assist please ...

[designchef]

I am a bit bummed even though I have been on Coumadin ( I take the Warfarin Sodium version ) for about 22 years since I was around 6 years old. I have a mechanical heart valve ( St. Jude's ); as I have heart related issues predominantly hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. A bit bummed because of Warfarin since it seems to interact with nearly everything. I feel like I can not get the nutrients my body requires.

Is it possible to go raw foods ? I would love to be able to drink those green smoothies and consume other such things. Though I don't want anything to damage my heart valve either or risk a stroke/heart attack or internal bleeding.

I would just like to have a more optimal nutritional intake, am not sure I would be 100% raw though I really want to incorporate it.


Here is a bit more on my background :

-- hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy , has a mechanical heart valve
-- have been underweight a majority of my life / malnourished / currently still am somewhat underweight though finally enjoys food again as i had ...
-- what mimicked Crohn's Disease for several years, it was horrendous pain from which i am in remission now


I believe that is all for now; please let me know if anything else is required. I hope this is the correct place to post.

[AllergyGirl]

You should probably discuss this with your doctor first, as the amount of vitamin K you would consume eating this way will counteract your coumadin, and you don't want to cause issues with your valve.

[designchef]

@ AllergyGirl : Yes I know the amounts of Vitamin K would possibly drastically affect the Warfarin and then the dosage would probably need to be adjusted. I wish there was another option for blood thinners. I learned from a Warfarin specialist though that they should adjust the dosage based around our diets and not to avoid foods.

I have just never attempted raw foods as I had not been aware of it most of my life. Then when I began researching a bit and finding out about nutrition, I became intrigued. Prior to that, it had been ingrained in me that I was to avoid Vitamin K and that is what my parents were told in 1987. I am attempting to find organic vegan options to foods nowadays.

[AllergyGirl]

You're right in that you don't have to avoid it, but you have to work closely with your doctor to monitor your therapeutic levels of warfarin, so that you don't start throwing clots. Be careful...that's the old nurse in me coming out. :P

Good luck!

[designchef]

@ AllergyGirl : Thank you doll, it is just sometimes it feels like a no win being on this blood thinner.

[AllergyGirl]

You're very welcome. :)

Just make sure you're supervised, and that you go into this working closely with your doctor, and things should be fine. You will probably want to track your intake with something like cron-o-meter (you can google it - if you can't find it, let me know and I'll find you the link). It will give you a pretty good estimate of what nutrients you're taking in, as well as vitamin K, and that information might be useful to your doctor.

[designchef]

I am believing they will be fine too just means more pokes at the lab. Last week the level was a bit high though no change in diet. That is a good idea on tracking the intake, I will do that. Do you know or know where I could find out what it means when you get poked and no blood wants to flow out ? Should I be worried ?