Can't find husband's bleeding site

by MsMcDucket 13 Replies latest watchtower medical

  • MsMcDucket
    MsMcDucket

    I haven't said anything to you all because I feel like many will say here she goes looking for sympathy. Anyway, he had to go in Thursday for a CBC. His Hgb was 7.2. So they sent him over to the hospital to get two units as an outpatient. The previous evening I noticed blood in his stools. I played around on here most of that day putting up videos while looking in on him. Well, I noticed that fatigued look that he gets and saw the dyspnea on exertion; so I took him to ER that night. His Hgb was 7. They admitted him and gave him another two units. My husband and I are starting to get very frustrated by the fact that they can't find the source of the bleeding. His hgb needs to be around 9 since he is status post myocardial infarction. *sigh* My husband got so frustrated that he fired the GI doctor that he had been seeing and refused to let another GI doctor do any procedures on him. He left the hospital AMA (against medical advice). I was so mad at him that I refused to take part in his leaving. I just told him that I'd be in the car.

    He's pretty much doomed to taking blood transfusion until they can find the source of the bleeding. This is a bad situation to be in. There is a procedure that they can do where they can "tag the red blood cells". If the bleeding is fast enough, they will be able to locate the source of bleeding during an real-time x-ray. Usually, they won't do this procedure until the patient is near death; meaning a hgb less than 5.

    They, also, told me that the bleed has to be going pretty steadily to be picked up.

    This is crap!

  • kerj2leev
    kerj2leev

    ((((MsMcDucket))))

    Sorry to hear that you are going through some tough times! Hope they find out what is going on with your hubby!

  • z
    z

    I had the same think happened to me lost allot of blood the way your husband did. the did colonoscopy (not fun) and the discovered I have diverticlosis (sapling) this is pocket like in your intestine the burst and the blood come out (me was like river) with the stool he need lots of fiber and Iron this help me.

    Good luck

    Z

  • MsMcDucket
    MsMcDucket

    Thanks for the hug Ker!

    Z, my husband has had three colonoscopies and three EGD's; and that was just in 2006.

  • Emma
    Emma

    Is he taking NSaids for pain or arthritis? (non-steriodal ainti-inflamitory meds) I was hospitalized this fall with blood loss and nearly had a transfusion; my count only got down to 9. The dr's should have asked this question but on the chance they haven't, you should mention it. There was never a specific bleed sight found; it just happens fast and fierce.

    This must be very frightening for you and your hubby; my thoughts are with you.

  • MsMcDucket
    MsMcDucket

    Emma, this all started in January of 2006 when he had a heart attack. He was put on heparin and integrilin (blood thinners) during the heart attack. He was put on Plavix and aspirin (post heart attack). He had his first GI bleed during this hospitilization. He again had a bleed in July and it's been going on like this for months. The doctor's took him off the Plavix in July, but didn't think it was safe to take him off the baby aspirin. He had another heart attack on New Year's Eve. They started the Plavix again. The doctor told him to try to take the Plavix for a month.

    So, they are aware of the blood thinning medication; but we are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to stopping them.

  • megsmomma
    megsmomma

    I am sorry they are not able to find the problem. I find it strange that they won't do more to help untill he is even worse off. That just doesn't make sense to me. I hope you both find out soon.

  • mrsjones5
    mrsjones5
    I haven't said anything to you all because I feel like many will say here she goes looking for sympathy.

    *Shakes head* No no nonono...you post what you have to honey. Everyone here is looking for sympathy and rightly so, be it jw related or health issues or whatever. So you post away and relieve that stress.

    Josie

  • Emma
    Emma

    Ms. McD,

    It sounds as though the dr's would be aware of the nsaids. Maybe they will consult with another hospital to look for answers. Are you getting enough support? Don't be worried about asking those around you for help.

  • lovelylil
    lovelylil

    Ms. McD,

    So sorry to hear about your husband. I'll be keeping you both in my thoughts. I am sure they will get to the problem soon and fix it. Please keep everyone updated. Peace, Lilly

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit