Question/Comment:

i,m a 56 yr old female,about a year ago i had a heart attack and was put on coumadin.i,m so sensitive to vitamin k i can,t have any greens.it took almost a yr to get it regulated. i,m on such a low dosage being even more sensitive to coumadin.recently i had another blockage and got another stint.i stay black and blue all the time. but i guess it,s worth it to watch my grandkids grow up,thanks sonya tate, sondar35@hotmail.com

Question/Comment:

I've been advised by numerous physicians that I will have to take coumadin for the rest of my life, in 2004, from a fall backwards, pulling a sandbag from back patio to protect air- conditioner from water damage during (4) hurricanes in summer of 2004. I broke my back (L-3) in fall, was hospitalized and after few days, started having chest pains that Doctors & Staff ignored for several days, as referred pain from accident/slip & fall. Finally, at my constant complaints, they gave me more tests, Cardio-tests, and one of tests was Lung Scan. The Lung Scan showed that I had several blood clots lodged in the main pulmonary artery. They started to treat me immediately with shots into the stomach and put me on blood thinners, special leg socks and air-pump that excercised my legs.
I was there for 16 days total for broken back and treatment for Pulmonary Emboli. They transferred me to Rehabilition Center to work with me on walking, balance, dressing myself again. I was there for about 9 days, they wanted to keep me for 4 weeks. But, I keep on them to release me and send me home. The Rehab. Center was very Depressing and was not helping me Rehab. at all. In the Rehab center they ran more blood tests and told me they found sometype of defect in my blood genes, that makes my blood thicker than most others. I never got a name for this defect. Does anyone know what it is called? How I could have lived until 59, and after several body & facial plastic surgeries for Skin Cancer Removal and NO PROBLEMS,...and with only (1) minor problem, from a previous back surgery in 1978, in my early 30's, after an auto. accident. After the auto. accident in late 70's, I did develop some leg & sharp chest pains, told nurses & doctors at hospital took tests and put me on coumadin in hospital after my back surgery and for period of 90 days after my back surgery. Those Doctors NEVER informed me of any Blood defects or risk of future blood clots. In fact, I was taken off the coumadin at my 3 month office visit after my back surgery,...and never any problems for another almost 30 years. This does not make sense to me? If I have a blood defect, why during & after my 10+ plastic surgeries to remove skin cancers from face and body,...didn't I have problems or a clot, during the past 30 years? No one every mentioned taking blood thinners or risk of blood clots to me since the 70's,........UNTIL,...I fell and broke my back in 2004. NOW,...all they do is warn me how much at risk I am from falling, bruising and bleeding. They tell me I must take 7mg. of Coumadin for the rest of my life. I've started having side effects that I believe are related to taking this drug over the past 4 years,BUT,...Doctors, tell me Coumadin has NO SIDE EFFECTS? Is that true? I'm on lots of other pain meds, due to constant back pain,...as NO Surgeon wants to operate on me again,....because I would have to stop taking blood thinners,...and they are afraid I might develop more clots and die from complications after the surgery! Is there any other blood thinner treatment or medication that can be safely taken on life time basis,...if what the Doctors tell me is the truth? I don't know who to believe. Was the Pulmonary Emboli caused because of the fact I fell and hit the ground hard enought to fracture my back? Does blood clot only from a fall, hit or major trauma to body,...and not from having surgery?

I would love to have some answers and input, if anyone out there can assist me or wants to comment or give me their opinion. I am a female, now age 63. Many Thanks.

Answer/Reply:

I am a 63 year-old male who had a stroke in 2007 and was placed on Coumadin to prevent blood clots, which are the main cause of strokes. You see, Coumadin is an anticoagualnt, which prevents clots, thus if you need surgery, as I did to repair a hernia, your surgeon will be very cautious because it is difficult to stop the bleeding after the surgery is finished. So, you would need to stop taking the Coumadin for 5 days prior to your surgery. The danger is that you could suffer a blood clot during the days you're off Coumadin. But the odds are that won't happen.

I stopped the Coumadin for 5 days, had the surgery and went back on Coumadin the next day. So, don't worry. Coumadin is safe. You can have surgery and survive. Your doctor should be able to answer all your questions.

Good luck.

Answer/Reply:

I just turned 30 and was diagnosed with a blood clot from my knee to my ankle where part of it broke off and traveled to my lung. I'm on coumadin for at least 6 months. i have to go in every so often and get my levels checked to make sure I'm on the right dose. I didn't know it, but I apparently have a genetic disposition to getting blood clots. I have a protein S deficiency, but there are several other genetic issues that could cause "thicker blood". I was told that they can only test for these genetic dispositions when you're not on any blood thinning meds. They took my blood and tested it the day I was diagnosed, before I started the medication. I know of a few genetic dispositions: Protein S, Protein C, Factor 5 Leiden, and there are probably a lot more that I don't know of. The doctors think my clot was related to the birth control medications I was on. I think the doctors try to guess as much as possible, but every person is different. It may seem like they are not being honest, but really they don't know exactly how you will react to the medication. Hopefully this helps.

