I need to whine

When I decided to have gastric bypass surgery, I was able to accept that sugar and high fat foods, and large volumes were done for me.  No more, unless I wanted to be sick. 

Now, with being on coumadin for the clot, and for life, I am no longer able to eat dark green vegetables, like spinach and broccoli, nor shellfish, like clam chawder, or shrimp, and no more green tea.  I am really upset about this.  I just needed to vent about it, because what else will be taken from my diet? 

Hugs,
Trish

Hugs Trish - Go ahead and vent - you've had some rough times lately. I remember my mom being on restricted diets when they would put her on coumadin and how difficult it made things for her, and she certainly didn't have the diet restrictions we do.

You can't have any shellfish? But can you have regular fish? There are some 'mock' lobster fishes out there that you might be able to use.

Maybe contact your nutritionist to see what things you can substitute for the items that are being taken from your diet now - because a lot of those things provide essential vitamins and protein for you. I guess that's where I would start.

I do hope you're feeling better - I know how terribly blood clots and pnemonia can tear you down, so please recover slowly and don't try to overdo things.

Sending many prayers and well wishes your way - Kathy

Thanks Kathy,
I am doing better mentally, minus the self-pity about food.  I am basically weak and tired, takoing naps in the afternoon. 

Thanks for the encouragement.

Hugs,
Trish

Trish,

Coumadin sucks, plain and simple, but it's a life-saver in the long run.  I'm surprised, though, that they're putting you  on it "for life" in the absence of something like atrial fibrillation (which is why my mom's on it for life).  Perhaps once the clot has resolved itself in time, they will wean you off of it.

Yes, you have to be careful what you eat that contains Vit. K.  There are some really good websites out there with comprehensive lists of high, medium, and low Vit K classifications of food.  If you look at the mediums ****asionals) and low (frequent), you'll find a HUGE range of foods that you can eat.  Instead of focusing on what's been taken away, just zero in on what you CAN choose from.  In time, it will become second nature to you and you will adapt just as you did with sugar and high fats...

We've found the following site to have some great ideas and recipes and resources for my mom's diet:
www.drgourmet.com/warfarin/

Just FYI - not sure where the shellfish prohibition came from because shellfish (clams, shrimp, etc.) as well as all other types of fish are rated as low in vitamin K, so are not prohibited on a typical coumadin diet... you might want to check and see why your doctor has pulled them from you. 

I think in this case, it "hurts" worse, though because you didn't CHOOSE to eliminate these things from your eating.  That makes it ok to fight against them.  And go ahead and vent all you'd like - it's important to get it out there instead of keeping it inside and stewing on it.

Anyway - hugs to you and if there's any way I can help, let me know!

Karen

Karen,
I have a clotting disorder which is why it is coumadin for life.  I buried two brothers with the disorder with blood clots, one was only 40 years old.  My sister survived her clots, as it appears I am too.

Hugs,
Trish

Hi Trish,

My husband was recently on Coumadin up until about 6 weeks ago.  His surgeon didn't tell him to omit the Vitamin K items completely from his diet but to limit the quantity to once a week.  Twice and the very most and not two days in a row.  I would talk to your doctor and get clarification on the restriction. 

Hope your feeling better.  Can't imagine being on coumadin "for life".

Cyd

Hi Cyd,
My instructions were that I would have to eat the Vitamin K items everyday in order to ensure the INR levels were stable.  I am afraid to venture in that direction.

I appreciate your encouragement. 

Hugs,
Trish

Trish;
Hugs.  My question is did your doctor tell you that you cannot have veggies such as spinach/broccoli or shellfish?  My dad has been on cumadin for years for a-fib, and I was on it after I had the blood clot following my hysterectomy.  My hematologist both told me that although I was on cumadin I could eat those particular foods.  I was told as long as I kept it the same every week and my cumadin levels were stable then I could eat the veggies as long as I was careful. 

My dad has received the same information from his cardiologist.  Dad loves his veggies eats pretty much the same veggies, same amounts each week, his cumadin levels are stable so doc is not banning him from eating what he likes.

Take care and continue to heal.

Ida

Hi Ida,
The food restrictions were given to me on my discharge orders when I left the hospital.  I was told that the only way I could assure the INR levels to be stable would be to eat the vitamin K food everyday. 

Thanks for your encouragement.

Hugs,
Trish

Ok so the not so strict nurse has to chime in here.  I should preface this by saying by all means follow your doctors instructions.  But keep in mind...we give instructions based on the fact that the population will not follow them so they are automatically altered.

What we are actually taught in nursing school is that people should not fluctuate greatly in their consumption of things like the dark green veggies.  IE, eat bunches of spinach for two weeks and then not a single dark leafy thing for days or weeks afterwards.

If you have a small serving of something like spinach you'll probably be ok.  Just keep it consistent.

See how your levels play out.  And remember, your levels may be unstable due to the bypass alone.  See how you do.

Hang tight!

~P