Brocolli, brussel sprouts (yuck) and blueberries are all high. When I was first starting warfarin, my INR was 3.6 one day, I halved my dose and ate 4 pretty big pieces of brocolli and it was 3.1 the next day. Stuck with the lower dose (minus the broc) and it was back up to 3.4 a few days later. They should also be able to give you a vitamin K shot pre-surgery if they need to for your INR to be low enough.

Maybe some V-8 too? Not sure how much Vit K it contains, but has to be some, since it is made of veggies. Also, the darker lettuces (romaine, red leaf) have more VitK than iceberg. I'd head to your all-you-can-eat salad bar and help yourself. I'm with you in that I can't stand spinach, kale, and etc.

Although, really, it seems like a lot of hassle when they could just give you a Vit K shot to drop your INR and play it safe.

This link will take you to a site that has almost all foods and their Vit K listed.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR18/nutrlist/sr18a430.pdf

I've not heard of pork or any meat having a Vit K content. Maybe beef liver--- but a small amount only.

Grapefruit/juice, although it has no Vit K, might interfere with Coumadin-----so ask your doctor about that. I'm pretty sure a small amount wouldn't be a problem but best to check if you drink it.

I just took my INR down by 5 points in 3 days by eating more Vit K foods.

5 points? or .5 points? Big diff there ....

My GP wants me to avoid the vitamin k shot. I need to almost cut my INR in half but even a littlw less to get me close to 1.2 would be great. Not sure it will happen. I have been checking online for foods but just get conflicking infomation between sites. We are away for the weekend and so far I have been able to eat a pretty healthy salad. Stopped off at the grocery store and picked up some broccoli, blackberries and blueberries (well muffins any way). Since we are in our RV I can steam the broccoli and I do actually like it so this helps. Already snacking on blackberries, which I also read was a higher vitamin k food. Going to dinner tomorrow and will make sure to add the darker and red types of lettuce to my salad with brocolli as a side. I am trying to do as much as I can, but in the end know that if it does not come down low enough then maybe the timing for surgery is not right. It is not a life threatening needed surgery. Althought needs to be done eventually to relieve pain and pressure. I am thankful the PE was seen and I am still here three years later. I welcome more responses and help. TIA.

I'll vote for V8 again! Easy to toss those back in an RV and they've gotta have some good solid VitK in 'em. Won't hurt, for sure...

Oops, you're right! .5 (point 5). Thanks for correcting that.

V 8 has Vit K but some regulation says that doesn't have to list the Vit K in it.

***Vitamin K in V8
The government does not require food companies to list the amounts of vitamin K in foods in the nutrition information on the label, so V8's label doesn't provide this information.

The Vitamin K registry online lists vegetable juice cocktail as a food that contains moderate amounts of vitamin K. They define moderate as 10 to 24 mcg per 1/2 cup serving.

Upper Chesapeake Health's anticoagulation management team lists V8 juice as a "vitamin K rich beverage."***

Shrug---- take your choice. (grin)

***I have been checking online for foods but just get conflicking infomation between sites. ****

That's why I sent the link for the Vit K in foods. (grin) So many (TOO MANY) sites are the pits.

There are Vitamin K pills too - you just need one. I had to pick it up at the pharmacy when my INR was way too high one time.

Best of luck with the surgery!! Hope your levels will be fine for it!

@frkrhe----- has your doctor suggested that you take a Vit K pill, as a member here replied as a possibility?
They CAN be bought as OTC but I'd think that a person should have their doctor's approval first--- or an rx for it.

I discovered that my calcium chews have vit K in them (Kroger brand version of viactive). I've found that I can change a lot of my diet without effecting my INR, but I have to take 3 of those Ca++ chews a day or it starts swinging all over the place!

Good luck!
KS

No my doctor did not suggest taking any anything with vitamin k. He wanted me to just make sure I increased my vitamin k enriched foods. So far I am increasing salads and broccoli and added blackberries. I had to stop taking all vitamins prior to surgey as well. I am hoping between all I am doing and only using the lovenox will be enough. No lovenox on Monday, the day of the scheduled surgery and the day I go to my GP to have a final check to see if I can have the surgery.

*** So far I am increasing salads and broccoli and added blackberries.***

@ frkrhe

I hope that what you're doing in the way of increasing your Vit K (with your diet) will be enough. Or maybe you are bingeing them? (grin)

Myself, I'd add eat more Vit K 'heavy' foods like spinach but perhaps you don't like it.
Good luck with your efforts and your surgery.

My number came down to .9 so I was able to have my surgery. Just relaxing in the recliner with a little help from some Lortab.

Thanks to all who commented.

Great news!! I hope all went well with your surgery! :)