Concerns

Hi Gang, I'm lurking more than posting lately.... bad bad I know...  However I have some concerns & hoping anyone out there who is over a year post-op can share any experience. This could be gross & off topic so I apologize ahead if I'm offending anyone. As some of us bypasser know we don't "poo" like normal."  In October I had the full upper/lower GI series done, my By pass Dr did an endoscopy to check my pouch, and I had a colonoscopy.... everything came back good except for a few "internal hemeroids" from having my son.  I've been complaining about not pooing & feeling sick/off but they can't find anything. I'm on a regiment of "Miralax" to keep things "moving" This stuff is a miracle over the counter laxative if ya'll haven't tried it.. it's not harsh on our pouches or system & taste less. Alrighty.. longer story short... Mother nature called this morning in quite a rush.. and it didn't feel right.. so after checking out the situation.. everything was dark red almost black.  It was definately bloody poo.. 10 minutes later... had to go again (in a rush) and it was all dark red...(almost like dried blood would look...very dark almost black.  (this was like water) Had a 3rd go.. with in a 1/2 hour after the 2nd and this was soft poo only It was also dark dark red almost black...If anyone knows what blood sausage is... that was the color.. OK again I apologize this is very gross... & I'm sorry if I'm making any one gag.   To day I have felt off... I actually had a diabetic check my sugar.. & it was 71 this morning an hour or so after I had eaten breakfast.. (I've been having problems with my sugar crashing off/on) I feel week, fatigued, light headed...small nagging headache... My heart rate is rapid & feels like it's at the races... (this started last night)  Also my lower abdomen last night was so protruded, bloated, & uncomfortable.... until I went this morning. I'm also out of sorts like I can't get my thoughts out...   dizzy also... I am drinking my fluids... getting my protein in... I'm a good gastric patient who pretty much plays by all the rules as much as possible.... Any thoughts?  I know I need to call my PCP... I'm scheduled for a pre-op on 4/10 for another go around of reconstruction surgery and I realize this can't wait. I definately feel like the Gastric specialists missed something... My gut instinct is shouting.  Chrones disease runs rampant on my dad's side of the family along with intestinal issues...my sister has Chrones and she's a mess...  Ok well if anything I'm glad I got this out... my hubby knows what is going on & is yelling at me to call my PCP so I'll definately be calling... Thanks for listening gang, Mickey 

Mickey, I'm not RNY but certainly wanted you to know that I hope you find out pronto what is up with this.  It certainly sounds scary.  I went to the ER one time when an enormous amount of blood came out of me into the toilet and it turned out to be the hemorrhoids.  Mine was very bright red though so I would be concerned just as you are.  Keep at those doctors until they find out what this is. You will be in my thoughts.  Keep me updated. (((HUGS))) Bev

Hmmm.... Check the Miralax box to see about side effects.  I was just wondering if the Miralax could be causing the disturbing color change......  Just a thought, but I hope you get to the bottom of this soon!!

By the way, how long have you been taking the Miralax??  The side effects say it causes bloating and frequent bowel movements.  It states that it works by building up water in the intestinal tract and basically flushing you out.  In any case, you definately shouldn't be using it for an extended period of time because it also can cause severe dehydration which would totally explain some of your other problems with being weak, light headed and heart racing.   Personally, I would stop taking it immediately and switch to something more gentle like a stool softener instead of a laxative. 

Thank you ladies, I've been on Miralax since October... never had side affects with it..no bloating.. gas... or dehydration... Poo has always been "normal" in color etc.. since I've been on it.  I take it once a day which is what the PCP & Gastric specialist recommended... What is weird is two weeks ago I thought I had the flu tired, fatique, aches, & headache... also very cold... I did go on WebMD last night to check out the symptoms.. a couple "Anemia symptoms" & Chrones came up as the majority... I have a low Iron count so now   The symptons I had with what I thought was the flu coincide with both things mentioned on the website... HMMMM.. Oh yeah.. little to know appetite...I'm forcing myself to eat.  This morning I almost passed out in the bathroom I got so lighted headed.  I have a  regiment of pushing fluids as soon as I roll out of bed.  So I'm pretty sure it's not dehydration.  My husband is very concerned.. so as soon as the DR's office is open I'm going to give them a shout to see if they can see me.   Thanks for your support & encouragement & stay tuned.... Hugs, Mickey 

I am not joking, or jumping the gun, you need to go to the ER NOW!!!! You have a bleed somewhere. Trust me, I have been in the medical field for almost 5 years now. Please do not wait for the surgeon, go now, you have waited long enough!!!

