My poor hubby doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break at the moment, if you’ve read some of my previous posts concerning his stroke and AF. For the last five days he has bled after every bowel movement , he has had piles in the past but has not bled as much , I would say as much as a nosebleed , not a heavy one but enough to think mmm heavier than normal . It is fresh blood as it is red not brown , he has recently been tested for the bowel screening which was clear , so it’s not anything untoward hopefully , but as it’s so hard to see a doctor lately I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem . I’m assuming it could be the blood thinner that is making him bleed more . Any advice or experience of this would be helpful . Thank you.
piles and edoxoban : My poor hubby... - Atrial Fibrillati...
piles and edoxoban
So sorry to read this Jackie. I've not had this experience so I can't help but if I may can I make a suggestion ..... ( if you've already done this, my apologies ) .... read the paper in the packet and see if it says anything about this experience - or, alternatively try and get an appointment with your local Pharmacist and see if he/she has any knowledge of this side effect. Has he ever used any other A/c's or is this the first and only one ? I also think NHS has on one of its websites comments on drug interactions/side effects.
John
Thankyou , it’s Edoxoban
The bleeding itself may not be an emergency as piles rarely bleed much but it’s very uncomfortable and unpleasant and can lead, in women at least, to UTI.
However difficult, with your husband’s medical history - book an appointment to see a GP. Hemorroids rarely go away on their own and tend to worsen in time. Yes, I have this problem but not bad enough for surgery and tends to be intermittent so controlled by simple OTC remedies and diet and exercise but the stroke may mean exercise (by that I mean walking not pounding it out at a gym) is difficult but exercise is important.
This is what the NHS advice:-
nhs.uk/conditions/piles-hae...
If stool is small, hard a pellet like then - dehydration will be the problem. THE best thing is to introduce prunes and drink plenty of water - prunes attract water absorption and provide fibre. If watery then look at possible irritants in food and drink.
Thank you . Yes I’ll make an appointment Tom , whether we ll be seen this week is another matter .
I really don't want to be alarmist, but would merely would like to suggest that that for exclusion reasons you push for a doctor's appointment. My late husband (his death had nothing to do with the bleeding piles story) although he did not take any form of anti -coagulant, had bad bleeding from the anus. His GP ordered a coloscopy during which two polyps were removed , no hemorrhoidectomy was recommended, although he had piles. He was told to return in 5 years - in which time the specialist had emigrated, and my husband foolishly decided not to consult the new man recommended to him. However, the bleeding returned with a vengeance and his GP insisted he saw a specialist. During the coloscopy, a tumour the size of a golf ball was found among the hemorrhoids . This was surgically removed, no chemo-therapy was required ,but it resulted in a permanent stoma. Frequent scans revealed no further tumours, but he died 5 years later from a very aggressive fast acting form of mantel cell lymphoma, whether it was connected, who knows. The point is, obviously the polyp that grew so large, was missed in the first coloscopy.
God how awful . I sometimes think it’s a good job we can’t read the future else we would never want to get out of bed in the morning 😞 . Because I couldn’t find his bowel cancer screening box a while back , I let him use mine going back about six months so it came back clear , so I still haven’t done mine , and he had a poo sample test about three months ago when he had bad diarrhoea due to his meds not agreeing with him so I’m hoping that side of things are ok 🤞
hi, I have the same problem, the anticoagulant/ blood thinner will be the culprit, I take one sachet of laxido every day and this has stopped the issue for me, if I forget to take it I’m in trouble ! My doctor prescribes it for me.
Best to consult with your GP though as he needs advice and as he is bleeding it should be treated as urgent.
Hi Jackie l also take Edoxaban and suffer from blood in my urine especially after any form of exercise which involves lifting or bending excessively. I have had a number of tests of my stomach and bladder to identify the source of the bleeding but nothing has been found. My GP has suggested it could be taking Edoxaban that is the root cause of my problem. Although has been worrying and as all the tests have been negative l am not overly concerned.
Sorry to hear this, I had a similar experience while on Edoxaban. Bowel movement was a bit uncomfortable and I noticed a trace amount of fresh red blood on toilet roll - no other symptoms.
I saw my GP, who referred me onto a gastroenterologist. While waiting for an appointment, I was told if there was a lot of blood then I ought to goto A&E. I asked him to quantify ‘a lot’ and he stated more than a teaspoon. Now, given ‘the area of operation’ I not quite sure how I’d work that out but luckily it never amount to more than a trace.
Everything was thoroughly investigated by the consultant and thankfully nothing abnormal was found. He concluded it was a fissure and the bleeding detected was just exacerbated by the anticoagulant. I was told just to contend with it and it should clear; it did. In addition, I always try to maintain bowel heath as best I can - diet, fibre and hydration.
I no longer take Edoxaban but I would always get any unexplained bleeding checked out by a doctor.
since I have been on a blood thinner I have noticed that the one inside pile that occasionally bleed has taken longer to stop bleeding. My Dr prescribed unified suppositories which seem to be extremely successful. I have no idea how they work but any pain seems to stop fairly with the bleeding settling down. Looking back I haven't had a problem for some time so slow weight lose of 2 stone may have helped to. I hope you manage to find a solution. I ought to add I have had a colonoscopy every few years to check any bleeding was from this internal pile.
