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.

Fifthing (?) the advice about your dad, askye. Urge him to call tomorrow, first thing, and ask if he's having his labs done regularly. My FiL is on it, and I know every once in a while the levels fluctuate, and they adjust it. As Robin said, millions of people take it, and it just needs to be monitored.

Hopefully, we have reached a compromise.

I hope so, too, Stephanie. After my grandfather had heart surgery (and this is years ago, but still) he had some strange behavior changes for a while. Wouldn't go to a movie theater was one I remember, and there was new some argumentativeness. So that may be part of what your dad's going through. I have no idea if that's a medically accepted side effect, but I do know my grandfather went through it.

Thanks for the advice. I just get freaked at odd times.

askye, it's very normal for people taking Coumadin to bleed longer if they cut themselves. What should NEVER happen, though, is for bleeding to occur spontaneously, without a noticeable cut.

So, if he's too stubborn to get his levels checked (which he really should, but it's not like you can physically restrain him and take him to the doctor against his will), at least get a promise from him that if he starts to get nosebleeds for no reason or ever notices that the whites of his eyes are red, he'll get to the hospital right away.

ETA that elevated Coumadin levels aren't going to create a hemophiliac-like condition in him, so you don't have to worry that a small cut is going to result in him bleeding to death.

The cats have now convinced Dan's mother that they are being deliberately starved to death, and have never been fed. I don't know if they have asked her to stage an intervention or just call the Animal Cops.