vomiting blood - General Health Message Board

MicheleReneeV · 08-24-2004, 02:45 AM

I have been vomiting blood on and off for 2 years now. I have had scopes done seen several internists and a gastrointerologist. I have also been to the ER numerous times. I have episodes of vomiting blood about every 4-6 weeks. This all started when I was put on a NSAID. I was told to avoid several things, including any NSAID's. I have done this for a year and a half and continue to have these episodes. When the scopes were done they found gastritis, a polyp and hernia in my stomach. The GI told me there was nothing he could do to help me other than give me nexium, which wasn't working and still doesn't help. I have also had 6 orthopedic surgeries in the past 3 years. Since I was told not to take nsaid's, all I can take for pain is tylenol and/or narcotics. One thing I happened to notice is that everytime I have had an episode and a liver panel was done that my liver enzymes were high. Does anyone know if there could be a connection between high liver enzymes and the vomiting of blood? Any ideas on what I can do to make this stop or what I can ask doctors? I am tired of this...tired of paying all these medical bills and nobody can seem to figure out what is wrong or how to fix it. The internist refers me to the GI specialist, the GI specialist tells me to go to the ER when this happens, the doctors at the ER tell me to see my internist or GI......feels like I am just getting passed off and don't know what to do.

feelbad · 08-24-2004, 04:58 AM

unfortunetly,there can be a big connection between vomiting blood and the liver.This is actually the biggest symptom that my then 13 year old son presented with before we found out that he had major problems with his kidney and liver.Have you ever had an ultrasound done on your liver?This is how we discovered that my son has polycystic kidney disease with congenital hepatic fibrosis.The vomiting was caused because the scar formation had coverd the opening to the portal vein in his liver and everything backed up and caused extremely high pressure in his liver,kidneys and spleen.Well all that backed up blood caused varices to form in his throat(varices are basically very enlarged veins in the throat that are normally not used to high pressure blood flow so after a while, they start to break and bleed into the stomach.well stomach contents and blood definitely do not mix and after enough gets in the stomach,it comes back up.) Sorry, i know that is gross, but this is what happened to my son.Have you had an ultrasound done on your kidneys?If you have not had these done on the liver and kidneys,(but I cannot imagine that your GI doc would not have ordered this by now.But you never know)You definitely need to have this done.whatever you do here, keep on pushing things with your doctors until you find the cause of your problem.you obviously have something very wrong going on inside you and you need it identified so you can treat it and recover.You shouldn't have to live like this.My heart goes out to you,really.My best suggestions for you is to research the heck out of your symptoms and educate yourself on just how the involved organs work.And the biggest thing here is BE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE DRS!!I cannot stress that enough.You need to advocate for yourself here and make yourself known to the docs involved with your treatment.get in there face if they blow you off.remember, they are working for YOU.i hope you find the answers soon.I know it can be extremely discouraging when you are suffering like this and no one seems to be able to explain why.but you have to hang in there and do whatever you have to do to get to the root of your problem.Good luck Michele,and please keep us posted.I really do want to know just what is up with you.Marcia

Kissa · 08-24-2004, 06:22 AM

Have you had your liver checked at all? If not you really ned to.
There are several stomache medications on the market not just nexium. If nexium is not being effective it's time to try something new. If your doctor refuses to assist you then I'd seek out a new doctor. he is not doing you any favors by not helping. If you have problems with acid reflux also and are not responding to Nexium then you are at a high risk for esophogus cancer.

MicheleReneeV · 08-25-2004, 04:47 AM

Thank you for both of your responses. I had an untrasound of my liver done a couple of years ago and it was normal.....other than that just blood work. Are there other tests that can or should be done on the liver?

The doc tried me on Reglan, but I had an allergic reaction then he went to nexium. I see him Thursday and will ask him to try something else. He will probably do lab work Thursday too.