Now my Papa needs prayer & good thots (Callie)

Definitely sending good thoughts!

Also make sure to ask that he isn't just taking something else to thin the blood, like aspirin or ibuprofen or something else that compounds the coumadin???  Maybe with him not feeling well and adding pain meds?

 Good thoughts on the way to those stubborn ol' parents of yours.

good thots, healthy vibes and lots of prayers!

Thanks -- and yeah, Nicole - I'm always trying to check on that stuff.  I was horrified, knowing that Pa's levels were THAT high and that he was having nosebleeds *still* (even after not being on the drug for two days) that they weren't going to re-test but just said to start it again.

 Small town ... rural area -- they don't attract wonderful doctors.  But I'm hopeful that this new doctor is better. 

And hping my mother retains HER cool is a big deal.  She can be very tough to deal with and when he's already not thinking good??  *sigh*

Prayers that he's got a good dr. looking after him now. It's so critical when they get older and have a myriad of medical problems that they have a good dr. overseeing everything. I know how hard it is to be far away too.

Oh gosh, I hope this new doctor stays on top of things!  Nothing worse than an incompetent doctor. 

Wish it were easier for you to talk to them.

Sending lots and lots of healing vibes, thoughts and prayers for your Papa!

AND HUGS FOR YOU!

Callie,
My Mom just got home this week (from rehab) and we are dealing with the high levels of cumadin thing. She had to stop taking it today for 2 days, then begin a rotation dose--no testing again until Wed. (That's pretty common and I talked to the nurses about it too.) So, you KNOW I've been researching this like crazy cuz what else am I gonna do? Here' what I found: Depending on what your Dad is on cumadin for and how long he's been on it, he might be eligible for one of the fairly new home testing kits. Mom will be eligible on day 90 of taking the drug and Medicaid will pay for the testing machine (like a glucometer but bigger)--costs $2400--and 80% of the test strip cost for one test a week. That might be a decent option for your Dad, if he qualifies. (Email me for more details if you want. I'll send you the links, forms, etc.)  Even the nursing home didn't know about the home testing--but the visiting nurse did--she's great and arranged to loan us one until the 90 day requirement is met.

And, prayers and lots of good thoughts for your Mom and Dad. It is hard to "manage" the seniors...I so totally get that :-) Hugs to you!

Callie, sending healthy vibes to your father, and calming, patient ones to your mother!  I understand how hard it is to deal with these kinds of things with older parents when you're very far away. 

It's so frustrating when they don't tell someone about symptoms and such.  My mother had emergency surgery a couple years ago.  Shortly after, we learned she had several weeks of intestinal issues that would've indicated a possible problem, but she never mentioned it to her doctor.  She said, "Oh, I just thought those kinds of issues were what all old people deal with!"   

It's also baffling to see the cocktail of medications that some elderly people take.  My FIL literally had a lunch box to carry all his prescription bottles.  He had lots of nagging problems, and I swear, many of them were just side effects of one medicine that they gave him to fix the side effect of another medicine.  It has to take a toll on their bodies eventually.

Fingers crossed that your Papa is okay!

 Sending prayers and healing thoughts for your dad; I hope the nose bleeds stop very soon!!!

Yeah there's just a lot of frustration -- I talked to Mom about the monitor Kate mentioned and she's interested, so I've emailed for that information for her. 

Thanks a bunch for the support.

How's your Papa doing lately?  Hoping things are improving with him!

Continued thoughts and prayers for him, your mother and YOU!

just seeing this now, Callie.  Good thoughts for health and well-being for your dad!

My one bit of encouragement -- Dad finally opened the Valentine e-card I sent them -- when he feels too confused/tired to go in to the computer you KNOW he's not feeling good.  So the fact that he tackled that yesterday is HUGE. 

I call him this afternoon and he **sounds** much better.  I told him about the little sensor/machine to test the Cumiden levels and he was really excited about it -- in fact, he'd already decided he was going to try to see if he COULD buy one on his own (not knowing that it might be covered).

So that makes me feel like there'd be better compliance if he WANTS it.

That is a huge step.  Prayers that all goes well on the way.