I have a question for medically types.

Dad's been taking blood thinners because of his heart attack and staying away from vitamin K becuase of his heart attack and blockage. But he bleeds and bleeds and bleeds and then bleeds some more at the slightest injury.

Yesterday he came over and his ear was bleeding, he said he'd been talking on the phone and when he put the phone down there was blood all over it. Also earlier this week he bumped his hand on the door knob and ended up bleeding all over the place.

Is this normal? I suggested he double check with the doctor, but he can be stubborn. It doesn't seem normal that he could bleed that much from just a little cut.

I also think of what my parents were cheated out of: neither of them got to see their grand-daughter.

Yeah, that's a toughie. I'd still like to get married maybe someday, but I kind of lost any interest in a Wedding since my mom won't be there anyway. Silly stuff, but it gets you. On a more serious note, my sister has recently gotten back together with her ex, and I'm happy about that for a number of reasons. But one of them is that she's the only one of us who will/might have a significant other who knew and loved my mom.

I have a cake baking, as well.

Me too! What weird cake baking kismet.

Askye, your dad's doctor(s) need to know he is experiencing this level of bleeding as a side effect. There may be other meds that will alleviate the bleeding while he is taking this stuff. Or it may be time for him to try some other medications altogether. But I do not believe this is normal, and I can see a number of ways that it could lead to the cure being worse than the disease. Does he have a medical i.d. stating what-all he is taking, that can be easily found on him in case of an emergency?

ETA: And now for something completely different. [link]

Is this normal?

askye, my mother is on coumadin (warfarin) for a heart condition, and you have to monitor the levels pretty closely. Has he been taking anything else that prevents clotting, such as aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen? Does he take any herbal medicines?

I'm going to echo Ginger, because I was just going to bring up Coumadin/warfarin. My f-i-l and aunt are both on this, and have to have their levels monitored regularly. I think connie's dh is on it, too. It's likely that's his blood thinner causing the bleeding, and that it's not all that abnormal given he's on a blood thinner, but he should call his doctor and check, and make sure the doc knows all the medications he takes, including over the counter meds. Also, doctors do have to adjust how much Coumadin the patients take, from time to time.

eta the reason I bothered posting. I know when my f-i-l cuts himself shaving, it takes forever for it to clot, which is why I don't think you need to be alarmed by what's going on with your dad, but I do think he should call his doc, and think it's possible they'll adjust his dosage.

I think he's on Cumidan or something like that. I figured the bleeding was normaly but it's freaky to see.

But I am worried that he's cutting himself and not feeling it or realizing it until he sees the blood. Last night he said he didn't realize anything was wrong until he pulled the phone away and it was covered in blood. And early that week he'd ruined a shirt when he'd somehow cut himself on a door knob (he thought) and didn't realize it until he saw the blood on his cuff.

He really hasn't been to the beach this summer, and I'm thinking part of it is trying to get used to this new reality. Last year he kayaked out to the spit (about a mile) and went fishing and all this other stuff. And now. well. He can't do that anymore, probably. And he was stressing his body geting the John boat in and out of the water and maybe he can't do that, I'm not sure, because of his heart. I figured, well, he would take it easy.

This bleeding thing is freaking me out.I don't want him fishing (much less fishing from the kayak) if he can bleed that much, that long, and that easily. I'm not sure if he's tied flies since this, but maybe he has. It's so easy to prick your thumb just fly fishing, changing a hook or bringing in a fish and... there are sharks. And just general bleeding.

All it once it just struck me all the ways he's now limited. I mean, I knew, but I didn't --- it didn't hit me so hard, until.... He cut his ear on the phone for god's sake.

He's supposed to start teaching fly tying classes on Tuesday. I hope the bleeding isn't an issue with that.

I hope things get easier between you and your dad.

Thanks. At the moment, all is okay. Hopefully, we have reached a compromise.

One of the things about my dad's surgery is that he is now on coumadin (warfarin). Just joining in eith everyone else to say that he has to be pretty closely monitored (like once a week, I think).

I do think he should check with his doctor. I don't think it's anything to worry too much about. They do anti-coag level checks on patients who are on them, routinely and regularly, and your dad should be having these already, if he's on Coumadin. It's also, I gather, fairly simple for them to regulate. If his blood is too thin, they'll reduce his dosage. It's less of a condition than it is a side effect, if that makes any sense.

I remember from my dad that Coumadin DOES make for the freaky bleeding. My dad would bruise if you so much as breathed on him. When I see old dudes with bruises all over their hands, I'll say "blood thinners?" and they'll nod.

Still, he needs levels monitored so the drug does its job without doing it too well. If it's any comfort, MILLIONS of people are on this drug and they learn to cope really well.