coffee ground stools/ post upper GI bleed

[flabk]

My husband was hospitalized for what we believe was an upper GI bleed over 4th of July ---he was vomiting bld, passing tarry stools, etc ---they did an EGD but not the colonoscopy.   They were unable to locate the source of the blding --no varices no ulcers, he did have slight irritation of the stomach lining ---They pumped him full of fluids at the hospital  - he gained almost 15# --- he is on a 80mg Lasix BID and still is having pitting edema in his legs ---not so bad in the mornings but by evening is 1-2+ more in the left leg than the right.  He is still passing coffee ground stools ---CMP is WNL as well as his CBC hemoglobin has come up from 10.0 to 11.9.  What are your thoughts ---How long should it take for his stools to return to normal and for the edema to subside? Could this be something more severe with the liver that is being missed?

[flabk]

Believe me I know ---I thought about cirrhosis also but his liver enzymes and biliary levels are normal ---The doctor said he did not see any varices and that he i not think that was the problem ---I even discussed cirrhosis with the doctor and he said if it was that his liver enzymes would be effected --they also did all of the Hep panels and they were fine as well ---No my husband has this attitude of well the doctor said not to worry so I am not going to attitude --so what can I do

[mammo]

I agree with KjFlicka, but I would also want a colonoscopy done.  I don't know how they could make a diagnosis without locating the source of bleeding.  It just doesn't sound like what they did accomplished a thing!  I also don't think the edema would go along with an upper GI bleed.  Even though they pumped him full of fluids, they also monitor his urine output to make sure he isn't retaing these fluids.  Edema can be caused by many things, I would not be satisfied with all this and would take him back to the hospital.

[KjFlicka]

If they didn't find the source of the bleeding, doesn't that mean that the burst varix is still exposed and possibly still bleeding? If you haven't already, you need to find a hepatologist ASAP. I don't know for sure, but I'd think if he was still having the coffee ground stools today after being in the hospital weeks ago, he needs to go the hospital again. It just sounds like they need to do another upper endoscopy when the huge amount of blood isn't blocking their view.  What did they tell him about his condition? He should be on some diet/fluid restrictions possibly, too, but a hepatologist would make that call. It sounds like he has cirrhosis or something similar. Do you already know this?