Ant
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2019
In many ways I've been on my own personal "camino" for the last year struggling with health problems. I have a window of opportunity to do the camino (something I've wanted to do for more than 30 years but never had the luxury of 6-7 weeks spare time).
One of the side effects of all the drugs and treatment I've been on is that I am at risk of blood clots (already had two bad attacks) so need to get my blood coagulation levels (INR) checked every couple of weeks and adjust the daily medication (warfarin) amounts accordingly. It is a very simple process. We suspect that the exercise, change of diet, etc, etc will affect the INR levels. So I think I have two options:
Pre-arrange to be tested with local doctors surgeries in Spain (here in the UK it is all done by the nurse). Only takes about 5 mins, then ring my local doctor's surgery with the reading and adjust the warfarin amounts accordingly OR
Buy a portable INR reader and learn to do the process myself, ring through with the reading and be told what warfarin to take if a change is needed. These readers appear to cost about £350 plus weigh about 1K (machine, charger, cable etc)
My advantage is I am bi-lingual English and Spanish so won't have any comms problems in Spain. I would be interested to hear if anyone has any experience of this along the way or any other ideas or tips. I'm planning on starting on 2nd of May 2014.
One of the side effects of all the drugs and treatment I've been on is that I am at risk of blood clots (already had two bad attacks) so need to get my blood coagulation levels (INR) checked every couple of weeks and adjust the daily medication (warfarin) amounts accordingly. It is a very simple process. We suspect that the exercise, change of diet, etc, etc will affect the INR levels. So I think I have two options:
Pre-arrange to be tested with local doctors surgeries in Spain (here in the UK it is all done by the nurse). Only takes about 5 mins, then ring my local doctor's surgery with the reading and adjust the warfarin amounts accordingly OR
Buy a portable INR reader and learn to do the process myself, ring through with the reading and be told what warfarin to take if a change is needed. These readers appear to cost about £350 plus weigh about 1K (machine, charger, cable etc)
My advantage is I am bi-lingual English and Spanish so won't have any comms problems in Spain. I would be interested to hear if anyone has any experience of this along the way or any other ideas or tips. I'm planning on starting on 2nd of May 2014.