Question:
Having internal bleeding; dr's unsure of source of bleeding???

HELP!!! I am having problems with internal bleeding, I had this problem 2 years ago (which was 3 years post-op), I first threw up blood and then black tarry bowels. At that time I they did the scope down my throat and thought I had an ulcer that was healing in my new stomach. I recieved 4 units of blood and then two months later, had the problem again, another scope this time the ulcer had "healed" but again, 4 more units of blood. My surgeon did some tests but never could discover the cause of the bleeding. Now here we are 2 years later (6 yrs post-op); and the black bowels are back but what is weird this time is they might be black once today and then nothing for a few weeks or even a month but I do have terrible stomach pain. I was referred to a specialist who scoped me but there is NOTHING in my new stomach; he thought maybe I had an ulcer in my old stomach. I am going to have the scope up the other end in two weeks. I had to have 4 units of blood the other week. This week when I went to see the specialist I got the feeling the almost didn't believe me about the black bowel movements b/c e said it is not normal to have them only once and than not again for a few weeks. I told him I realized this b/c last time I had them more often which is why I almost didn't go to the doctor this time. We have no local surgeon's who perform the gastric by-pass so I can not even ask for referral to be seen by a doctor who performs the surgery. PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS ANY ANSWERS PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!! I am really scared and not sure what to do. Thank you so much.    — spottydotty (posted on July 20, 2006)

July 20, 2006
Dot - that is indeed scarey and I do hope they find the source of this soon. I am only using my personal logic here, but it does sound feasible this is in the old stomach. If so, once they do figure it out and find it, I would think once they fix it, it would be more of a permanent fix. As for not having local doctors to go to, well, if you need to travel, TRAVEL. I went to Mexico for my surgery itself, and I have to say, if I had a complication, I would try to get to whomever could help me, even if it meant a long trip. The thought I also have regarding the bleeding is that it sounds like it's a slower bleed, which although is still concerning, makes it so it's not as dire of an emergency as some I've heard of. Of course, if it did bleed a little more, it might be easier to find. I hope they find the source for you soon!!!
   — Dinka Doo

July 21, 2006
I don't have a whole lot to offer; however, I do know one thing, they don't just "give blood" to a person without a very good reason. So to say the don't believe you may be that they are just not sure what is causing it. They most definately believe something because you must need the blood. Stick with it. They will eventully find the problem. I have been fighting for my life for almost three years and I am now dealing with chronic pain everyday. I went through a period of "not being believed" and when they opened me up they found ulcers on five of my major organs, major damage that took six hours and two surgeons to fix me. Thank God I didn't give up because I would be dead today if I had. Just believe in yourself and listen to your body. You know it best! Good Luck.
   — lindabaptiste619

July 21, 2006
Dot, I had the same problem, They finally used a special scope that went further down. They found an ulcer where my old stomach & small intestine come together. If you want to you can e-mail me at dorothy52@netscape & give me your e-mail address & I will send you my phone number you can call me & I can explain what my doctor did. Take care. Dorothy Jones
   — dorothyjj

July 21, 2006
Find a doctor who does baratric surgery and make an appointment with him. Make sure he is with a Center of Excellence. I'm sure he could find whatever the complications might be.
   — Virginia M.

July 21, 2006
I have actually had a friend (much older) who passed away over 10 years ago she was in and out of the hospital with severe anemia they knew she was bleeding somewhere in her intestions but they never could find her bleeder since it apparently was so small in size. Turned out she also had cancer which they never found till it was to late. Please see a gastroenterologist ASAP people don't bleed out unless there is a severe problem............-
   — Deborah Joyner

July 21, 2006
What about diverticulitis? Those symptoms sound kind of the same. It can also start and stop bleeding according to when it is irritated and at times can account for quite a bit of blood. Just a thought.
   — Leisa

July 23, 2006
see a GASTRO doc ASAP. There are lots of new tests to help find the problem One has a tiny pill sized camera you swallow it transmits photos for the time it takes to pass to a small recorder you carry. Such bleeds can be dangerous I lost 13 pints of blood at age 28 and nearly died, 49 today I have Diverteclosis:( Please get checked by a specialist and let us know what they find. Best wishes its scary.
   — bob-haller

August 27, 2006
Dot, I am going throught the samething right now. Lost a lot of blood and had to have blood. They did a upper and lower scope and found nothing. Went to see a speacilist and he thinks I have a fistula as well as an ulcer in the lower stomach. I got so week and my blood counts were so low that I was almost passing out, heart pounding and short of breath. The dr. I am seeing now has scheduled me for more test but is sure that I will have to have a revision soon. Good Luck
   — meghan90