Pulmonary Embolism Support Group

By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory instability and death.

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Too long between blood tests?

Lauren2
Lauren2
So my anticoagulation clinic just transferred me over to my regular doctor, who in my opinion is a complete moron and I am trying to find a new one. For the last 3 weeks or so my INR was steady at 2.8. I had my first blood test through my regular doctor the other day and it has dropped to 2 and she told me I didn't need another blood test for 1 month. The longest I have gone between tests so far has been 2 weeks, and that was when it was higher, so for her to tell me to wait 1 month when my INR has dropped .8 points makes me super nervous. If you dropped .8 points wouldn't you think 1 month was too long to wait? I don't even think that she read the file my clinic sent her, because when I asked for a refill of warfarin she said that I had it filled on July 2nd and that should last me 3 months, so she apparently doesn't know I take 3 a day. I was thinking of making an appointment with her and like demanding a blood test earlier. What would you do? Is it common to drop this much and wait that long between tests? Arg this just stresses me out so much.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Definitely let your doctor know that you aren't happy.

Judging from your previous INR testing, it makes no sense at all to wait a whole month when you are only borderline therapeutic.

I would raise the matter with her and try and get a test sooner. If she won't help, then find someone who will!

Good luck.
More2be
More2be
The monthly interval represents something of a compromise between a need to test frequently and the expense of using a clinic. Those who are unstable in their INR, or who may be subject to mysterious spikes and troughs, may need testing more often. Self-testing, at least as it is handled by private insurance in USA, allows for 12 test strips every 90 days, about once a week with a skipped week every now and then.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sounds like BS to me. I wouldnt be comfortable waiting for a month if I was hanging a 2.0 and was showing erratic readings. Wouldnt hesitate to ask for test and if they give you the run-around, starting looking for someone else.

Only my 2 cents.

Good luck
Robert
Lauren2
Lauren2
So I went to my doctor today and she was so rude. I just told her that I hadn't been feeling to good lately and that I was really nervous waiting a month and would much prefer getting it tested sooner - if only for my piece of mind. I live in Canada so I don't pay for blood tests or anything, so its really no problem. She like stared me down, making me feel like I was asking for narcotics or something lol, and then rolled her eyes and said fine. When I told her I didn't have any refills left on my medicine she went "hmm" and then asked me all these questions, its like she thinks I am a warfarin addict or something lol, like yeah I really want to be on these rat poison pills.

I don't know, my mom loves this doctor, but I have had enough of this.
cjmenjou
cjmenjou
Well, personally I think the INR situation is fine, my clinic might say come back in a month under those circumstances, or maybe two weeks, but that depends on how long you've been on and stable, etc...

BUT this is YOUR life, ou have the right to demand a test (they may not give it to you, but a good doc would). I have very little patience for doctors that act like that and would be gone, gone gone.

Chris
deleted_user
deleted_user
In my opinion, if you can change doctors, do so immediately!!! It sounds like she is minimizing your symptoms, and if she carries forth with this attitude of non-caring, then you are being done a disservice. If she is part of a large practice, by all means file a complaint on the way out. She may not know enough about your condition to be concerned, but you have to be your own advocate.
Sometimes a doctor is good for some people with some problems, but not others. You have to have confidence in your physician.