You had to be in shock when you got those results.

Over the last year, I've been stable, but prior to that, my INR would swing within two-three weeks of testing, anywhere between 1.8 to over 4,and then completely bottom out again. One time it went up from a therapuetic range to 6 point something within a couple of weeks. Crazy.

Are you exercizing more? I found that heavy exercize and cutting calories really does make a difference with my INR, more so than the whole vitamin K thing.

I wonder too if we have a virus or something going on in our bodies that we aren't aware of that could make it swing like that. My husband is a diabetic and he's very good about controlling it and very strict with his diet, but every once in a while, his blood sugar goes completely off the boards. He swears it's from stress or from his body fighting a virus. Whether there's truth in that or not, I don't know, but I do think it's plausible.

Man! That is nuts!

My INR has been all over the place for the last five weeks. At first it was because i was accidentally taking the wrong warfarin dose (the 1's and 5's were right next to each other on the kitchen counter) but now we still haven't been able to get it over two and it is starting to get annoying. This is the third time I've been on warfarin and I've never had this problem before.

That said, I would have your doc double-check the .9 number with the lab or whoever actually drew the blood (assuming it isn't him). My last test came back at 1.29 and my doctor called me up wondering if I was taking my meds at all. I told her there was no way it was that low (explaining that I had bled a lot when they drew the blood) and she called the lab. Turns out her assistant had heard wrong and I was actually at 1.9. I'm glad we caught it. I don't want to up my dose a lot over incorrect results and wind up accidentally sky high.

I know it is incredibly frustrating to have a weird INR. Hang in there!

My DH has the opposite problem. DH's INR was over 5. He was sick with a headache and vomiting for a couple days. When we went to the Emergency room, they said his INR was 10! He hadn't taken his coumadin for two days. The ER doctor gave him some vitamin K, got the pain and nausea under control and sent him home.
He's feeling better now. He went to his family doctor today for more bloodwork.
It's crazy how things just happen.
Hang in there.

TNT, good point. It may be worth rechecking to see if that was an error reading.

My understanding of Coumadin/Warfarin is that after being on the drug for some time, your liver will kind of adapt to it and you may need a higher dose to maintain the same INR. That said, it is amazing how little change in my dosage or diet or anything can affect my INR. I guess that is why it is so important to get tested regularly- I just wish it could be tested without the needle poke. ;)

I have been doing a little more exercise but not that much, and no change in diet that would cause that kind of swing in INR.

I self test using my own meter, everything is in date etc. The clinic doubled my dose for two days and re-test on the 3rd day, after one day my INR is back up to 1.9!!, something tells me I am going to have a fun few weeks with my INR

I just had the opposite - usually my INR tanks but it went to 4 - held one dose and retested it was 4.5. WTH?! I have no idea why. I have changed nothing in my diet, drink, exercise. Now looking into astrological phases - might as well, it seems to be just as accurate as any other reasoning.

My INR went down to 1.1 from 2.5-2.9-ish over two weeks when I started exercising at gym and walking for 2 miles a day.

After getting to the therapeudic level, my INR went down below 2 only once, and that was when I had eaten spinach enchaladas a couple of days before. I have chosen to stay away from the "no no" foods, but have always loved those spinach enchaladas at El Chico. Well, I learned to not eat them anytime close to getting my INR checked.

My dh is back in hospital because of his inr being at 1.2 and had several clots pass the filter in his leg one into lung and several just passed the filter. This stuff stinks... Thankful he is alive still though. Long long long long road ahead

How long was it at 2.6? Mine was checked every few days, then weekly, and only after it was in range for a few weeks, did they allow me to go three weeks....

I'm fairly new to this, but got therapuetic earlier in the week with a reading on Monday and Tuesday of 2.3. My doctor told me I could wait a week to test again. However, since I feel like I still needed a securtiy blanket, I went to get tested today. My INR jumped to 3.9. Being new to this I am of course concerned. My doctor seemed to think it was normal and just told me to skip a dose and add some Vit K veggies in. Any comments on this? Is 3.9 oaky?