2.5 hours until my next PT/INR appointment and I've got a pot of collard greens cooking on the stove. It is my lame attempt to even out the two bottles of cider I consumed over the last week.
Anyone want to take any bets whether I'll be too high, too low, or just right?
Cross your fingers for me!
Update: After eating nearly 3 cups of collard greens, my stomach is horrifically bloated. Blah.
2nd Update: I tested at 2.5 . They are keeping me at my current dosage, but I don't know I think they should have raised it. Any other mitral mech valvers remember what we're supposed to test at? I thought it was in the 3's. I'm thinking about raising it on my own....or else having a couple of drinks to even everything out. ;)
Ha ha. The greens won't make a difference for today's results. You're stinking up your kitchen for nothing ;-) Don't be hard on yourself about the ciders though. As long as you have a moderate amount of alcohol, and it's not an amount unusual for you, your INR won't spike or dip to any great extent. Now if you go out and down a six pack, and you never have alcohol..or start eating a spinich salad every day this week..after not eating spinich in a while; you'll see the impact on your blood. I never follow the "don't eat it ever" routine, nor does my Dr. suggest that. Back in college..well, that was a different story (Rolling Rock-smoking-barfing). Those were the days when I would go three months at a time without having INR checks because I was "busy". Silly.
Posted by: Shelly | May 02, 2005 at 02:19 PM
I am kept between 2.5-3.5. Yes, it's "ideal" to be at 3.0, but 2.5 is still "in range" for most mechanical valvers. If you're not sure where your doc wants you, I'd suggest asking.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me to go take my INR. ;-)
Posted by: Niki | May 02, 2005 at 11:10 PM
I am kept between 3.0 - 3.5 - my cardio is strict about keeping that tight range. If it dips below 2.5 they put me on Lovenox for bridging until I'm back up. It's been all over the place lately.
Posted by: shelly | May 03, 2005 at 10:43 AM