I am on Warfarin and my INR has remained pretty consistent. I take the Warfarin at 6:00pm because that is when they gave it to me at the hospital. It just so happens that I workout at 6:00 pm too. I do light reps with bands and weights.

Warfarin has a completely different dosage functionality so you cant' really compare the two. People are usually advises to take their warfarin later in the day because if you have to make any dosage adjustments based on your INR tests, you can make the dosage adjustment the same day. But some people take it in the morning because that's what works best for them.

I exercise in the evening only because that's why I have time to do it. I don't see the correlation between when your work out and when your blood is the most anticoagulated. I think it's ok to work out whenever.

I'd check with your doc on the weight lifting. When I was first diagnosed I was told no heavy free weights but I think that was just my doc being overly cautious. You could drop a weight on your foot, pull a muscle etc that can cause bleeding and I think that's what the issue is. Of course, you could get hit by a car and bleed to death too so I'm of the mind of doing what you want, but just use common sense. Still check in with your doc about it and get his take. I've been on warfarin for a long time so I have had a few years to figure out what I'm comfortable doing and not doing.

I was on Xarelto, came off of it in June.
1. After the initial 3 wk higher dose at the beginning, I took it 1x a day.

2. The Xarelto should have no impact on the oxygen delivery to the muscles. It doesn't actually thin the blood, just interfere with the clotting cascade so it is harder to clot.

3. Idk about doing strength training. I would check with my doctor if I were you, to be sure. I continued with my clogging and karate while on Xarelto (though I limited takedowns in karate).

I'm also on Xarelto and questioned the reasoning behind taking at dinner. In my research, I read that evening is better because it absorbs better if you have not been fasting (when you first wake up in the morining). I talked to my cardiologist and he thought otherwise. The key, he indicated was consistency. He confirmed this with the people at Xarelto and called me back to let me know that the dinner thing is likely for folks who take Xarelto for it's primary use--heart condition of A-phib. In the case of using it to thin the blood as a result of PE--consistency is the key. My concern with dinner at that I rarely eat dinner at the same time--if I even eat dinner. The cardiologist instructed to take in the morning after I've eaten breakfast. I've done this now for three weeks and it seems fine.

I was diagnosed on 6/4/13 with multiple bi-lateral PE. Basically--clots were everywhere in my lungs--one of the worst cases the docs had ever seen. My right ventricle was significantly enlarged and i had a heart attack the morning I went into the hospital. I have had excellent care--from the week in the hospital--to now six weeks later. My medical team instructed me to do cardio to get oxygen in the lungs and get the blood moving--so I've been swimming almost daily. it's hard, but I think it's helping. I don't think the time of day is an issue and I've been swimming at all times. The pulmonologist, cardiologist and family physician all agree that I should not doing any strength training until at least November. Hope this helps and hope your recovery continues.

Grommit7,

Thanks for your reply. Was you PE caused by a DVT in the leg? Mine was a DVT in my right leg. I also had major blockages in both lungs. Fortunately I did not have a heart attack. I'm sorry to hear that you did. I was diagnosed on 6/18/13 and my lungs don't ache but my lung capacity is definitely down from normal which is normal. My biggest challenge is my DVT leg has a lot of swelling now and hurts very badly. It didn't even hurt when I went to ER or even for a few days after I got out of the hospital. Now it is very painful to walk. I'm wondering if I need to just push through the leg pain or if that will make it worse. I plan to get another opinion from a vascular doctor.

bobhcs--sorry for the delay. Yes, they believe that my PEs were caused by DVT based on symptoms. By the time I sought medical treatment, DVT was gone.....again, I waited a long time! My leg has been in pain since the diagnosis--finally starting to feel better--like a calf pull that wouldn't go away. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I recently was diagnosed with dvt in my left leg. Its day 2 of being on xaltro. Ive been walking for up to an hr every other day..lifting weights..swimming. is it ok to keep my regular exercise up?

pretty sensible advice:
http://www.clotconnect.org/patients/faq-frequently-asked-questions/faq-when-can-i-resume-physical-activities

i want to thank everybody here..especially rosiethe cat for the website! I was very active when i was diagnosed 5 days ago with a superficial below my left knee..and a deep one in my ankle. I had been walking 1 hr every other ady, swimmimg for about 30 lengths, lifting 3 x a week, Im 55..never any major heart trouble. I have been in a nutrition class at the ymca..have lost 26 lbs! I was up to 276..now down to 250. My leg does not hurt when im sitting in recliner..or sleeping at night. When i get up from sitting down..it will hurt for just about 15 sec..until i start walking..then its gone..does not hurt. i will start back swimming and walking tomorrow or tues. Im off work from a knee nscope on the opposite leg which is rehabing fine. Scheduled to go back to work on Jan 28th. I can't even to begin to express my gratitude for this discussion! Also, i have been sober now for 21 years..one day at a time!

Weather, how recently were you diagnosed?

i was diagnosed on thur. jan 9th..i first noticed about 2 weeks prior to that my ankle was kinda sore..nothing really painful..i attributed it to working out. On wed.jan 8th..i woke in the morning with a small bump on my leg below the knee that was sore..so i got right in to the doctor the next day. I had a case of phlebitis in that same leg..above the knee in the hamstring area about 10 years ago. They put me on cumadin for about 1-2 months. After about a week or so..i couldn't stand sitting around..so i went for a short motorcycle ride & when i came back, it wasn't sore, i could walk ok. So its now day 5 on this new medicine..still hurts..but once i start walking around..it's ok..?

It's good to exercise, but my hope is that your doc gave you the ok so soon after your diagnosis. He likely did and that will help you with your DVT recovery for sure, but hard core exercise, just check with your doc first.

Echo rmb's advice. The docs generally recommend 2-4 weeks before doing anything too strong, but getting moving early, with your docs OK, is a good thing and its a positive sign that you're thinking like that.

he told me it would be a good idea to take 1 week & hold off on my exercise routine. I still get up & move around..go places. It's a mental thing also..thinking it's gonna break loose any minute..and my ticket is up. I can't begin to tell you how much you're comments have meant to me..a very caring group!

I totally get that. For my DVT, my doc insisted I start walking a little bit a few days after diagnosis, even while still in the hospital. I had a filter inserted and was on a heparin drip still at that point, so I don't think the clot breaking off was a big concern at that point. I fancy myself a pretty tough chick, but my DVT pain after diagnosis was probably the most painful thing I'd ever experienced. But you have to fight through some of that too because I do believe not walking and moving doesn't do your DVT leg any favors long term. So it's kind of a balance between pushing yourself and taking it easy.

For the stuff related to my PE though, my doc wanted me to do slow, light exercise initially, ie treadmill, stationary bike, swimming because my body had really been through the wringer with my PE. So initially, I could barely do more than 15 minutes of light walking, just because I was so winded and lightheaded. But that improved over time too.

You're going to be ok. That old cliche "one day at a time" really holds true during recovery.