Variceal bleeding

[MLLH]

Has anyone suffered from Variceal bleeding? For example black diarrhea or nosebleeds that can last several days?

[AyrshireK]

Yes my hubby did and nearly died, the black stools indicate internal bleeding somewhere in the digestive tract (possibly varices in the oesophagus). Hubby was passing blood in his bowel motions for some weeks before he eventually started vomiting resulting in emergency admission to hospital via A&E and a stay on High Dependency ward.

Any sign of a potential variceal bleed is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY and requires hospital treatment A.S.A.P.

In my hubbies case it turned out he had 7 bleeding varices and we've subsequently been told how life threatening this was..

42 banded varices later his were deemed eradicated.

Who ever is bleeding in the way you describe needs to go to A&E tonight.

Katie

[MLLH in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for your response. He won't go to a hospital and is trying to lower his alcohol intake which has been over 100 units a week. He has drank daily for about 7 years now. Weekend drinker for 22 years prior to that. He drank 2 handles within 72 hours and his nose started bleeding the next day he went back to work 3 days ago. Then black diarrhea a day ago. His nose bled for a couple of days the week before also. I feel like I am going insane, losing reality watching him kill himself. Thank you in advance for any encouraging responses.

[AyrshireK in reply to MLLH]

As I pointed out it is life threatening. The nose bleeds which won't stop demonstrate low platelet numbers and this could lead to a catastrophic internal bleed. My hubby nearly died and needed blood transfusions and 7 varices banded to stop the initial bleed. My hubbies ill health has nothing to do with alcohol being life long t-total so thankfully I haven't had to battle with him to get treatment. It is always so sad to hear of those of you with partners who seemed to be on self destruct.

Would he go do you think if an ambulance came and paramedics explain his predicament?

It's terrible that you have to battle this situation.

Wishing you the very best of luck.

Katie

[AyrshireK in reply to AyrshireK]

Maybe if he did go to hospital they would help him with a medically supported detox to allow him to safely reduce his intake. In the long run he is going to need to try and get completely sober or this is all going to end badly.

[Hidden in reply to MLLH]

2 handles ? My God. If I'm not mistaken that 120 oz of booze? It's good he is trying to bring the amount of drinking down. But unfortunately that's not going to cut it in this situation. I dont want to sound brute but if the bleeding doesnt cause him to faint right on the floor it could cause him to fall asleep. Which he may not notice as a problem as he may likely think it's the booze and hes getting sleepy and very well could cause him to not wake up from sleeping. This is not a warning this an alarm we are trying to send to you here. This is an emergency.

[jojokarak]

I nearly died through varical bleeding the first time it was black stools and the second one was six weeks later which put me in a coma for a month and that was throwing up blood... Your husband needs to see someone now basically x

[Coralsun]

My father had black, tarry, sticky stools after a hip replacement in a private hospital. Initially the staff did not seem to know what to do. He was eventually taken to the main hospital where he had surgery to stop a duodenal ulcer bleeding. I'm was so relieved he got there on time. Bleeds such as these are life threatening. It took his father's life back in the 1940's. My father always thought that if the first gp that saw him had of admitted him to hospital he would have survived. A second gp did admit him but it was too late. So it is imperative that help is sought immediately to receive prompt treatment. Do the sensible thing.

Coralsun

[Kristian]

Grab him by the ear and take him to hospital.

[Hidden in reply to Kristian]

Thata girl! Might be the only way!

[Ocala626]

My husband had black diarrhea and ended up passed out on the toilet foaming at the mouth and stiff! I called the ambulance and they said if I hadn't found him he'd be dead. He is now recovering from the 2nd time of banding of varicies. They were bleeding and he had to have 4 blood transfusions. My husband was in denial about having cirrhosis saying the scan only said "suggests" cirrhosis. I think he gets it now. I pray your husband gets it and realizes this is an emergency before it kills him. Take care of yourself. I am finally out of a highly wound up and stressed mode that had it continued could have killed me. I was getting chest pains and headaches. I realize you can't give from an empty cup and am now trying to take care of myself.

[kyia in reply to Ocala626]

Your last sentence - "you can't give from an empty cup" is a great way to describe how important it is to keep yourself going when you're supporting someone else. Hard to do sometimes, but necessary!

[Ocala626 in reply to kyia]

Yes, very hard to do when emergency is happening. Now that my husband is out of hospital and doing better I am doing my best to focus on myself.

[kyia in reply to Ocala626]

I found it really hard 16 months ago when my partner was a medical emergency and first diagnosed with cirrhosis - at the time, I remember thinking "I can't do this", but as his health improved, life got so much better and it felt like I could finally relax and live my life again.