DANGER, DANGER...!!

So this week has not been great. I know my problems aren't monumental... and there are way worse problems out there... but dangit, I really wish things would start to look up.

Monday and Tuesday were just SUCKY days at work. I was sick to my stomach all freaking day and nothing was going right.

Today (Wednesday) I had Coumadin Clinic. I hate going to Coumadin Clinic. Its a pain to leave work early, drive all the way across town over to TTUHSC, wait int a waiting room full of sick, weird people, then finally get my finger pricked. The entire visit takes roughly 5 minutes, but everything all together takes like 30-45 minutes. And, the best part, I have to PAY $25 EVERY time. It wouldn't be so bad if I only had to go like once a month, or every other month, but lately my level has been off and I have had to go in like every 2-3 weeks.

My therapeutic level is supposed to be between 2.5 and 3.5. Its very bad if it is BELOW 2.5, because that means my blood is too thick and I could develop a clot on my heart and well, we all know what the result of that is... it is very bad if it is ABOVE 3.5, because that means my blood is TOO thin, and your risk for bleeding internally goes up.

Well today my level was *5.7* YOWZAS!!! VERY VERY VERY bad, and very frustrating because I honestly cant figure out WHY it is so high! I haven't changed meds, my diet, anything that interacts with Coumadin (which is pretty much anything seems like.) So now I get to -carefully- walk around, watching every step I take, worry about getting in a car wreck for the next 2 1/2 days. Then go BACK up to the lab to get my level checked again. We are hoping by skipping my Coumadin doses tonight until Friday, it will level back out and be normal! One can only hope.

I know this drug will keep me alive for the rest of my life. I know that this is just a small pain, compared to having a stroke or dying... but all I can do is see me having to do this for the next, what, 40 years? Every 2 weeks, even once a month... its a frustrating, depressing thought.

So I have gone on-line to research home PT INR testing kits, just like the one they use at Coumadin Clinic and in the hospital/labs. I have contacted my insurance to see if they are even covered, because the exact one TTUHSC & UMC uses is... $1,110. YIKES. Who woulda thought?!

I know its kind of selfish & probably silly, but please pray that this will work out to where we can afford it. Otherwise, I will be petitioning for my own parking space at the TTUHSC Medical Pavilion, because I am there WAAAAAAAY too much!! I have my Dr over there in my phone people! That is way too sad haha.

________________________________

**UPDATE: Dr. Dalal called me this morning with the results of my blood test yesterday and my leve was now 1.7 *sigh* BUT this means I can start taking my doses again. I just have to keep telling myself "at least I'm alive, at least I'm alive"