Questions re Coumadin

Jules13
Jules13 Member Posts: 17
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I am trying to research ways to fight cancer nutritionally, for my Mom, and keep coming up with all sorts of wonderful ideas to try, however all seem to interact with Coumadin, which is what she is going on (probably next week). It's so frustrating. It seems like anything that is healthy or immune building reacts with it in some way.

She's currently on Lovenox, but doesn't like the injections (doesn't like needles and she says it burns going in). I am really wishing she wouldn't go on Coumadin, but I don't think it's going to happen. She had two blood clots before her biopsy and the doctor really scared her and my Dad about what could happen and that blood thickens when you have cancer (is this true?).

Is anyone on here on Coumadin and if so, what have you been able to do, in terms of nutrition and supplements?

Thanks again, you all are really helpful.
Julie

Comments

  • JoAnnDK
    JoAnnDK Member Posts: 275
    #2
    googling
    Julie, I just did a little search on GOOGLE and found a page entitled Coumadin Diet and Health Resources

    http://www.drgourmet.com/warfarin/

    and this from the Mayo Clinic:

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin/AN00455

    and one more http://altmedicine.about.com/library/bl092400warfarin.htm
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #3
    JoAnnDK said:

    googling
    Julie, I just did a little search on GOOGLE and found a page entitled Coumadin Diet and Health Resources

    http://www.drgourmet.com/warfarin/

    and this from the Mayo Clinic:

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin/AN00455

    and one more http://altmedicine.about.com/library/bl092400warfarin.htm

    Julie
    Yesterday I shared an email from (Songflower) Diane's husband. See Songflower thread and go to her update for 2/26. She had pulmonary blood clots and was treated with cumadin/warfarin and husband said she should have been on Lovenox because the warfarin didn't work. Diane had a stroke!! Please research these drugs and if Lovenox is the right drug, then your mom should stay on it.

    Mary Ann
  • Jules13
    Jules13 Member Posts: 17
    #4
    daisy366 said:

    Julie
    Yesterday I shared an email from (Songflower) Diane's husband. See Songflower thread and go to her update for 2/26. She had pulmonary blood clots and was treated with cumadin/warfarin and husband said she should have been on Lovenox because the warfarin didn't work. Diane had a stroke!! Please research these drugs and if Lovenox is the right drug, then your mom should stay on it.

    Mary Ann

    Thank you Mary Ann.
    Thank you Mary Ann. Frankly, Coumadin scares me. It's very 'touchy' in terms of getting the dose right and because it's apparently one of the most interactive drugs on the market. They still use Warfarin in rat poison for crying out loud! Unfortunately I can't make her stay on the lovenox, but maybe I will be a little more 'vocal' about it to them. I sent my Dad an article about the differences between the two and based on the comment he made, I'm not even sure he read it. I am trying to remain respectful, but they aren't looking into these things and it makes me nervous. Dr's are not Gods. People have to be their own advocates too. Sorry if it sounds harsh to anyone who is doing well on Coumadin. I certainly don't mean any disrespect. Medicines like that are just scary to me.
    Julie
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #5
    Jules13 said:

    Thank you Mary Ann.
    Thank you Mary Ann. Frankly, Coumadin scares me. It's very 'touchy' in terms of getting the dose right and because it's apparently one of the most interactive drugs on the market. They still use Warfarin in rat poison for crying out loud! Unfortunately I can't make her stay on the lovenox, but maybe I will be a little more 'vocal' about it to them. I sent my Dad an article about the differences between the two and based on the comment he made, I'm not even sure he read it. I am trying to remain respectful, but they aren't looking into these things and it makes me nervous. Dr's are not Gods. People have to be their own advocates too. Sorry if it sounds harsh to anyone who is doing well on Coumadin. I certainly don't mean any disrespect. Medicines like that are just scary to me.
    Julie

    Lovenox
    Julie Lovenox is usually the drug of choice that they use to get you used to the coumadin. I know that there are problems with the medicine but for me it is better than throwing blood clots to the lung and heart. It is certainly better than having a stroke. My family is proned to blood clots and strokes. I did have pulmunary Emobolisms while on chemo and that is when I went on Lovenox then on coumadin.
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #6
    Jules13 said:

