Ah...the joys of Coumadin.

Coumadin comes in various size pills and you will take it daily. THe amount varies with the individual, their condition, weight and other things but what becomes very important is diet. The Coumadin clinics and other monitoring specialists will try to get you away from some things and blah, blah......What is important is that whatever you eat, you're consistent!

Green leafy stuff contains Vitamin K and K kills the effect of the coumadin. If you're a real veggie nut than cutting back may be in order a it since you want to try not to have too high a daily dose of coumadin. Karen and I both eat veggies like Sprouts and cauliflower and broccoli and spinach which are major coumadin killers but we limit the times per week and the serving size to try to be about the same amount every week......consistency!

The same is true with cranberries, papaya, grapefruit, and other things which ENHANCE the effect of the coumadin. You can still eat about whatever you want but eat it consistently!

You'll get to know all about the numbers especially one called pro-time number which gauges the time it takes blood to clot. Normal clotting blood is around 1.0 to 1.3 or thereabouts. Your doctors will figure a level based on your condition that they want to establish as your number. Karen and other P.E. patients are generally about 2.5 although some Docs vary that. In my case with the heart valve, mine is best kept a bit thinner at 3.0-3.4. To maintain that with a consistent diet I take 7.5mg every day but Sunday and Wednesday when I take a 3mg. Karen weighs less and maintains a lower number but she requires a 7.5 daily.......we're all different. Adjuisting to the proper level can be frustrating at times but its no big deal.

What is a big deal is that you need to get yourself a MED ID something or another so if you're injured the folks working on you will know you take blood thinners!

There is plenty of info a lot better than this on the net and I am sure your Docs will give you reading material as well. Don't be freaked over it......it beats the alternative!

Spaw