Hey there OP,
This medication Coumadin (warfarin) it is generally an accepted standard here and pretty much a lot of people take them. If you have had several TIA’s as you have mentioned in your post then this drug given to you by the doctor really does makes sense and it is logical that you have been scripted this drug. I wanted to ask you… what is your PT/ INR goal range? Usually they are searching for a range that it is between 2.0 – 3.0 however that only depends on the condition and the physician himself. This drug it is a pain in the neck unfortunately due to the fact that, as you already know, I guess, it does require monitoring and has diet restrictions. And that’s, even though, those can be easier to manage than one might think, but I tell you – they key is the consistency. But I can tell you that as soon as your physician has you at the intended PT range, they are going to typically check you every month, once a month, until you are having at least 2 PT readings back to back that are within the good and normal range.
There are also other medications of course, they are called Pradaxa and Xarelto and these ones are some relatively new (especially nowadays) and may or they may not be indicated for your particular condition being treated. From as much as I know, these medications are usually being used in those patients that are suffering from A Fib, however the difference is that unlike the Coumadin, they are not being reversible. With the Pradaxa I am being most familiar with. This is a medication that’s extremely expensive, however at least it does allows you to eat whatever you like unlike the Coumadin and also, unlike the Coumadin it does not require you to have a constant PT/ INR monitoring. It has good sides and it has bad sides, pretty much as everything talking about medications.
There is also such as thing as Lovenox Sub Q (which is a low molecular weight heparin) shots and these are usually just used before, during or also after periods of immobility because of being hospitalized for whatever you would be hospitalized for. From as much as I know, this medication it is generally not being used as a long term medication, even though I can suppose that someone could do it. well, this drug is generally being used in order to prevent a patient from throwing a clot because of the immobility or being used in lieu of Coumadin prior to and shortly after a surgery as this one also is not requiring the PT/ INR testing either.
Whichever the case, there are millions of people out there that have already used and many of them still using Coumadin with great success over many years and to be honest I really do think that you are going to find that in case you are being able to manage your diet properly and consistently and to keep within your PT/ INR normal range (or goal) ratios then it is going to be much easier than you are thinking. Not trying to say that this is the way it WILL be, but there are just some chances it will. If, after a few months of keep using the Coumadin you are finding you are being unable to stay within your PT/ INR range repeatedly, then i think it would be a good idea for you to search for other options and I really think that this Pradaxa might be a better choice for you if your physician is thinking that the medicine is going to be appropriate for your condition. I’m in no way trying to say that Pradaxa is going to be a better option or that it is proper for you at all, these things should be said by your doctor and I only recommend you to pay attention to it and talk about it to your doctor in case you don’t get help. Most important here is that when you are using Coumadin, it is imperative that you keep your appointments for regular PT/ INR testing and to have a through understanding of the diet restrictions as this is very and very important. you do not need to avoid any foods, for example, however you are eating something like for example Brussel sprouts, or cole slaw, eat the same potion, same number of times per week.
Whichever the case, I am wishing you good luck and please, you should not ignore your physicians advices and recommendations. You can ask them something or recommend them something, but you still should listen to them and their opinion and if they tell you Coumadin then please stay on it. as inconvenient as this Coumadin drug can be, with a history of TIA’s, a stroke it is going to be a lot much more inconvenient for you. Really hoping you are going to be alright!
