coughed up blood (graphic post)

Hello all, A few days ago I posted about not feeling well: specifically, my stomach has been bothering me and I've not been wanting to eat. Well, last night (Christmas Eve), at about 11:30 p.m., my DH and I were wrapping presents for our 4-year-old daughter, and I had a sharp pain as I was leaning forward. I sat back and kind of said ooh, that hurts. A moment later, I regurgitated something in my mouth. I swallowed, then felt something. I stuck out my tongue, and it was a small blood clot. I freaked out, and stood up and told my husband, then went to the bathroom and bent over the sink and spit up about a tablespoon or so of blood. Needless to say, I freaked. At first I wanted to call 911, but because it was Christmas Eve, I didn't want to wake our daughter. ANyway, I ended up calling Dr. Barba. He's on vacation, and I got the other doc in his practice (can't remember his name). He told me it was probably, in all likelihood, an ulcer. If I wanted, I could go to the ER, but they would only admit me and give me prevacid or soemthing like it intravenously. Apparently all the docs are off and I would have to wait until Monday to have an endoscopy. Well, I have some prevacid, so he told me to take that 2x a day; drink water or crystal light, and eat only soft foods (I'm 6-weeks post op after RNY). Well, that's the diet I've been on. However, earlier on Christmas Eve, we went to a family dinner. I ate a very small amount of potato (mashed), and a few veggie chips, which I chewed very well. When we came home, I had a couple of bites of a Toll HOuse cookie. Now, I don't need lectures about the cookie. It was a couple of bites, I chewed well, and that's that. My question to you all is, has anyone coughed up blood? Anyone had an ulcer? What's the treatment? How quickly does it heal? What kind of diet do you have to follow? Did it hamper your recovery? Did you also have pain in your stomach area? How do you get an ulcer? I'm also wondering about the wisdom of waiting it out til Monday, when I have my regularly scheduled appointment with Dr. Barba. I have to say, I thanked God when I woke up this morning, because I was so truly greatful to be alive. THat might sound melodramatic, but I have never been as frightened as I was when blood came out of my mouth. It has been a tough day, as I feel like I'm just waiting for it to happen again. BTW, the doc said if it happens again, to go to the ER. So, I'm sitting here on tenterhooks. Doc said I could eat something very soft, so I at an ounce of mashed potatos. I'm scared silly that it will somehow cause this to happen again, but I was also very hungry. Any help or answers would be appreciated. THanks for reading this far. Heather

Heather, I am so sorry to hear that something like this happened to you. If I was in your position I think I would g ahead and go to the hospital because coughing up blood is nothing to play with. The end choice is up to you but even if the hospital could only give you a prevacid at least you would know if that is the real problem. As soon as you feel as if you need to know then you need to go. I will be praying for you. Toya

Heather, How frightening! If you need peace of mind, go to the hospital. I don't have any experience with ulcers and don't have any answers for you, but saying prayers that it will be okay. terri

How frightening!! If you are really concerned, go to the ER.... Otherwise just follow the Dr's advise and see Dr Barba tomorrow. I could be completely wrong, but I would think that you would have had to eat something or take something (like an NSAID) that would irritate your pouch to cause an ulcer... Eating the potatoes should be fine. Just stick to soft foods that are gentle on your stomach. I hope everything works out well for you. Please keep us posted! Carmen

Heather I too have not had personal experience with this, however, what I have learned with many other side effects I have had is to listen closely to my body and if I get that nagging voice in my head to call the doctor or go to the hospital I listen to it. Speaking to a doc on the phone is definetely not as comforting as having one look you in the eye and say you are ok. It is all detective work. So listen to that voice and go to the ER if it is telling you to do so. please. You will hear from me though, 6 weeks post op and you are toying with choc chip cookies?? Woman! You have been given such a new start here, do not already lapse into old habits and test this tool. PLEASE!! That little voice I spoke about also can work against us and tell us we can have chocolate and cookies and that one, you CAN'T listen to. This is all said with love and concern NOT bashing.....ok? Please keep us posted on your progress. If you are hungry try to drink water right now and stay hydrated and your protein drinks. love, Cheryl

Heather, I'm so sorry for all that you have been going through, and although I have not posted, I have been praying for you. If you do go to the hospital, PLEASE be an advocate for yourself. I've heard too often that the ER is not well versed in our anatomy -- make sure you have someone taking care of you who is well versed with your new body. God Bless, and I hope you feel better real soon. Kathy Bilodeau

This must be so scary for you. I have not gone through this, but a agree with what Kathy said, if you do decide to go to the ER make sure you are your own advocate. They do not know your new stomach. You do not want some resident or other medical personnel not familiar with pouches messing around down there. Iwill be praying for your speedy recovery. Splendalicious

Heather, I wouldn't panic. A little blood may be the indication of a small ulcer or perhaps a small tear in a suture or staple. I've heard that this involves going back on a liquid diet until it heals, which could be three to four weeks. I'm not a physician, but I think if you just take it easy, avoid solid foods, lifting, or strenuous execrcise, it my heal itself. Of course, the endoscopy is the way to find out exactly what's going on, and I recommend that you get one. But I doubt it will make a big difference if you have to wait a day or two to get it done. Wishing you the best. --Steve

OK. Time for something different here.......... First of all, a small clot is not necessarily a sign of an ulcer. It IS a sign of a bleed somewhere, but not necessarily the pouch. The likelyhood of a staple line rupture ths late or a suture problem is also pretty unlikely at 6 weeks. 6 weeks out, huh? It would be AWFUL QUICK to develop an ulcer, but not impossible. Joanne has coughed up blood when she had her ulcer. Not much, but did end up in the IMCU at Middlesex for most of a week as they thinned the blood clot that formed and traveled to her lung. Am I starting to scare you yet?? Treatment includes (but not limited to) bland diet of soft foods(cottage cheese/yogurt/creamed soups and broth, ect.), prevacid in applesauce, the dreaded protein shakes, ect. The same kinds of things which they would do with a normal person who has an ulcer. HOWEVER... we are "special" as we need more protein post-op than other might, and it becomes even more important to get it daily in order to give the body the fuel it needs to repair itself. How quickly does it heal?? Joanne was most of a year. I have a friend who is going to end up losing her pouch from the damage caused by her ulcer. When discovered, it involved almost 75% of her pouch. I believe in my heart that Joanne's pouch is still not healed, but she refuses to get scoped and that's all that can happen. Another gal here in CT has a well involved ulcer, but the hopes for a good recovery are very high in her case. Does it hamper your recovery? Any illness will effect your results, but as long as you concentrate on your protein levels, you will not go into starvation mode and shut down your metabolism. Pain? Yes, you get pain. It is different from person to person, and I am not going to go into details here. I don't think that it is appropriate. How do you get an ulcer.... ask the Dr. He'll give you the best answer for your situation. Would I wait until when Dr. Barba is back to go to the hospital..... NOT IN MY LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The possibilities are endless, but when it goes bad, it is REAL BAD!!! No matter if your Dr is there or not, they are prepared to treat you if something were to happen. If you were admitted, you could have been first in line for an endo on Monday. If there is ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND, GET HELP IMMEDIATLY!!!!!!!! Mashed potatoes would not injure your pouch. I won't touch the cookie here. I'm going to ask an unusual thing here.... do you have a slight cold or dry nose by some chance?? You could have a clot from a post nasal drain. Would not answer where the pain came from, but just a thought. Peter

I really really really think you should listen to what Peter said. I really really really think he is RIGHT! I hope you go to the hospital. Sher'