Banded varices and holidays abroad:)

[Indre123]

Hi all:)So i got my third round of endoscopy and banding:)First time 4 varices(found accidentally on 3 yearly endoscopy),grades 2 and 3,second time 2 varices grade 2,third time 3 varices grade 2.I was on carvedilol 6.25,after last banding doctors increased the dose to 12.5.It happened on friday:)So the question is-is it safe to go for the holidays to another country in about one week time after banding?Doctor mentioned no planes,its fine with me as we was planing to go by car:)But generaly whats the risk?My next endoscopy is in 6 weeks:)Anyone experienced something like this:)Thank you xx

[Joall]

Hi. I'm the same as you, I've been having varicies banded every 4weeks since January. I'm also on carvedilol12.5mg. I too asked about going abroad to Spain in May but was given alot of mixed advice from my consultants. Heamotology said it was fine to go away but liver consultant said No, because of the risk of bleeding. If a bleed happened whilst on holiday it would lead to complications and a longer stay in hospital.

Plus travel insurance is difficult to get if you are still on going with banding procedures.

Best wishes

Jo

[Indre123 in reply to Joall]

Hi:)Did your varices ever bled?or they banding just to prevention?I got very mixed feelings about going.I really want to go and kind of thinking its will be ok to go by car,but at the same woried what if😖I am not woried about travel insurance as i am going to my own country,and never buying insurance actualy:)))

[Joall in reply to Indre123]

Mine were supposed to be preventative treatment but after the first 5 I had a bleed and was rush into a&e and spent 7 days in hospital. Luckily I went to my local hospital where they had everything about my condition and my notes.

If you don't need travel insurance and are comfortable travelling then go and enjoy yourself, you never know what's round the corner, life's for living.

Take care

Jo xx

[Indre123 in reply to Joall]

Oh i was thinking after banding it shouldn’t bleed:(How long after banding it bled?x

[Joall in reply to Indre123]

3 weeks after my first banding I bled. On a plus note I've been in 5 times since with no problem xx

[Indre123 in reply to Joall]

And you was on the carvedilol 12.5mg at that time?God now i am woried even more.So actualy i am like a ticking bomb,and it does not give ne sny guarantees nor now or one year after!Its is for life!!!so actualy they can be eradicated,but dven next summer if i go for holidays they can just bleed.Omg!I hate the feeling wright now

[Joall in reply to Indre123]

Don't panic too much. We are all ticking time bombs. Enjoy every day and if you feel well carry on with life as you did before. I do😊. My varicies have gradually reduced to 1 banding each time now. It is supposed to make scare tissue to stop further varacies pushing through. Are you still going 4 weekly? Yes I've been on carvadilo 12.5 mg for 3 years. Xx

[Indre123 in reply to Joall]

I am going 6 weekly now:)My second name is panic 😄i am always panicking,can’t deal with that🤦🏼‍♀️Thank you for you reply❤️

[Indre123 in reply to Indre123]

Jo,did you have nose frequent nose bleeds or any other symptoms?xx

[Joall in reply to Indre123]

No nose bleeds, in fact apart from the normal mylofibrois side effects like hot sweats and aching I was quite well. The varicies bleed was the first emergency since diagnosis in 2015. But I recovered in a week or so and back to normal(as We know it). Just keep taking the pills.

You must Think about you and your young family and do what's best. Have your consultants given you an anwser? Xx

Jo

[Indre123 in reply to Joall]

Before the varices was discovered i had nose bleeds daily,sometimes twice a day.But i had anemia aswell,so i dont know what exactly caused nose bleeds.After i started carvedilol and iron pils nose bleeds stoped🤷🏼‍♀️I am still waiting for answer from my consultant,i will let you know the answer as soon as i know my self:)waiting game:)))xx

[AyrshireK in reply to Indre123]

Apart from my hubbies initial bleed of 7 burst varices (which brought to light his cirrhosis) he has never (touch wood) had any other bleeds - he had 42 varices banded over the space of 2 years and was never treated with carvedilol. His varices were all eradicated 2014 - only this year at his annual endoscopy have they discovered 'barely visible varices' in another part of his oesophagus which they are not treating and he has only got to go back next year for repeat scope. It's usually flying which causes the issues with varices and travelling due to cabin pressure issues. Certainly we were never told anything about not travelling by car and indeed have to do hundreds of miles just to get to the hospital where is endoscopies are done.

