Hey all...has anyone had "fun" (being sarcastic a little bit) with warfarin and bleeding problems? My surgery was on May 9, 2025. I know some people do. I'm ...Read more
Hey all...has anyone had "fun" (being sarcastic a little bit) with warfarin and bleeding problems? My surgery was on May 9, 2025. I know some people do. I'm on the blood thinner because of mechanical mitral valve. We've had trouble getting my INR levels right. This last week I finally got up to 2.4 (only the second time in all these months) and my doctor upped the milligrams. Twice since I started with the blood thinner, over the last two months, I've had blood in my urine. It always goes away after a few hours. I went to the emergency room the first time and they discovered a kidney stone (I've had kidney stones several times) and thought that might be causing the bleeding and if you add the blood thinner it caused the blood in the urine. I do have a urology appointment so that might help me find out what the deal is. I was just curious on other's experiences with the blood thinners.
Rita Savelis It can take a long time to get yr INR up and then it will continue to vary, as that is what it does. ... Read more
Rita Savelis It can take a long time to get yr INR up and then it will continue to vary, as that is what it does. I was so freaked at first and then I calmed down and now manage my own med doses. Sorry about the kidney stones. I've heard those are so painful. And kidney stone + antioagulant most probably caused the blood in yr urine. I found that after anticoagulants I bled/spotted after sex because my tissues were just more prone to bleeding. But no other real bleeding issues in 10 yrs. Take care.
Denise Agnew I was fortunate this kidney stone didn't hurt. :) Thanks for the feedback, Rita.
Susan Bodner I have been on coumadin since june 1990. I was pretty unhappy at first. At 27 years old i needed 15 m ... Read more
Susan Bodner I have been on coumadin since june 1990. I was pretty unhappy at first. At 27 years old i needed 15 mgs daily to keep me therapeutic, than menopause at 44 changed me to 8mgs daily. Now at 62, i have setteled into 5mgs daily. I check my own INRs with home machine. I have had blood in my urine, according to test strips, since coumadin start. I can't see the blood but detected by strips. A nuance of being on med for me. Use of home monitor is such a bonus to help in times when med change or surgery or summer and eating out of garden.
Susan Bodner Urine test strips i should have clarified
Hey all. My surgery was May 9, and I'm getting back to feeling more like me again and doing quite a bit more. Other than some pesky things appearing that I ...Read more
Hey all. My surgery was May 9, and I'm getting back to feeling more like me again and doing quite a bit more. Other than some pesky things appearing that I didn't expect, I can't complain too much. Anyone here have a permanent pacemaker? Here's my situation/question. I have a skinny torso (always have even when I weighed a bit more) and the placement of the pacemaker feels like it is close enough that if I make an inward motion with my left arm that the pacemaker is sort of in the way. Does that make sense?
Marie Myers I am betting Rita S will understand your situation. She has mentioned having the experience of a pa ... Read more
Marie Myers I am betting Rita S will understand your situation. She has mentioned having the experience of a pacemaker on a really thin body. I bet she will chime in on your post…
Kathy Ozio Hi Denise! I ended up with an ICD (defibrillator) after MV surgery. Yes, it does feel like that. It m ... Read more
Kathy Ozio Hi Denise! I ended up with an ICD (defibrillator) after MV surgery. Yes, it does feel like that. It may take months - even a year- until you get used to it. It still bothers me at times when I bend my arm a certain way, or lying on my left side. I could bend my left arm to wash my right side for a very long time. But, eventually , it does get better.
Rita Savelis Hi Denise. I am skeleton skinny and my pacemaker, implanted in 2015 a few weeks after double valve surgery, is a big bulge. Yuck. It's a double chamber model and was used because it has a longer battery life. I remember not being able to lift my left arm very high but that passed.
Now, 10 years later in April 2025, I had to have the top part, which contains the battery, removed to place a new battery (they keep the leads in yr heart in place as they can be difficult to remove). I ended up with a replacement as bulky and ugly as the last one. In fact, worse, as it has a protuberance that sort of sticks out under my arm?!? To be honest I don't feel the pacemaker at all as I go about my day. But I can lierally feel every detail of the pacemaker battery box if I put my hand on it and feel around. And I have a shock every time I see my skinny bod and pacemaker in mirror. So I try not to look. Very very jealous of those with tiny devices, which are definitely out there, but I was always told that I could not have those modern models because of my double chamber, yada, yada, yada.
Well now they have decided that the new pacemaker has skin sticking to it, which means that sooner or later it could break through my skin. Yuck! This could allow bacteria down into my heart through the leads... So last week it was decided I needed the whole device + leads removed. They are very reluctant to remove leads, once placed, especially after 10 yrs, because it is a delicate procedure and who knows how the leads have implanted. ... Read more
Rita Savelis Hi Denise. I am skeleton skinny and my pacemaker, implanted in 2015 a few weeks after double valve surgery, is a big bulge. Yuck. It's a double chamber model and was used because it has a longer battery life. I remember not being able to lift my left arm very high but that passed.