The way you are describing your bowls... that's blood in it and its not blood from hemorroids on its way out, that's blood that you have accumulated somewhere else inside... the brighter the blood the more likely it was hemorriods in the colon as you were releasing ... the darker the more likely its something more serious and internal...  You need to call Dr. Barba's office ASAP!!! I MEAN LIKE NOW!!!! Let them know what happened and if they can't see you today, then go to a walk-in clinic or the ER and get checked out...  You don't want to wait to long if you are having some type of internal bleeding...     Best to overreact and get checked out and perhaps find out it was nothing; than try to wait this out and find out it was something very serious that should have been dealt with ASAP!!!  CALL NOW! GO GET CHECKED OUT NOW!

Sorry I don't have any better advice than these guys but I sure do hope you are ok!!

Mickey, How are you doing?? Are you feeling any better?

Hello Everyone, Well First off thank you all for your caring & concerns.  I went to my Dr. on Friday & turns out I went into the hospital as an emergency. My hemoglobin was at 6 I was freaking out to say the least.  My heart was racing due to trying to pump blood that wasn't there. So.. 3 blood transfusions later... & an endoscope... they finally released me as an in/out patient last night... this was a definate wake up call to me & to get my priorities straight with work & what is really important. My new count is at 9 & they're trying to get me up to 12.  My blood count was at 26 where it should be around 40... I was in VERY rough shape & I am so thankful to be alive.  Turns out I have some major ulcers in my small intestine at the lower end towards where it reconnects.  This was caused by medicine I was taking (stupid me not realizing the type was a no no for my re-route) and stress.   So I have a bunch of follow-up appts... Miralax didn't cause the problem.  Stupid me didn't realize you shouldn't be taking advil or aleve... (not that I hardly ever take it.) but I took it when I thought I had the flu..however the DR's are saying what I thought was the "flu" was underlying symptoms for what happened with internal bleeding & taking the meds didn't help the situation any just aggrivated it more... however I believe it saved me as it brought everything to a head.   Dr's said my internal bleeding has been on going for awhile.. just that my body kept adjusting to it until it decided to call it quits.   Can't really eat right now.. basically back to stage "2" of post-op eating & protein drinks to help heal along with a bunch of antacid medicine to help stop acid building so my internal mess can try to heal up. Also on Iron pills to help my blood & get my energy back.   It doesn't hurt when I try to eat soft foods just that I get "tired" quick... never thought I'd be drinking protein drinks again but they're tasting pretty good after being on a "clear diet" for 4 days... Oh the kicker.. & it's funny is they increased my diet to "cream soups" at the hospital... I had a full blown allergic reaction while there... something got cross-contaminated with a food alergy of mine.. so that was a good time...they had to post-pone my 3rd transfusion because of the benedryl etc... what a nightmare...    Yesterday morning... I think I had a reaction to the transfusions... I was soooo sick... & a migraine to kill all migraines...they finally gave me a narcotic to kill the pain.. it was one of the worst things I ever experienced. I'm feeling releaved that I'm ok...just a little bit of a long road to recovery 6-8 weeks.  I still have no regrets over the WLS surgery & I'd do it tomorrow if I had to.  I did find out that doing a pill/camera study is very hard for anyone with RNY surgery... because of all the "nooks & crannies" of our reroute DR's are very concerned the camera will get stuck along the way... just a heads up for anyone who who hopefully will never have to go through this. So that's about it for now... I go back to my PCP tomorrow & the gastric specialist also for some follow-up blood work.  I asked about calling my gastric surgeon.. but since it didn't affect the "pouch" or anything close to it they'll just be sending over the paperwork to him for records. PS... my scope that they did showed my pouch is very tiny & very healthy.. no wear or tear.. along with where the routed intestine attaches... so that was good.   Take care gang & I'll send updates as they come... PS... No advil, motrin, or anything if you have a headache or cold.. just tylenol... :-)     Hugs, Mickey