Warfrin blood tests in France (1 Viewer)

[Organplayer]

Having had success in Spain in obtaining blood tests in pharmacies, can anyone advise us on the procedure for getting Warfrin tests in France. Hopefully the arrangements might be as simple/easy as in Spain, where a ticket is issued from the blood testing machine stating the blood reading. Then it is only a matter of a quick phone call to the UK hospital warfarin clinic to be informed of any change in the medication.
Thanks. Ed.

 

[yodeli]

Sorry to be thick , but up to now I ignored what it was. So I had to look up in Google the meaning of Warfrin, which of course is a bit different in French "Warfarine" . From what I understood you will have to go to a medical doctor to have a prescription for these tests. I can ask my doctor tomorrow if I got it right or if there is anything else to do, if you wish me to?

 

[Organplayer]

Thanks for your so prompt reply Yodeli. We would certainly appreciate your kind offer of seeking this information from your Doctor.
Once again, thankyou. With our best wishes. Ed and Lynda.

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[yodeli]

No prob , will phone him tomorrow!

Amicalement

Frankie

 

[Ali n Tim]

Hi Ed. Have you ever thought of getting your own testing kit? I have been very lucky that my surgery have been very supportive of self-testing. I bought my own kit from CoaguChek. The surgery gave me an application form and I paid over 2 years. So now I can test wherever we go and email results back.

Might be worth a try

 

[Organplayer]

Thankyou Frankie and Ali for your replies and kind considerations.
We shall await your info Frankie with obvious interest.
Thanks for the self testing idea Ali. This we will take up with our doctor when we return from our next jaunt.
Once again thankyou both. What a wonderful organisation MHFun is.

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[Jandc]

Hi. I have had INR in France on several occasions. Just look for a laboratory, they have differant system there and the laboratories are separate from GPs etc. Easy to find usually. The tourist office directed me in Pezenas.
I just showed them my yellow book. It has so far always been a venous sample so I have had to go back later in the day for result. If within range then nothing else to do. You need to check if your GP is happy to dose on someone else's result. I have bee on warfarin for some years now so tend to adjust it myself. Don't binge drink before the test!!!
No problem at all to get it done

 

[Organplayer]

Thankyou Newbee for your heartening information. Much appreciated.
EdLyn

 

[Bellini]

I'm glad it's not just me who eats rat poison.

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[roamingman]

I'm glad it's not just me who eats rat poison.

I do as well, SWMBO does mine, sure she is trying to slow me down.

 

[Pilote87]

Hi Organplayer,

I had my first INR done in France around 2005 when I was on holiday. I estimated where we would be and then spoke to my local (UK) clinic. After checking up they then told me it should be possible to have the test done at the hospital in Bordeaux, so I called in there to ask. They gave me an appointment for the following day and I had to phone back later in the day for the results. I was asked what medication I was taking and it might be useful to know the French name for it is Coumadine

Please be aware that hospitals here have a registration system which all have to go through before proceeding to the department for the treatment or testing, etc.

I think I paid something just under 10€ after showing my EHIC card.

Now, as others have indicated, I get a prescription from my local GP and have the blood sample taken by a nurse from the local Crois Rouge (Red Cross). The results are always in my post box the following morning.

J

 

[Reallyretired]

Just about every French town has an analytical laboratory. Just drop in in they will often do it right away, sometimes they may make an appointment.

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[Traveller_HA5_3DOM]

I anticipated this problem when we toured Morocco a couple of years ago and drew a blank from trying to source somewhere to test me. My own hospital told me they would not advise on doseage from another's blood test so I emailed the AF association who informed me of two new (then) drugs that did not require regular blood tests. Made appointments with doctor and then consultant and finally got changed to Pradaxa. Still on it with blood test once a year to check kidney health. Much better but more expensive for NHS so be prepared to be persistent if you take that route.

 

[yodeli]

@Organplayer Ok , here are the different answers I got . After reading a few posts on here, I decided to phone first to a laboratory and see what they would say. First answer was negative, no test without prescription. But the voice was a bit young , so I thought , may be she doesn't know. So phoned to another one, and there they said , well I guess we could do it with an English prescription as it's the same measurement unit, but it would be better with a MD 's prescription.
Then I had my doctor , only this evening, as he was out all day today. He said , you need a prescription. But honest , one is enough , and we can make it for 6 months if needed, with about one every fortnight.
So I would suggest, you go to the laboratory of the town you're in a day before the test, and ask first if they would do it. if not you can call in at any doctor's office and ask for one (don't do that on a Wednesday, it's the children's day ..... awful!)

 

[Pilote87]

I have had to go to the main hospital in Limoges this afternoon and noticed a poster in one of the corridors indicating that blood tests can be done on a drop-in basis Monday - Friday 08.30 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 17.00 (I think those were the times)
so it is likely that the major hospitals in towns will have similar arrangements.

If you know where you are likely to be when it is time for the test then let us know and, I'm sure, one of us resident over here will try to find out from a nearby hospital.

J

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[yodeli]

indicating that blood tests can be done on a drop-in basis Monday - Friday 08.30 - 12.00 and 14.00 -

Yes this is possible in most hospitals , but it doesn't mean you can do them without prescription. An XR or any other test even done in hospital need your medical doctor's prescription . Only if your specialist is in this precise hospital can change this, if HE gives his agreement.
I have tried many times to have personal medical checks that I would pay for, and never succeeded!
MOT for cars is the same. It's against the law to make a pre-check and pay for it. Some garage will secretly do it though.

 

[Pilote87]

Yes this is possible in most hospitals , but it doesn't mean you can do them without prescription.

As I said in post no.11, I did have the INR test done without prescription in Bordeaux hospital, but that was some years ago. I now have an ordonnance for 10 tests so don't have to keep going back to the doctor for a repeat. Daft thing is, though, that I am only given two months supply of Coumadine at a time so have to return every 8 weeks for a repeat.

J

 

[Puddleduck]

I no longer take Warfarin but my BIL has been on it for 30 years (heart problem). He travels the world and was one of the first to have his own testing kit. If I have to go back on it I will go the self-test route

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[Organplayer]

Thank you to all you kind folk who have taken the trouble to send me such valuable information.
Apologies for this rather late message of thanks which is due to us escaping in the m/hme for a couple of weeks, and I never carry this electronic gizmo in the van as I always seem to have problems getting it to work in places other than home.
Best wishes and safe travels to us all. Ed