I'm back from my appt with my Hematologist. She was VERY pleased with the size of my hematoma and the fact that my skin infection was almost ALL gone.
Then came decission time, stay OFF or go back on a-coags...
My three options, the way my doc explained them to me.
- go back on WARFARIN
-go on this drug that has less side FX then Warf (but not known to me)
and no insurance co. covers it and is more expensive then Warf...
-stay OFF anticoagulants and take a chance of having another clot.

WAIT!!!!! What about going back on Dabigatran drug study??? Why is that not an option???

Doc says "I think you are out of that option, BUT let me phone the Study co-ordinator..."
A few minutes later, my doc comes back, "you are back in the study if YOU want."
Yes, I took the "You are back in the study if YOU want " option.
The odds of having another clot are way to high, this way I'm protected...

That is my choice... and backed by my Hematologist...


BTW, INR was 1.1, BP was 102/70 and heartbeat was as strong as a 35 y/o male.

Back on a-coags tonight and INR on sartuday morning.

Life is as good as CAN BE for an Idiopathic DVT 48 y/o male.

Great news Dennis! I'm glad all is well with your leg. I think its FABULOUS that you could go back on the Dabi program. I agree with you, its too much of a risk (and maybe too soon) to just stop anticoagulants completely.

All round good news! Yay!!

I'm very happy for you

That's what my doc brainwashed, I mean help me realise that I did not want a repeat performance of last year, already one clot was one too many.

Yes, for sure!! One clot IS one too many!!

Well I'm glad that a next best step was chosen, that it's one you're happy with, and great that it's covered!

So what is Dabigatran? What is the diff. between it & Warfarin? Is it a lower dose or ?? I should look it up!

Like I mentioned in my post to Joe, my Dr. poo-pooed the fact that I told him people I've talked to have had repeat DVT's. He says it's rare, and the likelihood is very low. So if that's so.... how come I hear about it SO much? Like in this forum for just ONE example?!

First, dero, thanks for starting this board. it is great. I suffered a DVT after being hit by a vehicle in nov of 07. Standard treatment, very little if any pain. I came off coumadin two weeks ago, and huge burning sensation in my leg...Doc now has me setup to see a vascular person. Doppler and xray showed nothing...PErhaps I need the stocking which I told my doctor I should have from the beginning, but he kept saying no. I see you experienced some pain after coumadin as well...my cousin is a surgeon and he explains there could be microclotting going on. It's all fun!

Mark

Brenda, to answer your question, go to the first page of my 'This is my story" I talk about dabi in the fourth post.

Dabi is NOT yet on the market, 2010 the earliest, so you can't get it, now...

Ooops, forgot to put my sturday's INR...

1.3, I'm s-l-o-w-l-y climbing up to theraputic range of between 2.0 and 3.0
Next INR is monday, yup every second day, AGAIN, back at that...


@Ivpounder/Mark
For me,the pain is not associated with warfarin/coumadin, since I have been OFF of it since Jan 08, I have been on Dabigatran(drug study) since then, the pain was associated to me being a clutz and falling in the bath about a month ago( go back a few post in this thread).
Welcome to "Life After DVT" Mark, I would strongly suggest you start your own thread, introduce yourself to the folks, you can keep your journal there also... be well!!!

Back to those darn frequent INRs! Well, at least it won't take too long hopefully to get up to 2+ and stable readings. You're on the way!

I don't know about that Brenda...
INR every second day and it goes up in increments of 0 .2
Today's INR- 1.5
At this rate, I should reach theraputic range by saturday...

I'm going to play devils advocate on the coumadin issue. For those on long-term coumadin/warfarin therapy their is very little side affects of precautions needed when utilzing a low INR target range per the Prevent Trial (1.5 to 2.0). Bleed worries are minimal, the other side affects commonly shared by patients are un-noticed or at least not a bother.

Even the new oral anticoagulants are going to have some type of side affects, especially over a long period of time. Coumadin has a been around since the 1950's. It is one of the most studies medications around. This is why finding a alternative replacement for coumadin is so high on the list for several pharma companies. In regards to the new oral anticoagulants, what we do know is, once the proper dosage is determined you don't have the same INR checks as you would on coumadin. What we don't know is, what is the new medication actually doing to your body. Some of the new oral anticoagulants are based on a medication which was approved back in 2004 in Europe. That medication was called Exanta. Extanta was touted as the replacement for Coumadin and as mentioned was already being used in Europe. When trials were conducted here in the U.S. we found that Exanta led to increased liver enzymes and eventually death. The drug was pulled from trials here in the U.S. and later in Europe. Some of the new oral anticoagulants (and I'll leave the name blank) are based on Exanta with some slight improvements.

For now and at least the next 5-10 years, I'll stick to Coumadin.

Poof, I'm 2.5, as of wednesday, just have to stay in range now, next INR is on monday, Angèle said that if I can do monday and friday in RANGE she'll up my bloodwork at once a week... One step at the time.


Meanwhile, time to do a happy dance that goes something like this...

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!

( I know I'm a so? )

Well secluded I see all...
With a bit of a mind flip...
You're into a time slip...
And nothing can ever be the same.
You're spaced out on sensation.
Like you're under sedation.
Let's do the Time Warp again.

Whoa!!
woop-woop! Good news dero!

RetiredNavy02 ... Oh my gosh! That is seriously scary stuff - never heard of Exanta, will Google it. Very interesting post, thanks!

I agree with what you are saying re side effects - I suppose all medication out there has got some kind of side effect. We take meds to fix the one thing, only to see it damages something else in your body. Then I guess we get new meds to fix that prob...LOL and so its continues.

We can't win hey, guess the only solace I have is in what my dad always says: "So who wants to die healthy"

Great news Dero!

And I just can't resist....

It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely, not for very much longer
I've got to keep control

I remember doing the TIme Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me and the void would be calling
Let's do the time warp again...
Let's do the time warp again!