Banding for varices

[Doodlebug1]

Just curious, does anyone have varices and portal hypertension? I have had banding done on 4 separate gastropscopies now. How many has anyone had?

[gamesmaker]

Hi Doodlebug. I also have varices with portal hypertension. Mine are NASH cirrhosis related. I have only had banding on one occasion and I have another one which they are 'keeping an eye on' but it is too small to band at present. I have check gastroscopies every 6 months. Fortunately I have never had a variceal bleed.

[Doodlebug1 in reply to gamesmaker]

Thank you, for responding! I am not familiar with NASH. What does it stand for?

[Jmears in reply to Doodlebug1]

NASH means non alcoholic can't remember the rest.

[gamesmaker in reply to Doodlebug1]

non alcoholic steatohepatitis

[georgieboy in reply to gamesmaker]

What does NASH mean?

[georgieboy]

I have varices & portal hypertension too, along with liver damage. I've been banded 3 times. and have yearly endoscopes. The first & second banding were due to my internal bleeding. The third was "being proactive."

My first banding was a complete surprise. I wasn't on any meds for my high blood pressure and was taking excessive aspirin & drinking. The 2nd time, I wasn't drinking, but was retaining water in my ankles while I was in a very hot climate (signs of kidney failure). I ended up throwing up blood for a day before I called 911.

You need to get banded if you have varices and any sign of bleeding internally (black stools, constant bleeding out of your nose, or vomiting blood (clotted or not). They medicate you, so it's painless. I happen to be hard to sedate, so my last 2 experiences haven't been the best, but most people can be sedated and there is no pain afterward.

Please make sure you follow up on this, I hate going in for my yearly test, but I know if I need banding, it's saving my life and even if I can't be sedated, it's worth it!

[Jmears]

Hi I have had about 6 sets of banding and not always 1band put on. I am having another gastroscope next which I am not looking forward to. I have also had an osophegile bleed.

Wackie Jacqui

[carmik]

Hi Doodlebug

Mu husband ended up having 6 banding endoscopies prior to transplant.

He was actually due back for another one when he was called for transplant.

Are you on the list? Can I ask why you have them, what is your liver diagnosis.

My husband has Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency which finished his liver off and caused many HCC tumours to grow. Fortunately undetected prior to transplant otherwise he would not have got one and been dead long ago.

[Doodlebug1 in reply to carmik]

I have PBC with portal hypertension. I am not on the list yet, but my Hepatologist has referred me to the transplant centre. Haven't heard back yet. Your husband is so lucky and hopefully feeling much better post-transplant.

[jimboriley52]

I had about 8 done between March and April 2013 I was waiting for a TIPS procedure to be carried out. Then in May 2013 of which I don't remember thankfully a thing I was found collapsed at home bleeding heavily it took a doctor and 2 paramedic teams to resuscitate me. I was then put into a induced coma and given a 10% survival rate somehow I pulled through after 12 days comatose and the TIPS was carried out while in the coma. I suffered brain damage due to oxygen deprivation which plays havoc with my short term memory and I have bouts of confusion and depression. I am unable to work,which I am still trying to come to terms with

[Doodlebug1 in reply to jimboriley52]

Oh my goodness, you are so lucky to be alive! So, sorry! It is terrible that so many things go wrong with PBC. I was diagnosed in February and it seems I've spent the last 8 months going from one appointment to another only to find something else wrong! One day at a time is how I look at life now!

[AyrshireK]

My hubby's advanced cirrhosis only came to light (April 2012) following an upper GI bleed which on first endoscopy required 7 varices banded. His then gastroenterologist then kept an eye on things with endoscopy's done every 2 to 3 months at each one he needed banding. This went on for a year and once hubby was referred through to the transplant unit the doctor there decided she wanted to 'obliterate' the varices and talked about getting 'aggressive' with them so hubby had endoscopy and banding every 4 weeks or so. To date he has had 14 endoscopies and 42 bands applied. Only at the last endoscopy did he get an all clear with nothing requiring banding. He has to return for next endoscopy some time in November. He has also had a colonoscopy to check for signs of varices type bulges in his bowel and his portal hypertension has also led to issues with his stomach lining and also multiple aneurysms in his splenic artery which were discovered on a CT scan - he had to have an urgent embolization operation to get rid of those which has led to his spleen dying off now too. Doctor at Edinburgh advised that beta blockers were of not much use once someone had bled from varices so he hasn't been on those other than for a week when a locum thought it might be an idea.

Hubby was assessed for transplant in June of this year and finally listed on 3rd July and we are now playing the waiting game - we've been advised it will be a long wait as hubby's blood levels are only very borderline and on some clinic appointments they have shown he doesn't currently meet the score for transplant even though he did at time of listing - all very demoralizing. Hubby has been life long tee-total and his illness has been put down to an auto immune illness though it appeared completely out of the blue with that first variceal bleed.

Hubby detests endoscopies even after all he's had but he just has to get on with it, there is no other option really and without the dreaded endoscopy he wouldn't be here today.

All the best to you. Katie

[acjb007]

I've had several endoscopys and most of them needed varacies banded. Not had one for a year now so will be interesting when I go for one in a week.

[blaenguy]

I have had five episodes of varices banding in the last three years and two episode of oesophogeal bleeding which put me in hospital for two weeks each time. Luckily I work in a private hospital in Bangkok and was in work when both episodes happened.

I have check scopes every six months and usually need a few bands. The only problem is pain for a day or two after. I can say that banding has saved my life on at least two occasions.

[Doodlebug1 in reply to blaenguy]

thank you for responding to my question... It sounds like you were fortunate! This disease seems to effect everyone differently... If you don't mind if I ask you, what stage of PBC do you have?

[blaenguy in reply to Doodlebug1]

To be honest with you I do not know my PBC but my liver is extensively damaged, I also have a non-occlusive thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein and the inferior mesenteric vein. But I keep taking the tabs and feel fine - for the most part.

[Doodlebug1 in reply to blaenguy]

I have never heard of this... Sounds complicated! Was this caused from your cirrhosis? Could you have a thrombectomy? Our bodies are amazing and complicated!