I write this absolutely in shock as my husband who had TIPPS procedure last year basically bled out yesterday both ends in front of me and then again in front of myself and resuscitation doctors in Hospital it was terrifying literally happened with very little warning to either of us other than his stool had gone dark so he rang hospital gastro ward who told him to come in for emergency bloods he ended up in resuscitation and his gastro consultant came in at 0230am hrs to perform surgery to band 5 varices that had ruptured. My husband is now being monitored on a ward to check bleeding stopped or they'll have to operate again to band them they've said.
He's eaten today and walking around but their checking his bloods stools etc.
It turns out that his TIPPS may have a blockage as he shouldn't have varices anymore these are new. His consultant is wonderful and came to see him this morning and rang up to check on him. He's going to get interventional radiology to check the TIPPS. My husband has a previous blood clot in thr portal vein which is why they had to perform TIPPS originally as it was stubborn clot It's still there despite the fragmin (17000) injection daily.
I'm at home alone with the cats and I can't believe this happened again I just pray they don't burst again and they manage to clear/fix the TIPPS so it doesn't happen again.
I'm just do frightened and I know they say he's in the best place if something happens but I dread it.
I honestly cannot believe how traumatising it was to watch let alone my poor husband. I'm trying to stay positive but it's so hard.
But thank you NHS 💙 and Thank you to this forum for being here 🙏
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DD75
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So gastro have discovered a clot blocking his TIPPS so it's the original clot has either got bigger despite fragmin and moved into shunt in PV 🤷♀️ or its another one but either way they'll try and repair current TIPPS or they will give him a new one. This clot has blocked the TIPPS which is why the varices have formed. They'll never be able to get rid of Portal Vein clot as apparently they're stubborn and he had to go for genetic testing anyway which was agreed before all this as he is missing key proteins in his blood thus the clots 🤦♀️
However he's on soft food moved onto a ward his consultants gastro ward and interventional radiology are going to see him over next few days 🤞
Let's hope they can sort it 🙏
Thank you for your response I really appreciate it and yes my cats are crazy 🤣
Best of Luck for Friday (saw your response to another post re varices) everything crossed for you here 🤞 you get good news 🤗
Well g...let's hope interventional radiology can see your husband soon.I'm sure they will do their best to sort it for your husband.....try not to worry to much love.....although we can't help it can we.
The cats are a welcome distraction im sure 😆.....mine certainly is 😄.
Thanks for the 🤞for tomorrow.....I'll be glad when its over.
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Oh dear, how scary for you both. I can only imagine how you must have felt. It must have been terrifying. Sounds like the NHS has been amazing. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
Sorry to hear about your hubby and the varices bleed. The same thing happened to my hubby in Nov 19th 2024. It happened at home - the bleeding is sudden and quite shocking- paramedics came quickly and he had 4 varcies banded. He was in intensive care for 2 weeks and in an induced coma for 10days - due to the huge trauma to his body because of the bleeding.
They found a clot in his portal vein which they say was not there in October 2024 when he saw the gastro consultant . The clot caused high pressure, hence the varices bursting.
He was scheduled to have an endoscopy at the hospital to check for potential varices 2 days after the bleed occurred. He come home from hospital very weak but grateful to be alive on Dec 19th.
He is alcohol dry and has been since July 2024 (5 mths before the bleed happened in Nov). He has been on diruetics since last July and now is on 2 blood thinner injections / day ( for 6 mths minimum) and beta blockers x2 twice a day to try to keep the pressure low and try to shift the clot - he is having physio privately to regain his strenghth and has an assessment booked at Kings ( liver unit) on June 8th for a potential liver transplant.
He had a fibro scan in mid Feb 2025 and an ECHO scan last week- still waiting for the results for these. He is also booked in to have a liver USound and is booked to see his liver consultant on April 22nd .
I know exactly what you are going through, especially when your hubby was in hospital - I also have a cat which helps.
Things we have done as a result of the varices bleed ( which consultant says could happen again at anytime )- no guarantees it won't:
1. Set up a legal power of attorney ( medical and financial) to ensure we can each make decisions for each other if he is in the hospital and not conscious.
2. Signed paperwork at the doctors so I have permission to can get information about my hubby- they won't give info if you don't do this.
3 Re- looked at our Wills and updated these.
4 He carries his hospital discharge note with him wherever he goes to ensure medics know about his condition and the medicines he is taking- if anything happens again.
5. Wherever I go for work , I let him and his mum have the address and contact details so I can be contacted immediately- if something happens.
6 He has cut all green veg/ salad out of his diet since the vitamins in green veg encourage blood clotting.
7 Sorted out access to money just incase he is not able to sign cheques etc - we have moved money to a bank account where I can access it easily.
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