I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Off-Topic => Other Severe Medical Conditions => Topic started by: Epoman on November 01, 2006, 04:02:00 PM
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My PSA (Public Service Announcement) to the members of IHD:
Mallory-Weiss Tear
I want you all to read this so in case this happens to you, you will be prepared.
Is a condition where a tear occurs in the mucous membrane where the esophagus connects to the stomach, causing bleeding. (please see picture) Usually if the tear is not bad it will heal on it's own within a few days up to 10. If it is "bad" tear then excessive bleeding will occur and an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) will put through your nose and down into your stomach to find the tear. They will use an Endoscope to repair the tear.
(http://www.ihatedialysis.com/images/MWTear.jpg)
The main cause of Mallory-Weiss Tears is excessive or violent vomiting. I myself have had this happen to me a few times and I have had to had the Endoscope up my nose down my throat to repair it. It's a fast procedure and I was always put asleep during the process, and I don't remember what happened at all. In fact on time the second time it happened to me (a Mallory-Weiss Tear) all I remember was rolling into the procedure room and hearing ok, you're all done. It was weird, my wife said I was in the their for about a half hour.
The very first Mallory-Weiss Tear I had was VERY bad I was throwing up literally buckets of fresh bright red blood and I was bleeding so much, my Hematocrit went from 37 down to 14, obviously I needed a couple of blood transfusions. It was really bad in fact they had to tie me down the first time because they said even with putting me to sleep I was still pulling the Endoscope out several times causing blood to go everywhere. They called my wife in the room and she was shocked to see everything that had happened they told her we have no choice but to tie his hands down. All I remember from that whole ordeal was being tied down and not being able to open my eyes, I was very confused. It was though I was awake but paralyzed. That was the first time. The second time I had a tear again I was throwing up but not as much, but I was passing JET BLACK watery stool non-stop. So I had the procedure down and like I mentioned earlier here It was a smooth fast procedure, I guess I was better prepared the second time and my body didn't try to fight when I was given the sedative.
I am creating this thread right now, because I vomited last night after dialysis and I threw up hard, then fresh blood started coming up, not much like 3 or 4 tablespoons worth but enough to scare the hell out of me. So I just laid in bed and went to sleep. This morning I went to the bathroom and there was indeed blood in my stool it is very obvious because your stool will be dark and look like "tar". So I have a bleed but hopefully since it slow/small it will heal on its own. And it can heal own it's own. It may take a few days though however. In the meantime I will be taking "Protonix" which will turn off excess stomach acids in my stomach to allow the tear to hear. There are other medicines for this such as "Prilosec" but I have had good luck with Protonix in the past.
When you go to ER with complaints of vomiting blood, the first thing they do to you is put a scope down your throat via your nose to suck up the contents in your stomach lining to see if there is indeed fresh blood. If they find a good amount they will send you right away to have the procedure down which involves the Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (or called simply Endoscope). Here is a link all about the Esophagogastroduodenoscopy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroscope
Or this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopy
Here is an excerpt from the site:
Endoscopy is a minimally-invasive diagnostic medical procedure used to evaluate the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a small tube into the body, often, but not necessarily, through a natural body opening. Through the scope one is able to see lesions and other surface conditions.
The instrument may have a rigid or a flexible tube and not only provide an image, for visual inspection and photography, but also enable taking biopsies and retrieval of foreign objects. Endoscopy is the vehicle for minimally invasive surgery.
Many endoscopic procedures are relatively painless and, at worst, associated with mild discomfort although patients are sedated for most procedures. Complications are rare but can include perforation of the organ under inspection with the endoscope or biopsy instrument. If that occurs open surgery may be required to repair the injury.
I have had the procedure done to me 2 times and the first time was unbearable, however the second time it went very fast and It wasn't that bad and my blood loss was bad but not life threatening. Again the main reason the tears happened to me is always when I vomit to much or it can even happen by coughing to much. But in my situation it has always been because of vomiting. It doesn't happen every time I vomit just sometimes. That is why when I have do choice but to vomit I get very worried. So since I vomited last night and some blood did come up that means I did tear something but hopefully it will heal on it's own and my blood loss won't be to bad. Also I spoke with my doctor and she advised me to not use "Heparin" for the next couple of days. So I won't be using the Heparin so it will give the tear a chance to heal and also I restarted my "Protonix" so it will shut off the stomach acids so the tear will have a chance to heal.
- Epoman
Owner/Admin
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Thank you for posting that. What a scary thing to experience. Do you know if dialysis patients are more likely to have this, or is it an "equal opportunity" kind of thing?
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Wow, Epoman, I sure hope that the steps
you have taken will cause it to heal very quickly on its own.
That has to be a scary thing to happen.
Best wishes to you.
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Scary things that happen to you! I hope you feel better and heal quickly.
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It could be an ulcer with all the stress we give you!! Take care and get it checked out if it doesn't heal soon.
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Wow! That's scary. Sorry that happened to you but really appreciate your passing the word. :thx; Take care of yourself :cuddle; -- we need you here!! There is too much we would never know if not for you.
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:( Hope your feeling betterand soon we will toast your recovery :beer1;
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Hang in there!
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Well very little blood in my stool today so I am hopeful that I will not need a "procedure" done. :thumbup;
This problem is not just related to kidney patients it involves anybody who vomits to much or vomits forcefully.