Katie

[Indre123 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi,Katie:)sounds reassuring:)The travel itself its ok,but i am scared to bleed in other country🤦🏼‍♀️But i feel so good,you couldn’t tell something is wrong with me.so that’s hard to believe even for myself that i am criticaly ill🤷🏼‍♀️My other endoscopy is in 6 weeks,so i thought just in between i will rest a bit by the sea,before the school year strats again,and i will be to busy to go somewhere.i wish the choices could be easy like in my teen years,like wich shoes to choose,but not die or live😄still waiting for a call from my doctor.he told me the answer after endoscopy,but i was very sleepy after sedation,so cant remember (damn it 😄)Thank you for your reply,its very positive:)xx

[Indre123 in reply to Indre123]

Katie,can i ask?Does your husband has nose bleeds then he got varices?xx

[Hidden]

Hi

Your post worried me, I have been on holidays where I have collapsed for 3 days and seen the results of people suddenly having a burst varices while on holiday being rushed into hospital.

While not being on holiday for the last 5 years, and now only after a transplant I totally understand, insurance is a MUST plus local knowledge of the local hospitals capabilities.

I have the one thought going through my head 'Only gamble what you are prepared to loose'

Not much help I know and enjoy whatever you decide, I just worry a lot!

David

[Indre123 in reply to Hidden]

Oh i am worry alot:(Anyway holidays will be in my country,as now i live in London,i am missing home so much:)I am still waiting for my doctor to reply.And so hard to decide:(As i am in england i know i am in a good hands.And also i was thinking if they doing gaps of 6 weeks between endoscopies,so msybe its not so bad?

[Indre123 in reply to Indre123]

All the best for you after your transplant❤️Best wishes x

[Hidden in reply to Indre123]

I really understand your dilemma, we have not been able to visit our relatives for nearly 5 years. To go away to France last week was an amazing thing for us.

So part of me says do it! but my own experience has shown me in might not go as well as you hope, the extra strain caused me problems.

As I said I worry, 6 week gaps are still quit close. Mine went out to 12 months

As unhelpful ever

David

[Indre123 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply:)every answer is very important for me,as i can draw a better picture of this nasty thing:)xx

[Hidden]

Hi Indre123

Can you maybe think about seeing your specialist again or have a telephone appointment with them to further discuss your travel concerns?

They really are best placed to be safely advising you as they have full access to your medical records and gastroscopy reports.

Additionally, if you are assessed medically safe to travel, you will need full travel insurance. You may want to look at our list of UK linsurance companies on our website. We cannot guarentee that they will be able to cover you- but hopefully they will be able to help;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Wishing you well,

Trust1

[Indre123 in reply to Hidden]

Hi:)thank you for your reply:)he told me the answer after endoscopy,but i was sleepy after sedation,so cant remember 🤦🏼‍♀️i think he said it’s ok by car,but i might dreamed that😄still waiting for his call:)thank you for the link,i dont think i need insurance,as i am going to my own country:)and i don’t think anyone would insure me🤷🏼‍♀️

[Indre123]

So my consultant is on holidays himself.And secretary will try to find somebody else to give me an answer wich is actually not what i wanted:))As my consultant knows my story best,and he did last endoscopy by himself,and i am sure he said you are ok to go by car,i just wanted to nake sure its not a dream😄And as i see from other people’s stories it’s really unpredictable,so even the doctor would not know if its going to bleed or not:)So probably i will be going,but still thinking:))

[VeeWat]

Are you on 6.25 mg twice a day or once a day?

[Indre123 in reply to VeeWat]

I am on 6.25 twice a day