Hi Jackie, sounds as if your hubby is constipated, could be the drugs, could be diet related. You are right, bright blood is nearer the surface rather than deeper in the body. The only things I can suggest is looking at his diet, is he eating things that will make passing a motion easier ie fruit, fibre and so on and/or either prescriptive drugs or over the counter meds which will soften the stool to permit easier transition, also make sure he is drinking enough water. There is nothing worse nor more uncomfortable. My hubby also suffered for a while and this was due to Polyps which have now been removed so no more bleeding. Good luck.
Thank you , yes he needs a bit of force feeding when it comes to fruit lol I’ll nag him to eat more . He drinks plenty of water though .
Hi , I was in the same situation so was given Laxido by my GP . You can get it from pharmacies too it’s an orange flavoured powder mixed in water you take before bed . It softens stools making them easier to pass and so doesn’t irritate the piles . I keep a pack in the cupboard just in case . I can say from experience it’s the best remedy I’ve taken after all the other stuff I’ve tried
I have had this problem and it was one of the 'weaknesses' in my body that was behind my decision to postpone ACs 10 years ago.
I think diet changes will be the best solution and persistence through trial and error to reduce the problem in case it leads to complications.
Fortunately for me at present, bleeding is very minor and mostly none. However, 30yrs ago I had a big bleed, saw a specialist or two had some injections which were supposed to stop it and may have been responsible for it not worsening.
If I had a recurrence, personally I would consult a trusted Nutrionist or Herbal Practitioner first and run it past my GP before taking anything.
I have this problem with Edoxaban and Adizem. I think the bleeding is heavier than it would normally be because of the anti-coagulant. I was told to try Fybogel but now I'm on Movicol from my doctor which helps as it softens everything. I now use the latter with prunes and a lot of fruit and veg which has helped.
Yes, the blood thinner will make it slower to clot. I get the same with my chronic nosebleeds. Hope he's better soon 🙏
It could be the anticoagulant edoxaban tablets and piles can bleed copiously as the digestive tract is literally full of tiny blood vessels which ae not well protected. I had to have a colonoscopy back in March for similar and it was found to be a harmless polyp that was right at the entrance (it couldn't have been worse placed). I also had several diverticula, one being quite large. This latter causes me lots of IBS-like discomfort at times and often feels near-infected but so far so good. A month ago it was awful but all has calmed now, I never had as much bleeding as your husband does but still enough.
In your husband's case it could be either a haemorrhoid or a diverticulum bleeding. Both can bleed and both are safe in the sense that it's nothing to overly worry about. There is a rapid screening system available in the NHS (or was in our area). I would get your GP to look into this. Even though mine was not anything untoward my GP put me onto the rapid system and I was all sorted within a month or two. It was still worrying but worthwhile.
Steve
Sorry but I have to disagree that diverticulum are “nothing to overly worry about” I had a series of bleeds from my bum (before anticoagulants) which put me in hospital. I thought it was my piles playing up. Whilst on the ward two diverticulae “burst” resulting in emergency surgery. My GP subsequently told me the outcome could have been much more serious if it had happened at “another time or place”!
Jackie’s husband needs to get his bleeds investigated ASAP
Good luck
I take your point and it’s well made but such events are relatively very unusual and I did write “overly worry” and say the GP should be consulted. I still think is fair advice as fearing the worst is never useful (and I speak as one who far too easily does that).
So far as I know, bright red rectal bleeding is usually from an internal haemorrhoid, but, yes it can be from a nearby diverticulum and they can bleed copiously. My late uncle had just this.
In my case, I keep my fingers crossed as only recently I had a flare up that almost needed antibiotics.
Steve
I suffered for many years with piles - long before I started on anticoagulants - and then I read a piece written by an American colorectal surgeon whose advice was to stop using any form of soap around that area of the body as it destroys the body's natural oils that lubricate the anus. I have to say that following that advice I've not been troubled by piles since, even when I've had bouts of severe constipation following my Whipple's procedure in 2018.
See the attached link.
lacolon.com/article/keeping....
I hope this helps.
All the best
Tim
Hi, piles are common problem as we get older, there's various prescription creams from GP that can help, also injections and banding are not as invasive as surgery.
I had a hemorrhoidectomy (internal and external) a couple of years ago, after putting it off for 15 years of misery. Best thing I ever did, finally! Procedure took 15 minutes, recovery was effortless-the only pain I experienced was taking off the bandage-along with all the hair on my lower back. I told the surgeon on follow up that he deserved a Nobel Prize for Painless Rectal Surgery!
JimF
I have been taking Apixaban (blood thinner) and Verapamil, both for my AF. I had terrible constipation caused by the Verapamil, which then caused my piles to bleed with every bowel movement. I was advised to drink more water and eat wholemeal bread, which I did. Also, only for a few days, I had suppositories. The doctor also gave me Laxido sachets to take, which is a stool softener/laxative. I now take one first thing every morning with no problems at all. Have been doing this now for about 4 months. It does not purge you. I recommend wholemeal bread and the Laxido sachets, which are quite pleasant to drink. Hope your husband gets relief.
Jackie, my first thought was possibly high blood pressure causing the bleeding, as it happened to my Mom many years go. Her blood pressure was left unchecked, and it wasn't until bleeding similar to your husband's (as well as nosebleeds) that alerted her doctor to her high BP.
Had the same issue. On investigation was uncomfortable with a bowel movement. It was a fissure which bled more due to apixiban. May need to get some cream to help with blood flow which will in turn help healing. Thankfully I don't get the bleeding right now but then as others have said I've upped fibre and keep as hydrated as I can.
Yes we couldn’t get an appointment until 15th of December so asked the chemist and have been using cream . This seems to have worked so far thank you for replying
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