A little embarassing...

[Gnusgal]

Well, with a subject like that I'm sure I'm about to get a BUNCH of people reading, right?

It really is kind of embarassing to ask about, but here goes:

Last Saturday I was out of town for a conference. When I went to the bathroom (#2) and wiped, there was a considerable amount of blood. This concerned me, but I thought maybe I'd just strained too much or something, so I left it alone. Later that night, it happened again. Since it was a Saturday night and I was in a strange town, I still did nothing. I was fine for several days. But yesterday it came back. And it seems that every time I go #2 I there is blood. I checked my INR, thinking maybe I was through the roof for some reason and it was only 3.7 (I know it's high, but not THAT much). I also have a ProTime unit, and wonder if the reading is off and I'm really much higher (after reading about everyone's difficulties with theirs).

I've got a call in to my cardiologist, but she's not in the office today. If it gets to about 4 and I still haven't heard from her I may end up calling her pager, but I don't want to do that if I can help it. I'm not bleeding so much that I feel like I'm in danger, but I am concerned. And with it being a Friday I don't know that I could get in to see anyone until Monday (and REALLY don't want to go to the ER if I can help it.

So what do you guys think might be going on? Could I have developed polyps or something? Could my INR be a lot higher than I think? Should I see if I can get in and get a blood draw?

Thanks,

 

[Ross]

Most likely irritated tissue caused by either a hemorrhoid or cheap rough TP, but anytime you have bleeding like that, get it checked. I had the same and it turns out to be a very tiny hemorrhoid that gets very irritated easily.

Darn and I thought sure you were going to model a thong for me in this thread too.

 

[Nancy]

I agree with Ross. Think about the most simple thing, hemorrhoids. But rectal bleeding should always be checked out. My guess is that it got irritated and started bleeding, and then because you are on Coumadin, it continued.

If it turns out to be something simple like that, Metamucil every day works wonders keeps things soft and thus less irritation.

But please call your Primary and discuss it.

 

[Dee]

I have this often, but I know it's hemorrhoids in my case. But when it first started happening I had to have a colonoscopy done to make sure that was in fact what was causing it. You do want to let the Dr. know what's going on and they're probably going to want to check you out to make sure it's not something more serious. It is, let's say, "a real pain in the butt"!!!

So please do follow up on it just to make sure! Good luck!

~DeeDee~

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, I talked to my cardiologist and my PCPs nurse practitioner. We decided to have a lab draw to check my INR and if I am continuing to have this problem through the weekend they will try to get me in to see a Gastroendrocrinologist (or however that's spelled) on Monday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will resolve itself...

As for the blood draw, one good thing came out of it. I got to see my favorite lab lady! I know that's silly, but I had been seeing her every week for several months following my VR until I got my ProTime and she really learned my veins and how best to find them (they tend to be difficult). She's the sweetest thing and always wants to know everything going on, so I ended up spending about 45 minutes in the lab with her just catching her up on what's been going on. She said as soon as she saw my name on the orders that were faxed in she got worried and was glad to hear I was doing well (for the most part).

Thanks for the advice and I'll keep you updated.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The correct spelling is ...

"GI Doc"

 

[Ross]

Yeah and he looks something like this guy too!

 

[Granbonny]

Sometimes, I get that problem too But, keep on hand..Prep H.cannot spell it...and even I find White distilled vinegar..great..for itching, ect...........Seems to work great. Bonnie( Or we a bunch of butt-holes or what? Bonnie

 

[Bryan B]

Two prunes a day will keep the 'roids away. Don't know what the vitamin K levels are in prunes, but I tooks them for a few weeks after surgery and found they worked better than the stool softeners they prescribed and didn't bother my stomach.

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, I'm not sure if I have hemroids. I have no pain or itching, so who knows... I have not bled since Friday, though, so that's good.

I never ended up getting a call about my INR. It makes me SO mad. My doctor requested STAT service and asked that the results be faxed to her office. I'm betting they didn't fax them, they called instead. Which meant it went to her answering service. This is one of the (many) reasons I hate going to the lab for INR testing. By the time you get the results it's a moot point!

Anyway, I'll call my doc tomorrow and see if she found out the results. I'm very currious as to how accurate my ProTime is...

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Ross]

Niki if it helps any, I had no pain or itching either. All it took was some harsher then usual toilet paper to irritate the tissue enough and away the blood went. INR was in normal range at the time also.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

My Coumadin Clinic uses a Coaguchek finger stick machine so the results are almost instantaneous.

It might be worthwhile to check around for a similar clinic in your area.

'AL'

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, I thought I should probably post an update. I have not had any more bleeding since Friday (of course, things like this ALWAYS stop when I finally tell the doctor about it) and I FINALLY got my INR results from the lab (not until Monday, though!). It was 3.1. That's a significant difference from the ProTime result of 3.7. And the whole weekend I was thinking I was high so I should eat more greens (and did!). I told my cardio's nurse about the difference and she said she'd tell my cardio, but I haven't heard back that she wants anything done differently... I guess I'll see if I can catch her tomorrow. I'll be in the building for another dr. appt (completely unrelated to this) and can stop by. Fortunately, they love me there, so it's okay to do that for a moment (not for an appt, obviously).

Thanks everyone for your words of "encouragement" (if that's what you were trying to do, Ross! ).

 

[Guest]

My rule of thumb for patients is that if it is just blood on the toilet paper it can wait awhile. If the water in the toilet is pink - you have to do what you think is best considering day-night-weekend-tolerance for ER waiting room- etc. If the water in the toilet is red go to the ER day or night.