ogd bannding

[lillylular]

In the last two years i have had over 10 OGDs and 2 upper GI bleeds. I have banding everytime. How many more will I have to have before all the varices have gone? is there any other alternatives? does anyone no what red whale markings are? Thank you in advance xx

[AyrshireK]

Hi Lillylular - hubby has had banding every time he's had an endoscopy todate. 7 bleeding varices May 2012, 2 more banded later in May 2012 then 2 banded September 2012 and 3 banded March 2013. He's just seen a different gastroenterologist who put him onto a beta-blocker Carvedilol at 6.25mg to start (to rise to 12.5mg if there are no side effects as it can have negative effect on Kidney and Liver Function tests).

We are at the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit on Tuesday to see an actual liver specialist for the first time and its one of the questions on our list, i'll make sure and put some feedback up which may help your query.

K

[lillylular]

im on propanolol (not sure if iv spelt it right) which is a beta blocker. if you dont mind me asking was your hubby on any other beta blockers before they tried carvedilol? thank you x

[AyrshireK]

Hi, no he's had a year with no meds at all just Omeprazole for stomach acid, Lactulose and a 1500ml a day fluid intake limit. He saw a locum consultant in May who said he would start him on Carvedilol - we are going to check about this at SLTU on Tuesday as he seems to be getting constipated since going on the beta-blocker which he wasn't before.

[AyrshireK]

Hi Lillylular well mixed news from the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit today, hubby has now been put on their books, though it was confirmed he is nowhere near transplant needy. Doctor says she wants to 'obliterate' hubby's varices and said that normally she would have him in every 2 to 4 weeks for an endoscopy and banding in order to scar them all sufficiently to prevent any further bleeds - he has currently gone 3 months and the latest gap was 6 months between procedures but now as we live the opposite side of the country to the unit she hopes he'll get done every 4 weeks until they are all done (probably within 6 months). She has stopped him taking the carvedilol as it is something they usual prescribe before someone has had a bleed and as he has had one major one with 7 burst varices she says it will do nothing and she'd prefer to just go for the 'obliteration' technique and hammer them once and for all - carvedilol also has the potential to alter test results for Liver & Kidney function and could potentially do more harm than good - he's chuffed to come off them as he has had constipation with only liquid faeces since going on them.

I don't know if any of that helps increase your knowledge about your situation and I guess it doesn't answer things if you've been having banding for 2 years but perhaps they need to be more aggressive and although it is a horrible procedure perhaps more and more frequently might 'hammer them'. Hubby hates the procedure and dreads it but with the promise that there might be an eventual major reduction or end in endoscopy he's willing to give it a go and he's going to stick with having it done at the major centre of excellence rather than locally. Sadly he is also getting referred for a colonoscopy to see what is going on in his bowel and to ensure there isn't anything there currently causing him to suffer anaemia too.

Anyway, I wish you all the best.

Katie