Blood Clots and Crohns

I was in the hospital again in July for another ERCP for the sclerosing cholangitis and they dilated two more areas of my bile ducts as an outpatient procedure and after it was done i was a direct admit to the hospital for increased pain and nausea and vomitting.They admitted me for an over night observation. My Gi doc came in the next morning and stated that all my labs increased after ercp instead of going down and he wanted to do a Ct scan because he was afriad I had a stricture inside of the liver that they couldn't see while doing ERCP.After the scan I was in my room waiting to hear the results ....he came in and pulled a chisr up to my bed so i knew something was found but didnt know what. He said that he spent an hour with 2 radiologist reading my scan and they are "perplexed" .He said they compared my ct scan with the one from april while i was in the hospital and it was observed in that scan also. He said I have an Occlusion of my Inferior Vena Cava and they didnt know how long it had been there.It begins right below my renal veins and extends into the illiac veins. My body has somehow developed collateral veins that go around the clot. Needless to say i was given heparin drip in hospital and switched to lovenow and coumadin.I did a 7 day stay and numerous tests. I now have 2 hematologists, vascular surgeon, gi doc and my pcp working with me.They have increased my coumadin to 16 mg a day to try to get my INR theraputic. They say coumadin is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and sometimes people with crohns have a hard time getting a theraputic INR. Also Crohns patients have a 16 time more chance of blood clots but i also tested for 2 clotting disorders so i will be a life long patient of coumadin. Has anyone else had trouble??

My crohns has been managed very well with Cimzia. My problem is all the new dx's.

I just started coumadin lastnight. Mine is becuz I am in the midst of Atrial Fibrillation (a rapid irregular heartbeat). I was put on it in an effort to avoid a blood clot. Looks like I might be a little luckier than you two, and will only have to take it for a few months. Hugs!

Another life long coumadin patient here (as well as CD since 1980). Two weeks post-surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy and proctocolectomy w/ileostomy) in 2005, I was back in the hospital w/DVT's in my right leg and multiple PE's. While in the hospital I was diagnosed with lupus anticoagulant - contrary to the name, it is a disorder that prohibits clotting, hence the coumadin (warfarin) therapy.

My PT/INR's are not easily managed (absorption problem w/oral meds and/or food?). Over the past 6 years, I think I've been able to go a whole month between tests just a handful of times. More often than not, I go in every week or two for a blood draw/pro-time to maintain a therapeutic range.

mom1760, good luck w/your coumadin therapy - I hope you can get into a therapeutic range soon.