Question:
Blood coutnt does this sound normal to you?

I went to the hospital and was admited after vomiting blood clots I had black stools my hemitoma spell ck level was a 7 I had 2 pints that took me to a 7.6 my blood pressure kept fall low 40/50 after the second 2 pints my blood reached a 10.1 after another 24 hour watch had dropped to a 9.6 and then before release to a 9.1 I asked the Gastro Man didn't this mean I was still losing blood...he says yes but wanted me to go home and come to his office this coming week for another blood test I also during my hospital visit had a endoscopy does these counts sound stange to you I had trouble with ulcers 2 years ago this doc was using my old record that after I had recieved 2 pints coming from a 7 to a 9.8 as being my base line I thought you idiot this was the level they brought me up to not my base line I have contacted my original WLS surgeon Should I be concerned? thanks for listening Kathy    — Kathleen M. (posted on September 17, 2004)

September 17, 2004
This is definately not normal. Because your blood count was falling back down you are definately still loosing blood some where. The need to do what's called an EDG which is running a light down your throat to see if you have ulcers that are bleeding. If you do not they may need to do a colonoscopy to see if you are bleeding from your colon. I am a nurse by the way. If your doctor does not suggest these tests ask him about them or maybe you need a GI specialist.
   — Wanda S.

September 17, 2004
I second her answer. One unit should bring you up between 1 and 2 grams. Four units to go from 7.1 to 10.1 and then going down means you were still losing, especially with such a low BP.(I do blood banking).
   — Liz R.

September 18, 2004
I am also a nurse. I was just released from the hospital this past Tuesday with the same problem. Black tarry stools and so weak I was blacking out. Couldn't even talk I was so weak. My wls met me at the hospital, took one look and ordered blood test and for them to type and cross four units. (I was directly admitted.) When my blood work came back, I had bled down to 7.2. They immediately transfused two units with orders to do another blood test one hour after the transfusion was complete and if it was below 10. they were to transfuse another pint. The two units brought it up to 9.7 so I had to have another unit. They did another test and it was up to normal levels and held steady thru that day and the next morning it was still normal and I was discharged. I was concerned because my stools were still black and tarry. He said it was just the old blood coming out and being a nurse, I know he was right. I have also had an ulcer for a year and the endoscopy the day I was admitted to the hospital showed what is called a heme stain which meant that the ulcer had beel bleeding but no active bleeding was found. You have made the right decision to notify your wls surgeon. If I were you, I would do it today because they have on-call. My episode happened over the weekend also and that is what I had to do. The gastro man you talk about is nuts. Good luck to you.
   — Delores S.

Click Here to Return