Warfarin Sodium and medications

I am 57 years old, male, and active, and have been on Warfarin since 1987 post Aortic Valve Replacement. I was quite happy with the dosage up till 2001, when I had an episode of TIA due to a malfunctioning thyroid and when my heart rate went down to 30 bpm. Since then, I have also been on a daily dosage of thyroxine, just enough to get my TSH up to normal levels.

Since then, I have a creeping condition of body aches and back pain, which has now, after 7 years, become chronic. This does not seem to alleviate with change from the Eltroxin from Glaxo, to Thyronorm from Ranbaxy. I have now accepted to live with this sometimes-chronic pain.

I tried some experiments with my dosages of the medications, and so I reduced my Warfarin to 5mg from 8mg. Within a week I was plagued with cramps and aches, and I got scared and went back to my old dosage.

Has my body, my heart, my arteries, adjusted to the thin blood over this time since 1987? Due to this thinning of the blood, will the detection of constriction of arteries and veins be more difficult? And consequently the detection of angina pectoris and atherosclerosis? Or can it be just old age catching up?

If any of you are on a similar combination of these two drugs and with similar symptoms, I would appreciate a line.

Wow - I'm so glad I found this site. I am 43 years old and had a PE last August in both lungs - every test imaginable has been done and still no idea why I got the PE. I should be on Warfarin for the rest of my life but I can't stand it much longer. I have headaches every day, cold sweats, dizziness, can't remember things, can't concentrate at work and the WEIGHT GAIN! My doctor just tells me to eat healthier but watch those leafy greens! I get no support at all from her. She also put me on Cipralex for depression and I'm now considering going off both medications and seeing a Naturopath. I'm sick of feeling like I'm 80.
L.

I had open heart surgery August 23rd 2006 for a conginital heart defeat (Aortic Valve replaced with mechanical St Jude valve). I wanted a bio valve but Drs insisted I should have the mechanical valve because of my age (45 at the time).

Prior to my heart surgery I was a performer, singer/songwriter/actress/comedianne and I loved what I did. It was my life. Now, after 2+ years post-op and on Warfarin (7.5 mg daily for life) I feel like life has ended and I'm just a walking dead person. The effects I feel daily are as follows...

Dizziness
Severe Headaches
Blurred vision
Memory Loss
Fatigue
Weight Gain
Trouble concentating
Fluttering effect in my head/ears- Hard to explain
Hair loss
Unexplained pains in chest & left side of my body
Unable to sleep well
Tiredness- even when I've done nothing to be tired for
Nausea
Gas & Diarrhea off and on
teeth pain- Like I've drank something very cold
feeling in my head similar to a brain freeze- like you ate ice cream too fast
Night bleeds in my month- wake up with a mouth full of blood daily
What do think, is that enough??

I'm going in tomorrow for a cat scan because the headaches have been so bad they feel I need to be checked for brain tumor and/or internal bleeding. When I tell the Drs I think this is due to Wafarin they pratically laugh in my face as if to say, "Silly silly woman, don't be foolish! We know whats best for you. Remember, we saved your life!" Really? Did you?!

I want nothing more than to get off this rat poison and regain my life, but to do so could mean a stroke or heart attack. I would go under the knife again to have the mechanical valve removed and replaced with a biological valve, but do you think my insurance company (Kieser) would pay for a "silly" thing like that? Right!

Welcome to the greatest country in the world!

I'm going to start a website to help people like us. I want your stories, please send me your info, together we might make a change, what can it hurt to try? Email me ******

B.

I'm a 42 year old woman, been on Coumadin on and off for almost 8 yrs due to 2 DVT's after childbirth in February, 2000. The scar tissue has completely blocked the main vain in my left leg and am on Coumadin to prevent new clots from forming. Symptoms from the beginning have been: memory problems, concentration problems, fatigue, low libido, every muscle in my body hurts to the touch, my skin looks like I have smoker's skin (I don't smoke), anxiety, rash around my ankles, I have almost no patience on most days and continual hair loss. They changed my dosage 5 months ago to 10mg one day & 7.5mg the next 2 days. Since, then symptoms have gotten almost unbearable at times. My current Dr. claims the Coumadin isn't causing any of it and won't listen. 5 yrs. ago, during my second pregnancy, I was on heparin shots twice a day instead of theoumadin and I felt incredible. Why is it that when there are so many people that have problems with this medicine, nobody will listen and come up with a solution C?

I have noticed changes in my memory, and felt very fatigued when I first started the warfarin.The fatigue has tapered off after 5 months but I notice more changes in memory lately. I get off the med in one more month. I found the best way to control drug levels is to eat at least one frozen meal a day with a lot of vegetables, such as a Lean Cuisine that is advertised as having twice as many vegetables as a regular lean cuisine...then I eat dinner and limit leafy green vegetable intake. I'm also not positive of this, but sometimes it is harder to control when I drink a lot of green tea. Hope this helps someone.

I had a pulmonary saddle embolism in December 05 after a knee surgery which I didn't need and I am scared to death that my Doctor will eventualy take me off the Coumadin.She stated "indefinitely" but, one never knows how long indefinitely is by Doctors standards. I have side effects from other medications I am taking but I feel safe taking my Coumadin. I see the Coumadin clinic Pharmacists every four weeks unless a problem develops, like massive bleeding under the skin, additional other meds.

Regardless what Coumadin could do to me, I cheated death by a few minutes and I hope this medicine will keep me alive awhile longer. I also have a green filter installed, so lets hope for the best.

My second run in with a blood clot resulted in passing out on my way to pick up my 8 yr old daughter and being rushed to the ER because of a PE (near death), I'm thankful to be alive however (no reason for PE and being on coumadin for the rest of my life) I feel so tired now, I don't want to go to work, I can't concentrate, I suffer from dizzy spells, I'm always hungry (weight gain), nausea sometimes. before passing out I was working out, doing Taebo, the balance ball thing, walking. Now I feel like I'm and old woman. I'm 32 yrs old and taking #5 coumadin and I feel so bad the majority of the time and yes the doctors say "it's shouldn't be the coumadin" but I think it is my whole world has changed and I'm just trying to get back to being the fun, outgoing, active me. I miss myself so much, its like I'm depressed. I MISS MYSELF.