heel and foot are always sore and swolen, as is the right ankle; and there's a sore patch the size of my hand on the surface of my inner calf (very sore to the touchbut there's no visible problem). He's worried about the brown and purple mole on my lower right leg. He has seen it many times before. It's been there for 30 years at least.
He had me go for knee x-rays that afternoon, an ultrasound exam next Monday, a biopsy of the leg mole on Thursday; and I'm to come in when I decide to have a cortisone shot in my right knee.
The left leg and left knee replacement are doing fine.
I mentioned the problems with my right leg: the knee seems to be arthritic; the heel and foot are always sore and swolen, as is the right ankle; and there's a sore patch the size of my hand on the surface of my inner calf (very sore to the touchbut there's no visible problem). He's worried about the brown and purple mole on my lower right leg. He has seen it many times before. It's been there for 30 years at least.
He had me go for knee x-rays that afternoon, an ultrasound exam next Monday, a biopsy of the leg mole on Thursday; and I'm to come in when I decide to have a cortisone shot in my right knee.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Root canal: tooth #29
I started a 10-day course of amoxocillin five days ago, so there was no need to premedicate an hour before the procedure. I thought this root canal was going to be a simple one but he wanted to pack it and wait a week before finishing.
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