My hematologist wanted to see me every quarter but after a while I thought it wasn't necessary. He doesn't manage my warfarin and I don't have a blood disorder. My cardiolgist was seeing me every 3 months and then 6 months. I put an end to that too. Just seemed like a way to bring in cash for them.

I've got to see the haematologist every 4 months, I have no idea why; he doesn't have any notes on me and the appointments seem to have little purpose since the nurse at my GPs surgery does my Warfarin dosing and I don't have a blood disorder =)

Initially, I was seeing my hematologist every 3 months. Now, my clot is fully dissolved, but I will be on Coumadin for life. So, now I get my INR checked monthly and have a 15 visit with the nurse practitioner at that time and see the hematologist every 6 months.

Sophie, I so belong over there, because seriously the less my doc wants to see me the happier I am. I was supposed to see him again a month after my last DVT, but I haven't been back at all. The clot wasn't a big deal and my coumadin is managed by a clinic. So I figure I'll see him when a problem actually arises, which is often enough on its own...

My hematologist saw me 3 times while he was finishing my bloodwork. After my diagnoses of Factor V and APS were confirmed. He told me to stay on Coumadin indefinitely, my family doctor could manage it and he hoped I didn't need to see him for anything else. :) (He's also an oncologist.)

My PCP sent me to Pittsburgh to see 3 more doctors for the APS and other issues that came to light. They have now said I only need to see them yearly. I have my INR checked monthly and my doctor's nurse calls me with the results and the doctor's instructions.

I saw the hemo one year out and then twice in the following year. It will soon be a year since having seen the doctor. I suspect the doctor will want at least an annual physical exam as part of continuing to prescribe Warfarin. Like everyone else I was all over the map seeing doctors and specialists while in the early months of recovery, but by now it is settled what damage there was, how much of it resolved, how much of it will stay, and any hope of slight further improvement.

36 months post-SVT, 33 months post-PE and counting...

Initially I was seeing my hematologist every quarter by teleconference; however, since there were no changes to my health or problems, AND my INR and coumadin treatment were, and continue to be, followed by my family doctor I suggested that I only contact her if I had a problem as I felt that I was taking her time for no real purpose when she had patients who really needed her.

I've only seen my hematologist twice. Seen the cardiologist three times and the pulmonologist three times too. Since we've ruled out long-term damage and I don't have any clotting disorders I probably won't see any of these guys again.

My primary I visit randomly, as the need arises. We manage my INR mostly remotely and she calls if I need to adjust something.

Honestly, I've had close to 70 doctor's appointments this year and I am really ready to start scaling back. If you aren't getting anything out of yoru appointments, I'd just drop them unless they can give you a compelling reason to come back.

I saw a hematologist once, a pulmonary specialist twice and my regular family physician about once a month. My Hematologist and Pulmonary specialist suggest my GP could manage my care and if he had any questions he is in touch with them. I don't have any blood disorders that they know of or have been discovered yet no matter how many blood tests they took on and off Coumadin, so really no point in continuing seeing them. I clot therefore I am on Coumadin for life.
Hugs
Ferr

Thanks for all the feedback. I talked to my primary today and she said she would take over managing my coumadin and we could just consult the hematologist as needed. Over the last year, the meetings with the hematologist have been very informative but I didn't think I really needed to meet with a specialist regularly anymore.

That's kind of how I felt. I learned a lot from my Hematologist and it was comforting to talk to him after my second DVT and the idea of being on warfarin for life. But then after a while, I just didn't see that it was necessary. The only time I go to my regular doctor is when I'm sick or am going for a yearly check up. I don't make specific follow up visits to discuss the clots or warfarin or anything. I just get my INR checked regularly at the lab and then he advises my dosage over the phone, usually via a nurse. If there's an issue, he'll speak to me directly.

I like just having one stop shopping with my doc now. Before, when I was seeing my regular doc, plus the cardiologist, plus the hematologist, it stressed me out and made me feel crazy. And, it's expensive to see specialists. Granted, my insurance covered most of it, but even when your insurance is covering it, utilization costs are what keep health care costs up and ultimately tie into premium. That's another topic completely, though :)

I've been on Coumadin for life since @ 1999 now. My primary care manager see's me about once a year, other then that I see my Coumadin Nurse once a month after my INR checks.

I haven't visited with my thrombophilia doctor as a patient since 1998 (though I have spoken at several of his symposiums as a patient advocate). If anything comes up that may impact my anticoagulation, I usually just send out an email asking for his opinion; like when I had my hip replaced.

I had my event while in college - while there I saw my PCP once monthly for coumadin checks, a rheumatologist once for testing. When I relocated around five months out, I was transferred to a hematologist that I saw twice while on coumadin, and then twice (three months apart) once off coumadin. I do have FVL, but it's a non-issue at the moment. I can return if needed, but now I just see my PCP for an annual physical.

It has been very good for my family that I was listed with the hema since my father had a DVT and was also referred, so we already had a good relationship with him.

well I was seeing a doctor often. I am on workers comp 2 years next mo. I was told to take warafian for life. Workers Comp said they wont cover me now and other doctors dont want to see me since it was a work related job. So that would be a big zero for me

There has to be more to it than that. I mean, if worker's comp is no longer handling your situation, are you saying there is no doctor outside of workers comp that will take you on as a patient. Who's then going to manage your INR?