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

A recent consumer guide about Coumadin was published by the Agency of HealthCare Research and Quality, a division of the U.S. government. It may answer some of the questions you have. You can find it here http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/coumadin.htm

Most patients on Coumadin can have surgeries - it just takes some precautionary measures and closer monitoring by your doctors and surgeons.

Approximately 10% iGuard members who take Coumadin reported experiencing the side effects of bleeding or bruising. You are at higher risk of bleeding or bruising when you fall because Coumadin prevents or slows down the clotting of the blood. Bleeding and bruising are generally preventable by working with your health care provider to keep your blood clotting time (INR) in the right range. If you are experiencing any side effects that you think are caused by Coumadin - especially bleeding or bruising - it is important to further discuss them with your doctor or other health care provider.

Answer/Reply:

I have had cancer three times and as of this minute they say I am cancer free, yes it is a problem to take warfarin (rat Posion) I call it because we used it on the farm for just that reason. thinning the blood to the point the rats bled to death. but after my situation this year jan.2008 I started blood cloting, and long story short it was my bladder just went haywire. and four surgerys later the trouble was removed now I have a bag instead, but I'.m in better shape now then I have been for eight years (thats when the cancer began) and adjusting to the bag is easy if you think back to what I had before, I will have to take warfarin for the rest of my life, but thats a small pill to be alive and able to live again. Yes I have to get tested every month at the clinic but one minute out of my day to be alive is NO problem. just adapt to what youj have to do, instead of feeling sorry for your self.

Answer/Reply:

I have been on coumadin for 3 years now and I have also had several surgeries before this and never before did anyone mention I was missing facor 5 of my 14 chromosomes. I fell and broke my ankle 3 years ago and my left leg filled with clots. I was 46 at the time and now I am 49....and just like you...only found out I had this deficiancy when I fell. I need a hysterectomy and several procedures done and being on the coumadin really makes it all very difficult. I have to take a very high dosage...10 milligrams a day...hope this helps...

Answer/Reply:

I'm 41 and on a massive dose of coumadin. I think the name for the blood defect you're referring to is commonly referred to as sticky blood syndrome. The real medical term is Antiphospholipid Antibody syndrome. I'm not a doctor - just someone suffering with very thick blood as well. I've had 2 PEs and they never figured out what caused mine. I've been on coumadin for 2-1/2 years and I'm having to take 15 mg a day. The dosage varies anywhere from 15 to 17-1/2 mg a day, depending on what my blood decides to do. I take my meds at the exact same time everyday and I don't vary my diet. Good luck and I hope this helped a little.

Question/Comment:

What is the reason for avoiding some green vegetables such as broccoli? I don't have a clear understanding of the interaction of the coumadin and greens.

Answer/Reply:

Leafy green veggies are high in Vitamin K. From what I read, Vitamin K and Coumadin inter-act with each other and it affects your readings. Also be careful if you're taking any supplements (Vitamins/Herbal) as they may have Vitamin K in them. We switched to iceberg lettuce which I don't like as much as Romaine, but that's life on Coumadin :-).

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

Many green vegetables contain Vitamin K. Vitamin K is important for blood to clot. Coumadin®/warfarin works to keep blood from clotting and high amounts of vitamin K might work against Coumadin®/warfarin. Green leafy vegetables like broccoli contain the highest amounts of vitamin K. A list of other foods containing vitamin K is below. It is also important to be aware that some multivitamins contain vitamin K.

The most important thing to remember is to eat what you normally eat and not make any major changes in your diet, vitamins or begin a weight loss plan without consulting a doctor.

Foods high in vitamin K:

Vegetables, such as: Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Green onions

Leafy greens, such as: Lettuce, Spinach, Turnip, collard, and mustard greens, Parsley, Kale

Meats, such as: Beef liver, Pork liver

Other: Mayonnaise, Margarine, Canola oil, Soybean oil, Vitamins

Answer/Reply:

Certain green, leafy vegatables such as lettuce and spinach are high in vitamin K, and vitamin K reduces the effect of the Coumdain.
You can still eat these things, but you should have your blood tested regularly to be sure your INR rating is where it is supposed to be.

My advice is to eat nromally and don't worry about it. Just don't overdo the leafy, green vegatables.

Question/Comment:

It appears that I am the only person who has very bad reaction to Coumadin. I was required to take it after bypass surgery. I went to the Duke University coumadin lab weekly and it took weeks to find the "right" dosage. Then after I was on it for a few months, I noticed that my leg joints were becoming so painful that it was difficult to walk, get in and out of a car, etc. After less than two weeks of being off of coumadin, I was back to normal.....my Cardiologist told me that without taking Coumadin I had a 5% higher chance of dying from blockages and I am willing to take my chances. I have tried to go back on coumadin--at the request of my cardiologist--prior to a couple of procedures, but each time after less than two weeks my joints begin hurting terribly all over again...

Question/Comment:

i am 45 i had a stoke do not know what cause it i have my up and down sometime i can work around the house what no problem sometime i can not get up