INR testing while on-board

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

my husband is on Coumadin and will require an INR check while we are away.  Can anyone comment on the cost and their experience with this?

[Joe817]

18 minutes ago, B and B Rookie Cannucks said:

my husband is on Coumadin and will require an INR check while we are away.  Can anyone comment on the cost and their experience with this?

I would suggest contacting Carnival Special Needs, as this sounds like a medical condition that needs regular(or periodic) monitoring , which may or may not be beyond the ships medical staffs ability. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Upon further reading, I'm not sure if the medical facility on ship has the ability to adequately perform the blood tests for the INR check as required by your physician. And I'm not sure that this forum has the expertise on how to advise you. I suggest you seek professional advice to address your concerns. I say this with utmost respect.

[blarko]

Perhaps you can check with the Coumadin clinic that he goes to. I’m sure they are used to patients traveling and can advise how to handle his individual case.

[Essiesmom]

This has been asked many times on various boards here, and the answer is that they can do it, you have to pay for it.  EM

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

7 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

This has been asked many times on various boards here, and the answer is that they can do it, you have to pay for it.  

Thanks, I did a search on the topic but I couldn’t find anyone that had been on a Carnival ship that posted with the information.  Not all cruise lines are the same as we all know .

Edited October 20, 2019 by B and B Rookie Cannucks
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[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

10 hours ago, Joe817 said:

I would suggest contacting Carnival Special Needs, as this sounds like a medical condition that needs regular(or periodic) monitoring , which may or may not be beyond the ships medical staffs ability. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Upon further reading, I'm not sure if the medical facility on ship has the ability to adequately perform the blood tests for the INR check as required by your physician. And I'm not sure that this forum has the expertise on how to advise you. I suggest you seek professional advice to address your concerns. I say this with utmost respect.

Thank you,  I was looking for anyone with personal experience with this on a Carnival ship.  Thanks for your idea of contacting Carnival Special Needs though 🙂 I appreciate that and I will contact them this week.

[Bases5]

Talk to your doctors,   I do my dad's INR twice a week at home.  The Dr wrote a script for a home INR machine and dad's insurance pays for it.   It's easy to do.   Now he doesn't  have to drive to the clinic. 

[crescami]

There is an at home machine that you can buy (with or without a script) available at most walgreens and CVS's.

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

4 hours ago, crescami said:

There is an at home machine that you can buy (with or without a script) available at most walgreens and CVS's.

Thanks but I only need it on rare occasions and the cost would not be covered☹️

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

just a brief update:  I called Carnival and they are unable to do it on the ship☹️ I am now looking at trying to get it done in FLL between the two cruises.

[DebJ14]

Switch to Xarelto or Eliquis and then you don't have to mess with INR testing and you can eat whatever you want.  Hubby much prefered the Xarelto to the Warfarin.

[cuppettmd]

I have a home machine that my insurance provided. I check my INR once a week and call in the numbers. I don't carry it when I cruise as I'm not very "fragile" (I have factor five not a-fib). Even though I eat salads every night in the MDR, I stay in range. There's always a message on my answering machine when I get home reminding me to catch up. If he stays fairly consistent, just check it the day before then the day after if it's okay with his doctor. Might want to skip the salads. Be Blessed!

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

1 hour ago, DebJ14 said:

Switch to Xarelto or Eliquis and then you don't have to mess with INR testing and you can eat whatever you want.  Hubby much prefered the Xarelto to the Warfarin.

Unfortunately we can’t because of the tegretol he is on for life ☹️He is on a huge dose of Coumadin because of this.  The tegretol speeds up the metabolism of any anticoagulants so we need him on the Coumadin so we can measure levels.  Thanks for responding tho 🙂

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

29 minutes ago, cuppettmd said:

I have a home machine that my insurance provided. I check my INR once a week and call in the numbers. I don't carry it when I cruise as I'm not very "fragile" (I have factor five not a-fib). Even though I eat salads every night in the MDR, I stay in range. There's always a message on my answering machine when I get home reminding me to catch up. If he stays fairly consistent, just check it the day before then the day after if it's okay with his doctor. Might want to skip the salads. Be Blessed!

