So, at the moment I have a lot of concerns about liver disease/cirrhosis due to alcohol abuse. I haven't drunk anything in 10 days, but decided to have a couple of light beers last night. It made me feel really bloated and gassy, so I made myself sick.
The sick came out bright red... I hadn't eaten anything red...
I am now really freaking out it could be Esophageal varices (a complication of cirrhosis of the liver.)
I have tried to make myself sick today to see if it is still red, but it looks clear with some brown bits (from my Diet Coke I think)
If this was Esophageal varices, would my vomit be red EVERY time, not just the one time last night?
Would I be vomiting still, or just the one-off?
Please let me know as I am seriously panicking. I am also waiting on blood test results on my liver that I requested myself due to my fears over cirrhosis/liver damage.
My partner thinks I imagined it, but there are still red specks on the toilet from the vomiting...
I'm 34, female, with some pain under my right ribs, but no other symptoms other than that.
Many thanks in advance
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Alcopop123
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When you have these urges you need to reach out. Blood in vomit isnt unusual especially if it’s fresh. Making yourself sick isn’t good at the best of times but out of curiosity is crazy. How long have you waited for the results these should be quick pandemic or not. Your local nhs will have an alcohol referral centre who can offer support and medication to deal with cravings to help stopping this from happening x
My understanding is that when a person suffers a variceal bleed of the esophagus, the blood falls into the stomach. Here it is mixed with stomach acid and is then vomited out. The mixing with the gastric juices alters the blood state.
Most medical staff refer to vomited blood as looking like coffee granules.
If someone is vomiting bright red blood then this is most likely coming from somewhere else as it will be oxygenated blood.
Varices can stop by its self, but there will most likely be many more varices just waiting for the blood pressure rises again and cause another burst.
A variceal bleed is an urgent medical situation. It is common for people to think that vomiting blood is just a one-off situation. I vomited five times during the night before my wife called the emergency services.
If you are in any doubt dial 111 and speak to a medical adviser. They may well call a blue light ambulance, but at least you’ll have peace of mind, and also get that urgent all-important medical care.
Just remain calm and try and keep your blood pressure low.
My husband had bleeding varices and it was darker brown earlier on I think (I wasn't with him at the time) but by the time we went to a&e (he had been being sick since the previous eve) it was bright red - that was the first time I saw it and was shocked! That's not to say it couldn't be coming from somewhere else but they only told my husband it was eosophohal varices.
Hi Richard ... alcopops caused her own vomitting because she decided to have 2 drinks for the 1st time in 10 days, felt bloated so made herself sick in a vain attempt to make herself feel better. There was blood in it which can be caused by making yourself sick as in her case. She then decided to make herself sick again the next day to see if it was clear. Making yourself sick deliberately can tear the lining of the eosophagus causing it to bleed. Sad to say she really is not taking the greatest care of herself at all 🤷🏻♀️
If you have any reason to believe you are vomiting up blood you must go straight to a&e it is life threatening. I vomited up nearly all the blood in my body it was bright red, fresh blood full of clots, I ended up having a stroke. I was also passing blood in my poo, black tarry looking poo. All due to eosophageal varices. Please speak help.
Hilary
Alcopop123, If this happens again - please call a 999 ambulance - this is potentially life threatening.
As a matter of urgency, I suggest at the very least you make contact with NHS111 or your GP first thing tomorrow .
The blood can be any colour from bright red to brown from oesophageal varices.
Blood in vomit that looks a little like coffee grounds can be a sign of bleeding in the stomach itself or from slow bleeding elsewhere in the upper digestive tract. Either way it is not something to ignore. You must get this investigated as soon as you can. If you are sick again and there are signs of what look like blood or small brown bits that don't resemble anything you've eaten you must seek medical attention straight away. DO NOT LEAVE IT! GO TO A&E or ring NHS111.
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