Just an update and a few questions on what’s happened to me.
i will try to keep it as short as i can.
In December 2021 i ended up having both a pouchoscopy and Endoscopy at the same time to try see if there was a bleed relating to my anemia.
My surgeon found 2 tiny isolated ulcers just above the pouch, which he almost missed as he was taking the camera out, he told me they were not actively bleeding, there was no inflammation or signs of Crohn’s, and that they could be bleeding when the stool passes them, but was overall non plussed by them due to their size.
The pouch looked clean and healthy.
He gave me the option of something called Argon Plasma Coagulation to hopefully stop the bleeding and heal the ulcers, i said i would like to try it.
Fast forward to last week, after lots of messing around and bad organisation on their part, i finally had the procedure last Wedsnesday (this is private healthcare in the UK and i should of had it in Jan / Feb).
I didn’t have any sedation even though i was told i was getting it, and because of my chrinic nerve pain in the small intestine - it was agony, and i was quite vocal with my pain during the procedure, i tried my best.
Immediately after my surgeon told me that the ulcers were now stigmata (oozing blood) but that the procedure went well, and that there was now 3 ulcers but he zapped all of them, i did notice in the last month or so more blood in ths stool, so this makes sense, but still frustrating it had been left so long since the diagnosis.
Again he said the pouch looked great and healthy.
He said that healing these ulcers should cure the anemia, i felt great, and for the proceding 4 days i didn’t see a trace of blood in my stool, and the pain in the lower left part of my abdomen that i have had daily for years had gone, a 5 year weight had lifted off my shoulders.
Since Monday night this week though, i have been bleeding again just before bed time, then no blood all day the next day until bed time again.
Today my pouch felt a bit ifffy, i get this once in a blue moon where i have a bit of pain and then diarrhea, then it goes back to normal, but there was alot of blood tonight, it seems like the argon plasma thing only worked temporarily and now im back to square one, but even worse than before as the ulcers are apparently actively bleeding.
Im putting a call in tomorrow to book an appointment to see the surgeon asap, im feeling very down and deflated as this time last week i was celebrating the end of the blood loss and anemia.
Does anyone know what might have gone wrong? Could my surgeon have used weak settings? Could he have rushed it because i was in alot of pain?
And finally, what are the other options for coagulation or stemming a bleeding ulcer?
I did of course ask what the cause of the ulcers were, and he was vague, basically he said he was not sure because they didn’t present with additional inflammation or other characteristics.
Thank you.