- On Monday I had a chance to meet my Canadian rock painting friend Christina (@christinacravescolour, silver jacket) and her friend Suzanne (blue jacket) while they were in town for a girls’ trip. We had a wonderful time walking together, hiding rocks, sharing our lives, and making jokes. They both have amazing energy and now I’m sad they don’t live here, but I feel so grateful I continue to meet amazing people through my rock painting account! I never thought it would lead to that. (They came by the house Tuesday to meet the cats and try Vegemite!)
- Fake Meats was featured on Food & Wine as the best vegan subscription box for meat substitutes. So cool! If you don’t already follow Fake Meats on Instagram, check us out!
- I mentioned I had my telehealth appointment with my doctor and she recommended therapy (and to keep my anxiety meds the same for now). This is what I expected, and think it’s a great idea. I’ve called a few therapists and they were either unavailable or don’t take my insurance, but Anne reminded me to look into EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Ours is very robust and I am planning to call them soon for assistance. Thanks, Anne!
- I wrote a long recap of my Monday INR appointment below (it’ll probably all show up in subscription or feeder view).
- My INR was too high on Monday, it was 3.4 and my range is 2.5-3.0. Luckily, when it’s high, they just change the dosage a bit. I only have to take the shots when it’s too low. (the rest of the bullets below are mostly for my records and you can totally skip them)
- The pharmacist asked me a ton of questions to try to figure out why it was so high. Were you on vacation? (no) Are you eating the same greens? (yes) Did you have cranberries? (no) Did you drink? (no) Did you take any Tylenol? (Yes but only once) Did you have diarrhea? (no) I was eating less. Maybe that’s it?
- I told her I have been eating so much broccoli that my Instagram page is basically pictures of Khali looking at my plate and being disappointed it’s broccoli. Ha. (see below)
- The pharmacist also said people with APS have a less steady INR so it’s not alarming. They changed my dosage for one day and I go back in two weeks.
- I asked if my range could go back to 2.0-3.0 (to give them more of a window) and the pharmacist said that based on my Factor II results, 2.5-3.0 makes sense.
- I asked if I can self-test my INR at home and she said my PCP would monitor it so I need to ask her. I love seeing my pharmacists and if we get the appointments to every 4-6 weeks that would be fine. Maybe?
- The pharmacist also told me they are working on other drugs that require less monitoring so something like that could be available some day.
- I forgot I can’t take certain drugs with Warfarin (no aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, and more on a huge list). All this time when I could only take Tylenol I thought, “this is temporary!” It’s not. I also try to avoid taking many drugs, so it’s fine, but it just clicked this week that it’s permanent now.
One of my friend’s even painted Khali & broccoli!
I hope finding a therapist through EAP works well for you! We also have that, but I’ve never used it surprisingly. I need to look into the benefits again. I think it’s time to move on from my therapist, so I will likely be in the therapist-dating game again, ha.
That drawing of Khali is BEAUTIFUL. Look at her, staring at that plate of broccoli.
Man, ibuprofen is my JAM when I have aches and pains. Tylenol doesn’t work as well for me. That would be a hard thing to get used to (among everything else you have to get used to!)
I never have either and am so curious. Like, they find someone that is ON your healthcare plan? And it covers 3 appointments? (maybe?) sounds too good to be true. I hope it is not a long dating game to find a new therapist for you!
Isn’t it? I just adore Helen’s work!
It used to be my go to (for headaches)! Now when I get one, I am like “do I even want to take anything?”
That is more broccoli than I eat in a year! It’s just not my favorite green. I’m impressed you eat it so much, although I do understand Khali’s disappointment!
Ha! What is your favorite green? Broccoli is obviously our go to. We are really hoping for plenty of green beans this summer too.
Yay for meeting another rock painter friend 🙂
Managing the INR seems tedious and frustrating, but I am glad you’re trying the best you can. I also hope you find a therapist soon! This can be a tedious job, too.
It is! But it’s also second nature at the same time now, if that makes sense? Ha.
I called my EAP and they got me a therapist and I am waiting for them to call me back, yay!
I’m glad to see your comment above that the EAP was helpful! I hope you can connect with the therapist soon and hopefully you’ll be a good fit for each other!
Yes! Thank you! I was going to text you when I heard back from the therapist. Such a good tip!!!!!
And I hope so too. If not, at least it’s a start and I feel good about that!
INR is, quite honestly, a PIA. But… it also works. So we’re kind of stuck with it. I hope yours stabilizes and that you get to space out your appointments. Home testing would be awesome!
And, glad to hear that the therapist situation is starting to move in the right direction. Mental health… so. dang. important.
Yes! I’d just love to space out my INR appointments! How often do you have to go in?
It is! I had my first therapy appointment today and it went well!