Any vascular surgeons out there tonight? I have a subclavian vein story for you...it goes like this: my right one keeps occluding and stenosing which is a fancy way of saying that it is f@#$ed up. There's no good reason for this, and 15 angios and a failed veneous bypass later, it's still not fixed. I'm sure we'll get there, but in the meantime...
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
My problem this week? The lovely medication warfarin sodium that goes by the trade name Coumadin.
Until we get whatever is going on in my right shoulder and arm, I must take warfarin sodium every day. IT IS NASTY STUFF! If you are not familiar with it, I encourage you to check these links out...
Wikipedia
Drugs.com
Coumadin.com
A BLURB FROM WIKI:
Warfarin (also known under the brand names of Coumadin, Jantoven, Marevan, and Waran) is an anticoagulant. It is named for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which sponsored its development. It was initially marketed as a pesticide against rats and mice, and is still popular for this purpose, although more modern poisons such as brodifacoum are much more potent and toxic. After its introduction it turned out to be effective and relatively safe in the prophylaxis (prevention) of thrombosis and embolism (abnormal formation and migration of blood clots) in many disorders. Its activity has to be monitored by frequent blood testing for the international normalized ratio (INR) to ensure an adequate yet safe dose is taken.
RAT POISON! It started as a rat poison! I have been taking this for a year and a half with inconsistent results. And I am currently taking BIG doses (9 mg) of it every day! And we still can't get my blood levels right! So I also have to give myself a shot of Lovenox every 12 hours until we hit this magic INR around 2.5. Eleven days of this and I am at 1.3--- I certainly hope it's right by Monday... what exactly is TOO high a dose of this stuff, anyway? YUCK! I am 38 years old with three children, a husband, and a job-- I would like normalcy back!
So my F!@#ing problem? Don't stare at me too long-- I might bruise! Oh, and my subclavian vein will probably clot again anyway... sigh.
WYPF these days? Tell us a share the load!