Hi all,Not sure if you can answer this but I have tried researching and still unclear.
My husband has ARLD and continues to drink to excess.
Are there any symptoms i should be aware of that indicate bleeding varices, or is it a case of no symptoms until he bleeds out .I
Thank you
Dawn
As a rule, bleeding from esophageal varices is quite massive and develops suddenly and rapidly. The main symptom is vomiting of blood or blood clots. Due to blood loss, weakness, dizziness, tachycardia, a drop in blood pressure, cold clammy sweat, confusion, or loss of consciousness occur.
Thank you for your kind reply.He has episodes of weakness and lightheaded, then passes out and becomes clammy and sweaty.
He is only out briefly but is then sick.
No sign of blood loss.
I guess it will progress to a bleed if he continues in this way.
Dawn x
Hello Dawn .Hope your ok love?.
There wasn't any symptoms really of having varices, apart from me vomiting copious amounts of fresh blood in the middle of the night.....so frightening.there was nothing to prewarn me, there were other things going on as I was vomiting blood,as fibro has mentioned, clammy,difficult getting my breath.
The last bleed I had was due to portal hypertensive gastropathy, which is connected to having cirrhosis, where the stomach wall lining has altered in its appearance, and becomes very fragile. Sorry if you already know this😀
My first symptoms of that were passing blood in stools,then vomiting blood again!!!!..
I don't need to say to you that these are both medical emergencies, and 999 must be called at any sign of blood loss.
In fact I'm off for the dreaded endoscopy on Friday again, a nessasary evil im afraid😬....but very important to check for varices etc. As I still have some small ones.
Sorry if I've gone on abit!!!.
Best wishes. Chris
Hi Chris,Thank you for your reply.
There isn't much I can do it seems until it happens.
Sending you love for Friday.
Dawn x
Well love,let's hope for both your sakes it doesn't happen.....a very scary experience. Thanks regarding Friday, I dread it really.....but he-hoy,needs must.
Just wondering would your husband ever read any of our posts on here? ,im sure you have probably tried that have you love?.....
Best wishes love. Chris
No I haven't tried that.He just gets angry when I talk about his condition.
X
Right ok love,just thought it worth a try. Obviously I wouldn't want you to get upset more than you probably are already.
I was just trying to think of a trigger for him to see in reality whats happening to himself, but it was that vomiting copious amounts of blood that,I realised while in hospital that I had reached rock bottom.....I couldn't get any lower.
So my only option was upwards.
I feel your desperation.
My best.Chris
Bless you.I can't see him ever seeing the light so to speak.
I have to say how brave and strong you are to have quit the dreaded drink
X
I've just witnessed the varices bleed with my husband last night he's had TIPPS and shouldn't have them anymore it was absolutely terrifying truly traumatising to watch let alone my poor husband.
They've banded them he had 5 new ones and their checking his TIPPS as he has a nasty blood clot in hid portal vein which is why he had TIPPS last year.
Absolutely correct though no real warning black stool yesterday morning went to hospital for bloods full bleed both ways and in surgery at 0230am. It was his actual gastro consultant who came in to do the operation.
I'm sorry if I'm being morbid I think I'm actually in shock at moment. I'm really pleased they're keeping an eye on yours 👍 take care
Oh dear love,I fully understand how frightening it is...... very lucky he noticed blood in his stools first,then of to hospital....he really was in the right place at the right time, with also vomiting blood .your not being morbid at all.....this is real life love,happening to some of us. I'm afraid life isn't all fluffy clouds and rose petals.....is it unfortunately 😔I hope he is stable at the moment. I'm sure your shattered by it all.....
I send you both my very best wishes.
Chris
I always asked for sedation, I find it makes things easier for me. (Don't have to have them anymore, as I had a transplant in September!)
I'm afraid I can't have the sedation,as I drive myself to the royal stoke....But I didn't do bad the last time,just slow steady breathing....
My best chris
Good morning I have come across this site by pure accident and sounds silly buy I can chat to someone who I can relate to I have varacies chiorioss of the liver stage 4 and I'm a 2 I have just had an endoscopy and another 2 biospys and have just confirmed I also have heptic enchapology not good do ypu get frightened about going to sleep and find you struggle to eat
Afternoon love.I do have esld/cirrhosis, but compensated, I don't fortunately suffer with hepatic encephalopathy.....I did early on in my diagnosis,but only mildly.
I do still struggle with eating at times.....but alot better than 4 years ago.....I do still take ensure plus protein shakes, when I don't eat some days....
Its a great forum,some great folk here to always help if we can.
My best. Chris
Good details here. Thank you for the 'heads up' on these symptoms. Waiting for an endoscopy here too.