    Thank you Mary Ann.
    Thank you Mary Ann. Frankly, Coumadin scares me. It's very 'touchy' in terms of getting the dose right and because it's apparently one of the most interactive drugs on the market. They still use Warfarin in rat poison for crying out loud! Unfortunately I can't make her stay on the lovenox, but maybe I will be a little more 'vocal' about it to them. I sent my Dad an article about the differences between the two and based on the comment he made, I'm not even sure he read it. I am trying to remain respectful, but they aren't looking into these things and it makes me nervous. Dr's are not Gods. People have to be their own advocates too. Sorry if it sounds harsh to anyone who is doing well on Coumadin. I certainly don't mean any disrespect. Medicines like that are just scary to me.
    Julie

    Jules
    I have blood clots in my lungs. The NCCN guidelines recommend lovenox instead go Coumadin for people that are under going chemo. I started on Lovenox about a month ago. I will need it while I am on chemo and possibly for the rest of my life. I will have my second chemo treatment Thursday and Friday. Do not know how many treatments I will need. It will depend on how I respond to these treatments.

    Enoxaparin is the generic for Lovenox. It is very expensive. My co pay was $1100 for a month supply. I am having trouble getting approval from my Medicare D (drug) insurance. I am in the"doughnut hole" right now. Igot one week more approved for the medicine and my co pay was $500 for just a week supply of medicine. When I reach the "catastrophic" category, the insurance will pay more.

    I am more afraid of the bloodclots Than I am of the cancer. I sure do not want to have a stroke or a heart attack.

    Good luck with encouraging you Mom to continue the Lovenox. I do not like the shots every day either. It does burn. Mine burns after I take the needle out, but only for a short time. I just have a hard time finding a new place to give my shot, a place that is not bruised.
  • MarieA
    MarieA Member Posts: 18
    #7
    coumadin and cancer
    I was on coumadin two years before I found out I had endometrial cancer. The coumadin has certain diet restrictions, and yes many meds that you cannot take. Diet restrictions include leafy green vegetables, and grapefruit is suppose to be a definite no.
    I was very lucky, cancer stage one, and the hysterectomy took care of it. However, I am on coumadin for life.
    Best of luck with your mom. I did have a stroke before coumadin, and believe me clots are not something to take lightly. Make sure you have a great coumadin clinic, it can be scary stuff.
  • MarieA
    MarieA Member Posts: 18
    #8
    coumadin and cancer
    I was on coumadin two years before I found out I had endometrial cancer. The coumadin has certain diet restrictions, and yes many meds that you cannot take. Diet restrictions include leafy green vegetables, and grapefruit is suppose to be a definite no.
    I was very lucky, cancer stage one, and the hysterectomy took care of it. However, I am on coumadin for life.
    Best of luck with your mom. I did have a stroke before coumadin, and believe me clots are not something to take lightly. Make sure you have a great coumadin clinic, it can be scary stuff.
  • Jules13
    Jules13 Member Posts: 17
    #9
    Ro10 said:

    Jules
    I have blood clots in my lungs. The NCCN guidelines recommend lovenox instead go Coumadin for people that are under going chemo. I started on Lovenox about a month ago. I will need it while I am on chemo and possibly for the rest of my life. I will have my second chemo treatment Thursday and Friday. Do not know how many treatments I will need. It will depend on how I respond to these treatments.

    Enoxaparin is the generic for Lovenox. It is very expensive. My co pay was $1100 for a month supply. I am having trouble getting approval from my Medicare D (drug) insurance. I am in the"doughnut hole" right now. Igot one week more approved for the medicine and my co pay was $500 for just a week supply of medicine. When I reach the "catastrophic" category, the insurance will pay more.

    I am more afraid of the bloodclots Than I am of the cancer. I sure do not want to have a stroke or a heart attack.

    Good luck with encouraging you Mom to continue the Lovenox. I do not like the shots every day either. It does burn. Mine burns after I take the needle out, but only for a short time. I just have a hard time finding a new place to give my shot, a place that is not bruised.

    Thanks, my Mom stayed on the
    Thanks, my Mom stayed on the lovenox. She puts an ice pack on where she is going to do the injection for 10 minutes beforehand and doesn't feel the burning anymore. And they moved her from two injections to only one. She doesnt' mind it so much now. Though, she is not bruising any, so sorry to hear you are having that problem. Hope you are doing well.

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