Thank you for responding.  Because we are Canadian a personal machine would not be covered .☹️

[blarko]

1 minute ago, B and B Rookie Cannucks said:

Thank you for responding.  Because we are Canadian a personal machine would not be covered .☹️

 

Perhaps the Coumadin clinic he uses has a portable one that they will let you borrow for the week. Doesn’t hurt to ask them.

[DebJ14]

1 hour ago, B and B Rookie Cannucks said:

Unfortunately we can’t because of the tegretol he is on for life ☹️He is on a huge dose of Coumadin because of this.  The tegretol speeds up the metabolism of any anticoagulants so we need him on the Coumadin so we can measure levels.  Thanks for responding tho 🙂

Sorry to hear that.  My hubby had a major hemmorage on the Warfarin, even though the INR was where they wanted it, so no more of that for him!  

Edited October 21, 2019 by DebJ14

[cuppettmd]

One other thought; try a medical equipment supply and see if it is possible to lease one. That might be affordable.

[searoses]

You didnt provide itinerary info but i did a land vacation on st john and took the ferry over to st thomas to the hospital to have mine done....waited a bit and the results were phoned in to my dr...i did make arrangements ahead...we were gone for 3 weeks so it was good to know whether i was in range or not...lucky to have been moved to eliquis since then...easy to fret when you are not stable on a medication..

[CRocks]

13 hours ago, DebJ14 said:

Switch to Xarelto or Eliquis and then you don't have to mess with INR testing and you can eat whatever you want.  Hubby much prefered the Xarelto to the Warfarin.

 

BINGO!

 

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

21 hours ago, DebJ14 said:

Sorry to hear that.  My hubby had a major hemmorage on the Warfarin, even though the INR was where they wanted it, so no more of that for him!  

I am so sorry☹️  I hope he has recovered? Did he have a head injury prior to the bleed?(I am an emerg nurse)

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

16 hours ago, searoses said:

You didnt provide itinerary info but i did a land vacation on st john and took the ferry over to st thomas to the hospital to have mine done....waited a bit and the results were phoned in to my dr...i did make arrangements ahead...we were gone for 3 weeks so it was good to know whether i was in range or not...lucky to have been moved to eliquis since then...easy to fret when you are not stable on a medication..

I thought about getting it done in Fort Lauderdale between the two cruises I would be paying out of pocket for this but I just need the bloodwork done and the results I don’t need to see a physician.  I’m just not sure if there are any such places in FLL?

[Florida Paesano]

4 minutes ago, B and B Rookie Cannucks said:

I thought about getting it done in Fort Lauderdale between the two cruises I would be paying out of pocket for this but I just need the bloodwork done and the results I don’t need to see a physician.  I’m just not sure if there are any such places in FLL?

 

It looks like Any Lab Test Now offers PT/INR testing. The price listed on their website is $49 although there's a disclaimer that prices can vary by location. You may want to check with this company.  Hope this helps and that your husband is doing well and that you both have a great cruise!

 

Any Lab Test Now

Blood testing service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Address: 4242 N Federal Hwy Suite A, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Hours: 

Closes soon: 6PM ⋅ Opens 7:30AM Wed

Phone: (954) 566-1717

 

Appointments: anylabtestnow.com

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

1 hour ago, Florida Paesano said:

 

It looks like Any Lab Test Now offers PT/INR testing. The price listed on their website is $49 although there's a disclaimer that prices can vary by location. You may want to check with this company.  Hope this helps and that your husband is doing well and that you both have a great cruise!

 

Any Lab Test Now

Blood testing service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Address: 4242 N Federal Hwy Suite A, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Hours: 

Closes soon: 6PM ⋅ Opens 7:30AM Wed

Phone: (954) 566-1717

 

Appointments: anylabtestnow.com

Thanks so much!  I will call them🙂

Brenda

[searoses]

Your dr can fax an order and they can fax the results...there are many snowbirds who need the same service....there are likely more than one and you will likely need one open on a weekend...hope you can easily figure it out..

[xitappers2bx]

On 10/19/2019 at 10:18 PM, B and B Rookie Cannucks said:

my husband is on Coumadin and will require an INR check while we are away.  Can anyone comment on the cost and their experience with this?

 

I would go directly to Carnival's Special Needs Unit, they will be the only ones who really know if they can meet the INR check needs.  I also would offer to connect them to your husbands' specialist, just so they can double check all would be well.