This Is Not Necessarily Related To MC, But . . .

Post by **tex** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:37 pm

I thought you might be interested, since this could happen to any of us, at any time.

For the past couple of weeks, my brother has been bleeding - not continuously, but every few days, at seemingly random times. He refused to go to the doctor, claiming it was just due to something he ate. Last Monday, he bled enough that he passed out, on the way back from the bathroom - but he still refused to go to the doctor. Friday afternoon, it happened again, and his time his wife found him passed out in a closet he had fallen into, on the way to the bathroom. When I got there, he was white as a sheet, but still insisting that he would be all right, after he rested a while. I/we finally convinced him that he was getting weaker and weaker, and the next time it happened, might be the last time, so he reluctantly agreed to go to the ER. He passed out again, before we got him out of the house, but came to in time to insist that we cancel the ambulance call, so we put him in a car, and to the ER we went.

Naturally, we all feared the worst. Anyway, they got him stabilized at the ER, and after doing some blood tests and an x-ray or two, started giving him an IV saline solution to make up for some of the blood that he had lost. Unfortunately, the next morning, (Saturday), the IV somehow became disconnected, and he spurted blood all over the bed, and himself, before they could get it stopped and reconnected. Since that was blood that he couldn't afford to lose, his red count got too low, and they had to give him a couple of pints of blood, after that.

He was only given liquids, and a little Jello, the whole time he was there, and they gave him the Golytely yesterday afternoon about four pm, and the colonoscopy was this morning at about 11 am.

The GI doc doing the exam, found a diverticulum with a bleeding blood vessel, and actually caught it bleeding during the exam, which apparently is a rare event, because all the other GI docs were immediately jealous, since that was this docs third successful "catch" of a bleeding diverticulum, during a colonoscopy exam, and most of them had never even seen their first one. Anyway, he cauterized it and put a clamp on it, during the colonoscopy exam, which should permanently resolve the problem. He'll be coming home tomorrow, if all goes well tonight. All in all, considering the seriousness of the symptoms, this was about the best outcome we could have hoped for.

I have to say, once in a while, the GI docs come in downright handy.

Love,
Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:07 pm

Gee, that was a close call. I'm glad you insisted he go to ER. Thanks for the warning. You've reminded those of us with diverticulosis that we need to be vigilant.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:37 am

I'm glad that your brother had a positive outcome!
Goodness! He must have passed alot of blood.
Did he experience any pain having the diverticulum??
I remember when my sister called me from Florida telling me that she had been passing blood. I told her to go to the ER immediately. That's when they found the Ischemic colitis.

Love
Dee~~~~

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:00 am

Hi Tex,

Whew! Close call. OK, now here's a question for you.............who is more reluctant to visit the doctor, you or your brother? Tee Hee.

So happy all turned out well, and best wishes to your brother for an uncomplicated recovery.

Love,

Polly

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:21 am

Wayne-----very scarey happenenings---but glad U more or less had to get him to the ER----stubborn man-

--huh!!

Also thank goodness for the GI that found his problems---yes, there are needs for a doc.

Get well wishes to your brother ~~~~~

Thats why I always say---I luve my GP. Kozin--he is A-1 and up front honest-

Hope your brother recoups fast and gets back on his feet--

luve Barbara

PS. everything is relative here---we learn from all Xperiences that we share with each other---

So thanks for sharing that story with us---

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:23 am

That certainly DOES sound like the best outcome possible and I'm so glad it was.

Polly has a good question about who is more reluctant to go to the Doctor/hospital.

I'm thinking your brother may be tipping the scale or at least is balanced with you.

Thanks for posting his experience. It may make a difference if someone who read it has a similar problem sometime.

Love, Shirley

Post by **tex** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:18 am

Hi everyone, and thanks for all the good wishes.

To answer your questions, yes, with each episode, he was losing a lot of blood - way too much to be trying to rationalize as "nothing serious". When it started, about two weeks ago, he thought he had a GI virus of some type, (and it's certainly possible that he might have had one - we can't be sure). It started with fever, nausea, severe body aches and pains, (just like the flu), so much vomiting that his ribs ached and he became hoarse, and after a couple of days, he had severe cramps, a lot of gurgling in his guts, and the bloody D started, but cleared up after one day. The next day his BM was normal, and he felt much better. Whenever he bled after that, there was no pain involved.

I would have to agree with Shirley - I think my brother has me beat at being reluctant to visit a doctor.

If I was passing that much blood, I don't believe that I would still be insisting that "I'll be OK after I rest a little while", the way that he did, right up until the last minute.

Love,
Tex

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:02 pm

Glad everything is ok but I agree.......................

Two peas in a pod when deciding when it is important to go to the doctor!!!

Mars

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:19 pm

Glad your brother is on the road to recovery. It sounds like he did have the flu or something first. I wonder if they could be related, if he strained somehow.

Now he needs to rest and build up his strength.

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:30 pm

Hi Tex as usual I am last to answer, because we get home so late...but I am sending good vibes and good wishes for his quick recovery. Wow how scarey was that? Love Oma

Peggy · Post by **Peggy** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:41 pm

Hahahaha I LOVE what Polly said...now, what's the answer Big Guy?

Glad you brother is on the mend. Isn't amazing how we're so fickle? One day we can't stand the docs, the next we're so happy they're here for us...

Love
Peg

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:36 am

Morning Tex,

I am so happy that your brother listened to, though reluctantly, and had the problem properly diagnosed and dealt with and is on the road to recovery.

We all hate the docs but I guess they do benefit us at times. No insult Polly, just my attitude right now.

Love, Maggie

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:20 pm

Glad to hear you got your brother to the emergency room and all is well.

Docs do come in handy sometimes.. just wish you didn't have to have bones sticking out of your body or blood gushing out for them to take the proper corrective action:)
grannyh

JJ · Post by JJ » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:43 pm

Wow...glad he got help! JJ

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:55 pm

Hi Wayne

Glad that you insisted. My God, what a terrible experience for your brother and how could he still be reluctant going to the ER after bleeding and passing out... ?

Good that he had you :tex:

I hope that he feels better soon and recovers completely.

Love,
Tessa