I know I would! As you said, can't be a bad thing. With how easily INR can fluctuate, I personally would prefer the once a week, especially when it is that convenient. If I find out I am a lifer, I will be looking into something like that.

In the early days after my PE, I would have because I was so freaked out and it took so long to get my INR above 2. Knowing how obsessive I can be, if I had a home machine, I'd be testing all the time, which I simply do not want to do. That's madness to me.

Once a week doesn't seem terrible and it's not a bad thing necessarily, but it would irk me to do so at this point in my life, now that I'm more relaxed about my INR, and I don't find a lot of value in testing that often. When my INR is unstable, even my doc doesn't usually have me test sooner than two weeks apart, unless something really nuts is going on with my INR.

i wouldn't test more honestly i don't really worry to much about my INR numbers .most of the time it's where it should be ..but i've been on thinners a long time and i just let the doctors worry about it

Testing that is more frequent, more convenient, and less time-consuming is the whole idea of using one of those instruments. The opportunity for better monitoring and less risk is analogous to what diabetics were gaining 40 years ago with their self-testing. The most vigilant among them can now manage their condition for decades without complications.
In the bad old days, those $150 visits to the clinic had to be spread out every several weeks as a matter of cost containment. That cost scenario no longer applies.
As we all know, even with the most rigid of habits, INR can fluctuate and drift on its own. It is well-known that Warfarin brings a risk of bleeding incidents - about 5 percent in any given year, with about a 1 percent chance of it being fatal. With weekly testing it is possible and reasonable to catch more of those drifts over 3.0 and get something done about it immediately, instead of walking around unawares for two weeks while at worsening peril. Actual outcomes of frequent self-testing reflect the reduction in risk.

http://www.inrselftest.com/content/patients/what-is-inr

Thanks More2Be! That kind of echoes what I thought, especially the part about less frequent testing being the result of what the insurance wanted to pay for as opposed to best practices.

I agree with More2be, I have recently got a Coagucheck xs and i check once a week. It's great, I feel if i am out of range, i have control.
My Doctor and inr nurse do not promote this machine, but they were going to check my inr monthly or every 6 weeks, I was not happy with this, i had no control and my inr flutuates quite a bit. I paid for my own machine and my stripes, some people can get stripes on perscription but where i live you can't. Im in UK. The doctor said i would be checking it all the time, this is not the case, its a fantastic machine and I feel im in control now.

I have the coaguchek xs and love having it! Initially I did test more than needed but as time went on I relaxed and can go a couple of weeks between tests now. If I start feeling under the weather or start a new medication then I do it more often. Have to admit I'd hate not having the option of checking it myself now.

your going to drive your selves insane .INR numbers will go up and down all the time .i can't imagine checking it that often it goes down a little and your going to worry every time .i've been on thinners 41 years.if you try and micro manage your numbers your going to be very frustrated and stressed .you could probably check your blood twice a day and it won't be the same .i'm not saying it's a bad thing but i could see it adding to stress

I don't think it is adding to my stress level at all to have the ability to check more frequently.

What it HAS added to is my feeling of having control over the situation and having to run my life less on the whim (and office hours) of other folks.

Plus, *trusting* that I'm in range isn't as good as *knowing* that I'm in range, in my book. I'm well aware that I'll have numbers that go up and down. But if I drop out of range, I'd rather know in one week than four. If I shoot up, I'd rather know in one week than when I start bleeding into my foot again.

Not an obsession, just healthy maintenance.

Interesting, I have the same machine and they only ask for monthly tests, I report to them and my clinic via email.

That said, I test sometimes every week, sometimes every two weeks, frankly just depends on what is going on in my life. I do a lot of bicycling so I like to keep my INR in the low 2 range. Testing a couple days before the weekend gives me assurance that if I get into a crash at 2.1, it's not as critical as being 3+. I am generally very stable at 2-2.4, so it's not a big deal.

I record the reading and move on. There's no stress involved for me, but I can see how others might obsess over it.

It can also be helpful to see how your body reacts to new foods and/or drugs for future management.

Luckily, everyone gets to do this their own way

Chris

If it was just a finger test I would say yes but I go once a week and they take a vial and it hurts and it is really starting to get to me. The vein is becoming more difficut to get blood from. I go to dr. Oct. 14th to see about coming off warfarin or else I would be raising hell with them as I thought that after a few mos. drs. spaced INR checsk farther apart.

Good luck Toss you have been so helpful to me and I wish you the best.

Barbara, tell them to switch veins. I can only have blood drawn out of my right arm, due to my other arm having had a DVT (they don't like to draw from a limb that had a DVT) and so I ask them to do hand draws as well, which prefer actually. Eventually, you get to testing every 30 days or so once your INR gets more stable.

That's what she said she would do, change places.

I guess because of my recent diagnosis of the lupus Anticoagulant antibody and my doctor telling me if I clot 1 more time while on the Coumadin I go on Lovenox shots. I'd test more frequently. Right now they are being so strict with my INR levels staying between 2.5-3.5. Every time I've clotted before my INR was below 2.5, so yea it makes me a little more nervous and more prone to test. Right now i test every 2 weeks and when my doctor tells me to, which is when he starts me on any new medications, like antibiotics. I'm fortunate that the company that I call my INR into calls me to remind me of my 2 week call in date. They also supply all my testing equipment for free.
Hugs
Ferr