After a week of increasing pain from the thrombosis in my lower right leg I called my primary care physician. (The next checkup on my right leg DVT is for early June.)
I called for just one thing -- I need a stronger pain killer. The Vicodin, even the 750 mg strength is not doing it for me with this kind of pain. It helps for an hour or two but then the pain comes back full force. I get through the daytime OK but in the middle of the night there's extreme aches and shooting pains. The support stocking helps during the day but when I wear one all day I have worse than usual pain that night.
I tell the nurse what I want and she says, "You may need to come in and see him." Later she calls back and says, "He wants you to get another ultra sound exam and then see a vascular surgeon."
The test is tomorrow noon. The specialist will call me to set up an appointment. I tell her I am in pain and need something stronger.
Showing posts with label PT/INR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PT/INR. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Regular checkup with my MD
Last Friday I had blood tests done prior to today's appointment with my primary care physician. Early this week his office person called to tell me that the tests (cholesterol, liver function and glucose) were normal. That's a first. In a long time.
For the appointment I took a printout of my morning glucose levels for the past three months and a printed list of questions for him about my DVT and the apparent lack of progress after three months of treatment.
The PT/INR score was 2.2 and that's a good level to be at.
My blood pressure is too high and I continue to be too heavy. To help with that a little I can go back to the gym and ride the stationary bike. That would be good exercise for my legs and knees and shouldn't bother the blood clot in my leg.
And yes, I should regularly wear a compression stocking on the right leg. It seems to help during the day.
I still have a lot of pain and some cramps at night. It seems the longer I am in bed the worse it gets. I am up every hour or two all night long. Every night.
As for the lack of progress -- my lower right leg hurts as much or perhaps a little more than when I started the Coumadin in mid-November -- from what he told me apparently progress is slow and I can expect it to take a long time to get better. He will look at the leg again at the beginning of March just before my two weeks in London.
For the appointment I took a printout of my morning glucose levels for the past three months and a printed list of questions for him about my DVT and the apparent lack of progress after three months of treatment.
The PT/INR score was 2.2 and that's a good level to be at.
My blood pressure is too high and I continue to be too heavy. To help with that a little I can go back to the gym and ride the stationary bike. That would be good exercise for my legs and knees and shouldn't bother the blood clot in my leg.
And yes, I should regularly wear a compression stocking on the right leg. It seems to help during the day.
I still have a lot of pain and some cramps at night. It seems the longer I am in bed the worse it gets. I am up every hour or two all night long. Every night.
As for the lack of progress -- my lower right leg hurts as much or perhaps a little more than when I started the Coumadin in mid-November -- from what he told me apparently progress is slow and I can expect it to take a long time to get better. He will look at the leg again at the beginning of March just before my two weeks in London.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Coumadin level stabilized
Today's test result was 2.9. Now I can test just once a month. I have an appointment for a check up with the doctor on February 10, so I will get my blood test then.
My scores for the past few weeks were:
December 1, 4.2
December 4, 3.4
December 8, 2.7
December 14, 3.1
December 21, 3.1
December 28, 3.2
January 4, 3.0
My scores for the past few weeks were:
December 1, 4.2
December 4, 3.4
December 8, 2.7
December 14, 3.1
December 21, 3.1
December 28, 3.2
January 4, 3.0
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
PT/INR test #3
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.
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.
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
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.
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