I visited BFSkinner in the hospital this afternoon. He is no longer bleeding.
He did not have a vena cava filter placed, and there is no plan for him to have one implanted at this time.
He is back on Coumadin, which he has taken for many years for his inherited blood-clotting disorder. He has factor V Leiden thrombophilia, an increased tendency to form abnormal blood clots in blood vessels. Coumadin counteracts this tendency to clot too easily. He will remain in the hospital until his Coumadin level becomes therapeutic.
Gory medical details: The theory about what caused his recent bleeding episode: During the first hospitalization, about 15 days ago, he had surgery to remove a piece of his small intestine which was surrounded by a mass that was not cancerous. The tube had to be sewn back together. Apparently the scab on the inner side of the ring of sewn-together tissue broke loose about 10 days later, and he lost a lot of blood. After he received three units of blood, the bleeding stopped, and when they performed the super-duper bleeding test noted previously, they found no source of bleeding.
He is walking a little again, and he is eager to get out of the hospital.
This is my fourth diary regarding BFSkinner's hospital adventures. Feel free to pick up the backstory from my last few diaries.)
Blue cat dancing: Not sure if the cat represents him, me, or us.