Now, 10 years later in April 2025, I had to have the top part, which contains the battery, removed to place a new battery (they keep the leads in yr heart in place as they can be difficult to remove). I ended up with a replacement as bulky and ugly as the last one. In fact, worse, as it has a protuberance that sort of sticks out under my arm?!? To be honest I don't feel the pacemaker at all as I go about my day. But I can lierally feel every detail of the pacemaker battery box if I put my hand on it and feel around. And I have a shock every time I see my skinny bod and pacemaker in mirror. So I try not to look. Very very jealous of those with tiny devices, which are definitely out there, but I was always told that I could not have those modern models because of my double chamber, yada, yada, yada.
Well now they have decided that the new pacemaker has skin sticking to it, which means that sooner or later it could break through my skin. Yuck! This could allow bacteria down into my heart through the leads... So last week it was decided I needed the whole device + leads removed. They are very reluctant to remove leads, once placed, especially after 10 yrs, because it is a delicate procedure and who knows how the leads have implanted.
BUT the replacement pacemaker will now be a tiny quarter-sized device screwed into the heart directly and with no leads. And no battery changes. Placed by catheter through an artery. Wish I could be happier about this but have had too much surgery and am confused about how this all happened. It's no one's fault, as nothing is. I have a complicated health past and a very damaged heart.
So Denise, I am not being helpful to you and just sharing my story. I remember being shattered by needing a pacemaker and angry about it.
But you will get used to yours and it should settle. It's still early. Talk to your rhythmologist about it if you have questions. So sorry that you ended up needing a pacemaker.
Adam Pick Thanks Marie, Kathy and Rita for helping Denise! Much appreciated!
Denise Agnew Kathy, thanks for giving me a perspective on how long it might take to get used to it. I figured I wo ... Read more
Denise Agnew Kathy, thanks for giving me a perspective on how long it might take to get used to it. I figured I would, but then again I knew that others here would help me keep things in perspective!
Denise Agnew Rita, thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like your situation has been quite a journey! That sou ... Read more
Denise Agnew Rita, thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like your situation has been quite a journey! That sounds like amazing news, though, that the new pacemaker will be so small. I understand your apprehension, though. I'm sure I'd be wound up about it as well. When you've gone through as much as you have with it. Appreciate you taking the time to chat with me about this and it's good to know the mind and body get used to these things. :)
Hi there everyone. My operation was May 9. Was supposed to be a three hour surgery with mitral valve repair or replacement and Mase procedure to correct aFib. ...Read more
Hi there everyone. My operation was May 9. Was supposed to be a three hour surgery with mitral valve repair or replacement and Mase procedure to correct aFib. Ended up being more then five hours because the surgeon attempted two repairs that wouldn't take so I was given a mechanical valve (which I knew ahead of time might happen.) I ended up getting a pacemaker a few days later because my heart rate wouldn't maintain any higher than in the 40's without it. So I was in the hospital ten days. Feeling pretty good at present and was happy to finally get rid of most of the water weight I accumulated (especially the puffy ankles) just this last Friday. Question: I still have a "ticklish" throat and my voice is more hoarse than normal. I've heard that it can take a while for the throat to get back to normal. Anyone else have this experience?
Rose Madura Hi Denise it sounds like you've have a rough day to go! I'm sorry you've had to deal with so much bu ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Denise it sounds like you've have a rough day to go! I'm sorry you've had to deal with so much but glad you are on the mend. Yes, scratchy throat is normal from the breathing tube. I don't remember how long mine felt that way but do know it will get better in time. Throat losengers will help.
Robert Miller They put me on a temporary pacemaker and initially that think really zapped me. In any case, to addre ... Read more
Robert Miller They put me on a temporary pacemaker and initially that think really zapped me. In any case, to address your question about the throat, I did feel a bit bad for the first couple of day or so. But it goes away. Try to eat food that is easier to swallow like jell-o, soup, salad, etc. Eventually, it should go away.
Denise Agnew Thanks Rose and Robert. Fortunately my throat has never been sore, so that’s a plus. This is just s ... Read more
Denise Agnew Thanks Rose and Robert. Fortunately my throat has never been sore, so that’s a plus. This is just scratchy, hoarse throat that sometimes becomes a cough. I’ve considered the throat lozenges and thought I’d check with my pharmacist if they recommend a particular kind that don’t in any way interfere with meds I’m taking.
8mgs daily. Now at 62, i have setteled into 5mgs daily. I check my own INRs with home machine. I have had blood in my urine, according to test strips, since coumadin start. I can't see the blood but detected by strips. A nuance of being on med for me. Use of home monitor is such a bonus to help in times when med change or surgery or summer and eating out of garden.