Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

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Maymitut 07/13/2014

Woke up yesterday with a BLACK toe. Did not hurt at all.
Went online and read about toe reactions from warfarin and sometimes
amputations... I went crazy. I called my PCP and he said go to
ER.
Doc there said that my INR was very high and this can happen
when blood is too thin. OMG It looks like a bad horror movie.
I never heard of such a thing.... has anyone else?????????????????
Came home and scarfed up some prohibited greens like
Romaine and pickles and plan to have broccoli for breakfast.
He told me to call my cardiologist on Monday.
Good grief ... this is a new one on me!!!! Ughhhh

Surfrat 07/15/2014

That's a shame. :(

deleted_user 07/15/2014

I have been on Warfarin for a year now after a disaster with Zarelto. My INR has stayed between 2.1 and 2.5 and is tested once a month. I eat greens every day, mainly lettuce. I have given up kale and broccoli and avoid anything with Canola oil. I take supplements like Omega 3 and use flax seed oil in salad dressing. So far it works. I get occasional bruising not exactly black toes. I believe that moderation in diet is a good practice. I am slowly losing extra weight since I limited wheat and dairy products. You can find list of foods high with vitamin K and limit eating them. We are all different in how we react, do what works for you. Marya

DeTalentedOne 07/17/2014

Sorry to hear about your black toe. Your INR must havd been really high. I have heard about toes turning colors because of warfin. Your tpe is probably one giant bruise. The highest my INR ever was was 4.3. I was taken 5mg 5x a week and 2.5 2x a week. I hope for your surgery they until ur INR get back in a normal range. Good luck.

deleted_user 07/18/2014

I had both a cardiologist and my EP tell me they'd choose one of the newer anticoagulants like Xarelto over Coumadin if they had to be on one when I expressed concern. I've been on Xarelto for 2 1/2 months without any problems, but really hope I can eventually get off it. Fortunately, my insurance company approved me being on it and the pharmacist gave me a discount card to further reduce my copay to only $5.00 last month! I think the actual cost is like $400 if I had to pay out of pocket. Ouch.

How is your toe doing now, Marilyn?

Maymitut 07/20/2014

Thanks for all the comments.
The doctor cut back the warfarin and I get re-tested tomorrow.
My toe is weird... when my foot is up it is normal looking when
I put it down all the purple comes back but mostly on the end
of the toes nail part .. it does not hurt. So weird. Hopefully
tomorrow will tell the tale. I have been on Warfarin for 8 years
and no problem but maybe when you are older it is more sensitive.
Not sure. I read that if you cut yourself it is much harder to
stop the bleeding with drugs like xaralto and they can control
the bleeding better with Warfarin. My prior doctor does not
prescribe it as he said there was a lot of stomach problems
in his group of patients. He retired and i have a new YOUNG
doctor who is for all the new drugs so I really don't know what
to think. But I do know we ALL have to be on a blood thinner
I have had too many friend have strokes because they refused
to take it. My cousin had 18 strokes.. still alive but OMG
horrible. AFIB runs in my family .. only one person had a
stroke and he was 85 and on warfarin but died from it.
I am afraid not to take it ... my old doctor said he begged his
mother to take it and she refused and had 4 strokes .. still
alive. Ughhhh This is a book.

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