QUOTE (ed medlin @ Jun 12 2009, 08:52 PM)

QUOTE (Dave Bishopstone @ Jun 12 2009, 03:32 PM)

I have been on warfarin for the past nine years with a cardiac problem. Periodically I have had to stop taking the medication due to impending surgery, in essence they is no need for a gradual withdrawal of warfarin. I just stop taking it as instructed from a given date and restart the warfarin therapy when told, this is the problem end, i.e. getting the INR back to the target level (in my case 2.5). As you are probably aware there are very frequent checks on the INR level thoughout the duration of the therapy.
Hello Thanks for the reply , i have been on Warfarin for 11 months and had no more problem with the left leg swelling up aftr starting the drug, I was told i could stop in six months then my new doctor said to go for a year, at my last checkin the level was 3.7 instead of the 2-3 level i needed, so said she would take me off off of the drug, lower for a week, then now total stopped taking, level was 1.7 this week. I was just checking did you have any problem going back to none in your system? I do a lot of PT trying to relearn how to walk, left leg is weak so I watch it as it was the one with the blood clot..
Thanks , Ed Medlin
Hi again,
I have no problems whatsoever with no warfarin in my system, honestly couldn't tell the difference, unless I cut myself of course. Dealing with breaking down blood clots is different from preventive therapy, in the former there is usually a time frame - with preventive therapy it is sometimes lifelong as in my case (I have had irregular heartbeats, which sometimes mean the heart chambers may not empty of blood on pumping with the risk that the residue may clot, with the risk of strokes etc).
I recently restarted warfarin post surgery and getting back to the target is proving a nuisance, my last reading was 3.4, so my dose is reduced and I have weekly INR checks until I get into the target range, then checks every 4 - 6 weeks.
As you appreciate all that warfarin does is to inhibit the coagulation of the blood.
Cheers
Dave