Hi there,I hope you go on ok with your endoscopy.....its certainly nothing to look forward to is it😬.My best.Chris
Thank you, I can imagine. Varices show on the CT scan but here's hoping they are minor....
🤞they are.....if mine have increased in size, I was told they would be banding again,and also increase my carvedilol dose. If your having sedation its better,but I drive myself ,so can only have the anesthetic spray to the back of the throat. Top tip, I just close my eyes ,slow and very steady breathing....I didn't gag once last time.....although the nurses were fantastic, at calming me down!!!!.My best. Chris
Goodness me. Well done you. Never had one. Not looking forward to it.
I've got my latest endoscopy on Friday as well !! In a weird way I welcome them as only way to know what's going on inside !!! Better than a massive haemorrhage!!
Well hope it goes well for you.Yes I agree,better than another big bleed...of course.
But still not the best of experiences, thats for sure,but im similar, I like to know what is going on....and we can face things head on.
🤞for you.
My best. Chris
Hi, the blood can go up or down. Chris snd Fibro have told you about up, but if it goes down your husband might have black tarry stools. In either case it’s an emergency. I hope you don’t have to go through that scenario
Dear Diamondbabe,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband. He really needs to stop drinking and unfortunately sometimes people hit rock bottom before they take notice.
My only advice having witnessed my husbands varices bleed last night (he doesn't drink) is any sign of dark stool or blood in saliva coughing anything I'd ring an ambulance and get it seen to immediately. I sincerely hope doesn't get to point he needs an ambulance but just Keep any eye on him.
Thinking of you x
am so sorry you are having to deal with all this worry. Is he getting regular endoscopy exams? My partner has them every 6 months. It won’t prevent a sudden catastrophic bleed but might catch something.
Love to you x
He has never had an endoscopy. He has had 3 colonoscopies to remove polyps in his bowel over the last 6 months.He has been under gastro consultant for 12 months. He is due to speak with her next month.
He had a CT with contrast 12 months ago, which showed thickening in his bowel, gall bladder sludge, and ARLD .
They decided not to do anything yet with his gall bladder so dealt with the bowel thickening.I
He was told by the consultant to address his drinking before his liver fails.
I am hoping the consultant repeats the scan or do another MRI to monitor where he is now.
He was hospitalised in February this year with dangerously low sodium. They told us his liver and kidneys are seriously struggling now, again advised to stop drinking. They have him sodium IV.
He just drank more!
While he was in hospital he was sick which was just mucus with spots of blood. They just have him anti sick meds.
Knowing in advance what to watch out for helps so much.
Reading all your experience helps me arm myself for what I may have to deal with.
You are all amazing and I am so grateful to you all
Xx
Please please please he needs to stop drinking alcohol. I would then speak with the British Liver Trust nurses. Make sure you can both hear their response and advice. It is then essential to speak with a professional Gastro Consultant to create a plan of action re scans endoscopies and medication.Unfortunately if he doesn't want to stop then he needs to understand the consequences from a Liver Consultant. If you haven't got one or don't relate to the one you have then ask your GP to refer accordingly. BLT Nurses- 0800-6527330
BTW I had a massive bleed in 2015 whilst I was driving. I was diagnosed with AIH in 2004 and am now on the Transplant list.
Good luck to both.
What is AIH pleaae
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Sorry Dawn....I'm sure your thinking I've taken over your original post.Sorry.
Chris
I still remember when I had one pre-transplant. Then they trried to tell me I had to have it done every 3 months. "you need to have it done regularly, because if you get a bleed, you only have 1 minute or so before you can bleed out", um actually that argument does not make any sense, because if I get a bleed in the 3 month innterval between endoscopies, then I would still bleed out, and Endoscopies, run the risk of causing bleeds (putting aside the whole choking unable to breath, suffocating experience)...I only ever had this procedure done once. To me it's right up there with getting an NG tube into my stomach to have bile drained out.
Good luck for Friday! Sorry Diamondbabe, I am equally guilty now of going a little off topic 😀
Oh yes,I fully agree,there is always an element of risk,and rupturing again...Hope your well post transplant?.
Thanks regarding tomorrow.
My best. Chris
Not at all Chris!It's good to share xx
It is very terrifying experience. I wen trough it and now with tips I don’t have them anymore . In my case once started I was having bleed s once a month average. Then came the anemia which lasted 3 years to resolve.
I forgot to add the only sign I noticed was constant burping with nausea as the esophagus fills up with blood, followed by a very explosive reaction that sprayed all the el walls in my bathroom with blood, then the the cold , pale and humming in my ears beore I temporarily loose consciousness .
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