Sorry me again and another question. My husband has just woken up and felt something in his mouth and spat out blood. I think this is from his mouth but as he has varices grade 2 could I ask if the varices bleed is there pain, would he just have some blood or when they bleed is it continuous bleeding. I did ask one of the consultants months ago about them and bleeding and he just said go straight to hospital.
Would they bleed a little and then increase or would they gush sorry but I don’t know what I am looking out for. Thanks Pam x
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Hi Pam, my hubby was seeing blood in his bowel motions for a few weeks before he vomited blood - fresh red blood plus black sticky poos. On the day that he had his massive bleed I remember him just being uncomfortable (he says no pain). He just ill at ease and no position was comfy, standing, sitting, lying.
With known varices and any sign of blood emission I think i'd be getting him to hospital. A&E's are now set up so that any suspected covid patients go in separately than patients going in for other issues. If you phone 111 and explain the situation they may arrange appropriate intervention and prep A&E for your arrival.
One thing is for certain you don't want to wait until they perhaps gush - hubby had seven burst varices (by co-incidence tomorrow is his 8th anniversary of admission following his bleed). Once they are bleeding it can be life threatening.
Hi yes I did find out that they are life threatening but no one explained to me how,they might bleed. He has no blood now and I think it may have been a blood blister in his mouth. It just made realise apart from very obvious copious amounts of blood could they start just spotting for instance. Husband feels fine by the way we’ll fine for someone with cirrhosis.
I meant to say he didn’t vomit blood it sort of trickle out of his mouth and no dark sticky poos either. I think I immediately thought the worst.
If there is any sign of more blood I wouldn't mess about, contact 111 and get him checked. We have subsequently been told how close hubby came to death 8 years ago this week. His gastroenterologist said you never want to see inside a gullet when they are bleeding.
Hubby ended up in HDU having blood transfusions.
Other than feeling fatigued and being told he had anxiety and depression hubby never knew that inside him he was chronically ill.
Hope your well. This is thing with Liver Disease, there are no major signs of illness, & the person, looks well, apart from a little fatigue maybe, it is a very frightening illness.
As Katie has said, initially you would expect to have signs of bleeding in the bowel motions first. I have had bleeding twice and on both occasions, I started with this bleeding in bowel motions. The blood acts in such a way to cause more frequent bowel motions. When I had a major bleed, I felt very light headed on standing and had to lie down. Fortunately I did not have any vomiting of blood until I was taken for surgery and they sprayed me with the throat spray, but like Katie's hubby, I needed blood transfusions and also oxygen after surgery. Whilst bleeding is a major issue, they can usually get this under control. However, it is the next few days that are critical as you can suffer from infection.
I don't want to alarm you, but just because the last time they looked they were grade 2, does not mean that they could not suddenly bleed, so as suggested already, best to get to A and E and get checked out. When I suffered a bleed, they had been diagnosed as low level varices, but then progressed in a few months to the bleed. Glad to hear that on this occasion, it was a blood blister, but hopefully now you will be better prepared as to what to look for.
Thank you so much it really helpful I just assumed from that consultant it would be obvious he was having a bleed no one explained what to look for or how it may present itself so when my husband said he had bleeding I immediately thought it was the varices so we both panicked.
Glad it was helpful. My Consultant didn't tell me what to look for either. ( perhaps they don't want to alarm us) The tarry stools are obviously different from normal ones ( they are very sticky!) so I looked it up!! Good luck to you both at this very worrying time.
Variceal bleeds can start off with a slow bleed so we would suggest it is very important to get a medical assessment and examination today, to check the source of bleeding.
Hi, we do not have a liver unit yet we are waiting for an assessment appointment with the liver team. I think we both panicked. I have questioned my husband closely and he is adamant that the blood came from within his mouth not from inside he didn’t vomit blood up. There has been no other signs and certainly no more blood.
At least now I have a better idea what to look for the responsibility of reacting to changes in my husband’s health is worrying me I am terrified I miss something.
Sorry. I had couple of varies tied off but not any bleeding from mouth. Can only suggest you call doctor or hospital ( I had a specific hospital contact) and they should guide you. Don’t be embarrassed about calling. Main thing is both your minds are put at rest.
Hi, thank you so much for responding I am confident that this is was from inside his mouth he has a couple of very sore places he was cleaning his teeth at the time. Only when he called up to me I didn’t know that and thought the worst. The positive thing from this is that I know what to look for and also he has said he would be straight to hospital if it was his varices.
Did you have the dark sticky poos that others have mentioned? My husband hasn’t got those.
I think it’s different for everyone ,the first time I had a major bleed I just didn’t feel myself and had a bad stomach- the blood irritates the stomach, I went to bed and woke up vomiting blood, the second time just a bad tummy and black poo and a small amount of stained vomit, the third time which was 6 weeks ago it was black poos for a few days then nausea then all of a sudden the brown vomit turned bright red. All required urgent admission to hospital. So I think it presents in different ways but I would say to look out for a bad stomach!!
But if in doubt it would be good to check it out. I hope everything turns out ok for you both. Xx
Get him to a Doctor as fast as you can. He may have a varcies leaking. If it burts it could mean his life. Get him there in person do NOT wait on a ambulance!
Hi, I really appreciate your concern and I have noted yours and everyone’s advice. The blood this morning was from inside his mouth he didn’t bring the blood up or cough it up. When I posed the question on here he hadn’t explained where the blood came from and I have spent all my time since they discovered he had varices worrying about a bleed so I made 2 + 2 = 5
I have just joined this and for you, yoour hubby and other readers, I had an intrnal bleed and was extremely lucky to survive. 2 weeks before ii had a dizzy spi and collapsed in a faint in Aldi. My GP wouldnt allow me to return to work while investigating my BP etc. I felt mildly nauseous for 2 weeks until one morning I vomited blood. Nothing but blood. It didnt hurt, it just confused me, This happened again another 20 mins later, I showed my partner that time as he is a nurse, He said we need to go to hospital, We were calm but got their quickly. I just made int the hospital when my legs went. Needed a wheelchair to reach A and E. I had varices banded and it wored for me in September 2019. This year the varices have been banded again and I'm not sure if I should fly or avoid it??
Hi, it is best to speak to your consultant. I am very confused with my husband as everyone else seems to have check up endoscopies apart from his original one he has never had another to check on him.
He has improved greatly,so much so most of his meds have been stopped he is supposed to take a beta blocker but doesn’t. He was told he was ok to fly and to try short haul first and he was fine. Is is so well it is hard to believe how he was or that he has cirrhosis. However he has convinced himself he is completely well and I know he has healed the odd drink 😞
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