REALLY need some help/advice please....internal bleeding.

[pucca]

My nan has been ill for 8 weeks, and after calling the GP out 3 times in the last week, its turned out that she is very anaemic, her level was 4.7, so they admitted her to hospital.

What has also come to light is that she is bleeding internally, black tar stools (she must have known this for a while and has been burying her head) and vomiting bits of dark blood too (brown) she is already in the last stages of heart failure and diabetic (diet controlled) and has high BP, they are giving her 4 units of blood and are trying to stabilise her so they can put a camera down to see whats happening, they have said she definately has internal bleeding in her GI/digestive system somewhere.Her BP was 80/50 and her pulse was going from 93 to 155.

It sounds like cancer doesn't it ??

Is there anyone who can advise me on this.

oh goodness

DH's nana had an episode like this 2 years ago

it wasn't cancer - she had an ulcer/bad reflux in the oespophagus which had caused the bleeding

really hope your nan is on the mend soon

RS...Did it cause the black stools? when the doctor did an internal on her (bum) there was black blood on the bed, so seems to be quite an amount, he said it can't be an ulcer (as we asked that).

Her heart was already failing when we got her to the hospital, shes not in a good way at all really. She is vomiting blood at least 3 times a day (black blood) not eating, and can't really walk etc.

isn't necessarily cancer, though that is on the list of possibilities

if stools are tar-like, it means that the blood is coming from higher up the GI tract, and being digested on the way down.

Lower bleeding looks redder

could be an ulcer in her stomach or bleeding vessels anywhere between lower gullet to appendix. It could be cancer, yes, but might not be.

She needs to be stabilised, will need several units of blood, and then an endoscopy (camera down the throat into the stomach).

has she been taking aspirin, or any aspirin-like arthritis tablets? These can cause bleeding like this.

No she doesn't take aspirin, she is on warfarin though but they said it wouldn't cause this... will prob find out tomorrow.

how are things pucca?

warfarin doesn't cause bleeding, but any bleeding there is will be worse, esp if the warfarin level isn't well controlled.

Hope she's improving

Not good news, they put the camera down and her stomach is ulcerated badly, and they couldnt go any further due to severe narrowing so they couldnt get past to see what is causing it but i think they are fairly sure already, the consultant took us into a private room and said it is bad news, they are doing a CT scan on Mon/Tues and have taken a biopsy, but from what he was saying it isnt good news at all, cancer was mentioned, also the high possiblity it has spread to her lymph nodes.

She isn't eating anything, and is in pain, also hasnt been able to empty her bowels at all, she also still feeling sick, and they had her back on oxygen yesterday.

oh pucca

that is not good news

wishing you lots of strength

hope you all have good RL support

RS....Totally gutted, we all are, not looking good though is it

She has still been vomiting blood (coffee grounds in colour), and her pulse has gone down to 56, and BP is now 76/32.

They are hoping a CT scan will be done tomorrow, so they can give prognosis.

poor love - although you can always be hopeful I think you should be preparing for bad news. Hugs to you and your family.

am so sorry, pucca, but have to agree with nervousal. Do prepare yourself for the worst, and anything else will be a bonus (as a very wise nurse once said to me)

sorry to hear this, i hope that they are at least able to make her more comfy.

So far they have given her paracetamol! and when we said she was in alot of pain they are now giving her codeine, which of course is doing nothing at all. they mentioned morphine, but said they will build up to that, but what they are giving her at the moment is doing nothing at all.