Reply to Significant weight loss, refusal to see a doctor

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Who carries the insurance?  Can you tell him that your insurance requires a yearly visit with blood work?  (my insurance started offering a reduced rate if we had a yearly workup)

You can only do so much.  If it something major, he will eventually end up in the hospital.  I would focus on what you can control.  Make sure that you have all the necessary documents in order (will, POA, beneficiaries updated).  [/quote]

I would advise "you can only do so much" approach with an difficult elderly parent where eventually having it be too late and ending up on hospice with great pain meds seems far more pleasant than descending eventually to the final stages of dementia with no ability to walk, talk, use bathroom, feed self...having seen both. For someone far younger who has children who are not even adults, and a spouse he has many years to enjoy life with, I would keep trying different avenues-tell parents/get an old college friend involved, etc, etc so if the worst happened I know I tried it all. I see it different than say an addict where you eventually have to let them hit rock bottom. I assume this man is consumed with anxiety to the point of paralysis. Heck, I'd even find out if his doctor would prescrice a few xanex so he can take one and be able to discuss the situation better and than take the others the night before each doctor's appointment.[/quote]

I agree 100% - this is something you fight for.  And anxiety meds or treating it first as a mental health issue might give you a way in.  I wonder if you could get him to take a xanax then take him to the ER for evaluation.[/quote]

How would I get him a Xanax??? We don’t have anything like that in the house, and there is no way I would just slip him something in his food/drink, if that’s what you’re suggesting.

He is less likely to see a therapist than a medical doctor. [/quote]

No, you don't slip him a xanex you just happen to have anyway. See if you can agree to get him to share with his doctor's office the situation and they might prescribe it so he can deal or call urgent care, explain he is terrified, but willing to come in (if you can get him to take that step) See if they will start the ball rolling with bloodwork and script for xanex to get him through each physician appointment, especially if there is bad news to process.[/quote]

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