1/12/01 Blood drawn. Increase Coumadin to 4.0

1/19/01 Blood drawn. Increase Coumadin to 5.0

1/26/01 Blood drawn. Increase Coumadin to 6.0

2/5/01 Blood drawn. Increase Coumadin to 7.0

2/8/01 Wanda from University called to say Prudential had denied my bill for $32,800 for my hospital stay.

2/9/01 I spent 2 hours on the phone with collection agencies and billing agencies trying to get the mess straightened out.

2/14/01 Blood drawn. Remain at 7.0 (seven times the original hospital's dosage!)

2/15/01 thru 10/30/01 Blood is drawn once a week (sometimes every other week).

Coumadin dosage stays mostly at 7.0 mg per day. Maximum coumadin dosage is 7.5 mg.

4/3/01 I saw Dr. Accurso today. He told me that I needed an ultrasound and an endoscopy, as per Dr. Kon'sinstructions, to check for any additional growth of varicose veins around my liver and to make sure my liver was functioning properly.

4/10/01 I had a Doppler ultrasound at Somerset Medical Center.

4/20/01 I had an endoscopy by Dr. Accurso. I was told that everything was in order.

5/3/01 I saw Dr. Konerutoday. He gave me a physical exam and I asked him what the peculiar, round-shaped, slight protrusion from belly was. He said that it was my liver and that it had grown back through "the path of least resistance." Dr. Konerutold me that he had spoken with Dr. Accurso and that he had seen the ultrasound. The clot appeared to be gone, but that I should remain on the coumadin for at least 3 more months and have another ultrasound. He explained that the blood clot COULD re-form and that there was really no way to be SURE that it wouldn't. He said that I had the option of staying on coumadin forever.

I told him that I did NOT want that.