Hello heart valve folks, I’ve had two open heart heart valve surgeries, one in 2012 and the second five years later in 2017. I had a bovine valve the first ...Read more
Hello heart valve folks, I’ve had two open heart heart valve surgeries, one in 2012 and the second five years later in 2017. I had a bovine valve the first time. Sadly, it was defective and needed to be replaced in just five years. So the second valve was a mechanical Onyx valve, requiring that I take warfarin. My question to those taking warfarin - have any of you ever found a Warfarin education / support group? I have not. There are way more people taking Warfarin than Insulin. Yet it’s impossible to find educational classes or support groups like there are for folks taking Insulin. I’d love to hear from any folks who have found such a group, or from anyone interested in such a group.
Rita Savelis There is a Warfarin support group on Facebook that you can join. There is another one on drugs.com . ... Read more
Rita Savelis There is a Warfarin support group on Facebook that you can join. There is another one on drugs.com . If you do a google search you will find several. Some cities have coumadin clinics. I've been on anticoagulants for 7 years (after double valve replacement in 2015). At my cardiac rehab there was a coumadin workshop. It took me several years to get more "relaxed" about coumadin. It can be difficult at the beginning as it takes each body a different amount of time to adjust and INR goes up and down. It's just what it does. I test about once a month now, and could test less. I eat what I want. I am on a high dose of antigoagulants because of the double valves. The one difficulty I have is when I have to have surgical procedures or invasive medical tests (I have had cancer twice since heart surgery) and then I have to go off anticoagulants and bridge with heparin IV or shots and make sure my INR gets back up at the end. This takes a long time and make hospital stays longer. It wouild be lovely to not be on any drugs. Heavy sigh. Take care Ann.
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KELLIE MCILHATTON Hi Rita. I am glad you are doing well and so sorry you had to face a 2nd surgery so soon. I am pretty ... Read more
KELLIE MCILHATTON Hi Rita. I am glad you are doing well and so sorry you had to face a 2nd surgery so soon. I am pretty sure it will be a mechanical valve and warfarin for me, too.
Dear Adam,
I’ve been following your newsletter for several years now, and have found it very helpful and educational. I’ve had two heart valve replacements, ...Read more
Dear Adam,
I’ve been following your newsletter for several years now, and have found it very helpful and educational. I’ve had two heart valve replacements, the first a bovine valve in 2012, and an Onyx mechanical valve in 2017, when it was discovered the bovine valve was defective. I’ve been on Warfarin ever since. I’ve been looking for an educational & support group about warfarin use since then. It suddenly occurred to me today that you or some of your readers may know of such a group. My doctors here do not.
Thanks, Ann Barber
Adam Pick Hi Ann, Great to hear from you! And, I'm thrilled to learn our newsletter has been a positive source ... Read more
Adam Pick Hi Ann, Great to hear from you! And, I'm thrilled to learn our newsletter has been a positive source of education for you. As for your question... Years ago, I think there was a group at a website called PTINR.com. But, I don't think that group exists at the website anymore. Perhaps there is a group on Facebook that you might be able to connect with? I'm so sorry I don't have more information for you on this topic!!!!
I’ve had two open heart heart valve surgeries, one in 2012 and the second five years later in 2017. I had a bovine valve the first ...Read more
I’ve had two open heart heart valve surgeries, one in 2012 and the second five years later in 2017. I had a bovine valve the first time. Sadly, it was defective and needed to be replaced in just five years. So the second valve was a mechanical Onyx valve, requiring that I take warfarin.
My question to those taking warfarin - have any of you ever found a Warfarin education / support group? I have not. There are way more people taking Warfarin than Insulin. Yet it’s impossible to find educational classes or support groups like there are for folks taking Insulin. I’d love to hear from any folks who have found such a group, or from anyone interested in such a group.
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