varices

[peacelily59]

can anyone explain to me how dangerous varices are they have bled once about four years ago and I had to have a transfusion I feel I am living on a time bomb

[AyrshireK]

Have you been having regular follow up endoscopy examinations after your first bleed?

It is normal to keep checking to make sure no more have reared their heads and have you been put on a beta blocker such as propanolol or carevedilol to reduce portal vein blood pressure?

I know that some hospitals don't do theraputic banding to remove them as they appear but in my husbands case his consultant went 'aggressive' on banding. His first bleed was April 2012 and he had 7 burst varices and he ended up in the high care unit with blood transfusions and the works.

Since then he was having regular banding resulting in a total of 42 bands (to date) and his varices were deemed eradicated - his consultant never put him on a beta blocker saying they weren't that effective after a bleed and hubbies overall blood pressure was quite low.

They are hugely dangerous if they burst and all you can really do is keep an eye on your stool colour, if you see any signs of blood or your stools become black and tarry get yourself to A&E as you might be having a bleed. In my hubbies case he ignored these early signs and it wasn't until he was vomitting blood that we went to A&E and it could very easily have been too late.

Katie

[peacelily59 in reply to AyrshireK]

hi thanks for your reply I have one follow up endoscopy where I was banded I was on propranolol but I whas taken off the when diagnosed with asthma as regarding dark stools mines are dark but my doctor says that is the iron tablets I am taking

[Hidden in reply to peacelily59]

Just to re-iterate what Kate has said with regard to the stools. Not only would they be black , but the "tarry" part in plain speaking means they stick to you like glue!!! Sorry to be graphic, but this should help you to know the difference between the iron coloured ones and ones with blood in. All the very best

[AyrshireK]

If you have only had one follow up endoscopy since a bleed and banding in 4 years I would suggest you really need a check up. My hubby was going every 3 months after his first bleed with banding every time, then when he was transferred to Edinburgh it was changed to about every 6 - 8 weeks until they deemed all his varices gone. Then it dropped to 6 monthly and now annually.

I think i'd be tempted to ask for an endoscopy and check up peacelily if only for your peace of mind.

I understand the black stools with iron tablets, hubby was like that too but going by MC1189's description of the tarry you should hopefully know the difference and of course if there was any fresh red blood showing.

Katie

[Njovu]

I also would like to know - bled badly 6 months ago and had to be air evacuated to South Africa from home here in north Mozambique ; hospital here is a joke and I am worried will bleed again

[jojokarak]

Both bleeds I had were within 2 months of each, first was black tarry stools and has been mentioned you will definitely notice the difference, I had been going in for banding procedures for a year before my first one and I am sure it didn't help the situation. The second one was more serious and I was throwing blood up, I ended up in a coma and had a stent fitted which saved my life and I didn't have another one after that. I do honestly think the endoscopes aggravated the varices as I was having one every fortnight for a while. Seriously I wouldn't stress as you haven't had a bleed for 4 years, but if your concerned ask your consultant why they didn't feel the need to do anymore x