portable Self- Monitoring Coagulation instrument

mentaliss

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Be interested to know how users of such devices (especially touring abroad ) what their experiences are, eg. are they accurate, any draw backs , does you GP have to recommend use of such, etc .
Due to its personal nature and not wishing to offend or embarrass any Funsters perhaps you may wish to PM me
 
Hi
I bought a CoaguChek when I was prescribed warfarin following a stroke earlier this year. We have only been motorhomers since Dec 2012 and planned to travel for possibly 2-3 months(or longer!) so the thought of having to go for INR test while abroad was a bit daunting. I spoke to the nurse at the surgery who was very supportive and actually gave me a leaflet about how to buy the test kit with an interest free loan. I also get the test strips on prescription(free).
We were away for 7 weeks recently and did a couple of tests while we were there and the results was ok. I do make sure I keep to my diet fairly stable and know when I need to alter things to get the result right. By that I mean food or drink, not the warfarin dose.
The CoaguChek system I have is the same as they use in the surgery so would think it would be accurate.
Hope you find this useful. If you have any queries don't hesitate to ask:xsmile:
 
I have been on Warfarin for 18 months. Initially I attended the Warfarin clinic at the local hospital,the blood was taken with just a pin prick onto a strip which was then inserted in the reader and the figure was available after a few seconds,I then was advised what my dose would be by the pharmacist. I was then discharged to my local health centre and the process is different. I have to ring the local NHS to book an appointment and quote an order number given to me by the doctors. The methodology is a blood sample is taken by the phlebotomy nurse using a vacuum syringe into a phial,this is then sent off to a lab and the following day I am informed by telephone what the INR is. I did enquire why they didn't use the method in the hospital,they said it wasn't accurate! I am sure that the cost of the machine and strips would be a saving over paying for labs,on a daily basis there are a large sack of blood samples to be sent off. A machine would still have to be operated by a nurse and the savings on lab fees would release money back into the practise for more important items-like a new Lexus for the senior partner!
I have enquired about self monitoring but have been stonewalled.
The units to check it https://shop.coaguchek.com/inr-self-monitoring/
There is a campaign group for it http://www.acsma.org.uk/
 
When we went to Morocco last year I got my medication changed to one that does not need constant monitoring. Warfarin is now being phased out as the newer drugs like Pradaxa do a better job. Make sure you stress that you will not be able to get your INR checked whilst touring and you should get changed.
 
been on warfarin a few years but my hospital does not support self testing as the units require regular testing themselves....

https://shop.coaguchek.com/inr-self-monitoring/before-you-buy/#

I just find a local clinic, get test, email doctor result, they email if any changes

there are new drugs but warfarin is cheap so will be a long time till it becomes widely available I should think, but will try the above suggestion! :)

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when I looked into it before a gave up as they need regular calibration..maybe they have improved now I don't know as machine looks smaller

but at approx £500 plus the test strips £80 for 24 - plus they are not available on NHS
 
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I paid £299 and get the test strips on prescription, free as I am over 'that' age! Also as I am on warfarin long time ie for life, VAT is exempt. QC is controlled via the strips themselves. So far my results compare with the ones done at the surgery.
 
Frankly - I'd ring Roche and ASK them.

They don't appear to have a specific Careline number for the Coaguchek, but I have one of their insulin pumps (had it for nearly 4 years, due to be replaced after Xmas) and they are VERY helpful.
 
I've recently been diagnosed with AF after a TIA a few months ago.

At first I had to go to the surgery every 3 days for INR tests but I am now on fortnightly visits.

I told my nurse I was going away for 3 months in my MH in January...she advised me to get a machine from Roche and said that if I text her the results that she would text me back the Warfarin doseage...how good is that?

I have now bought the Coaguchek machine and I am going next week to see the nurse to compare/calibrate my machine with hers...job done.

What is annoying is that she said the surgery would not give me a script for the strips or lancets! Don't know why as others I know do get a script...I am over 60 so it would be handy. Also someone told me that if you have had a stroke as I have then doctors are reluctant to precribe other drugs than warfarin...don't know if thats true.
 
seems like the NHS a post code lottery! Its disgraceful......

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As someone mentioned earlier there are some drugs like rivaroxaban, which is a daily tablet that doesnt need monitoring, the down side is that they dont have an easy antidote, unlike warferin or klexsane that is out of the system pretty quickly.

These drugs are expensive I think the rivaroxaban is £100 per month. So I guess it is a postcode lottery.
 
Thanks everyone for your experiences:xgrin: machine is ordered, just got to learn how to use it to get accurate results.........
 

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