? ruptured bowel

[radstudent]

I have recently started to have alot of rectal bleeding. I just had a new interstim put in on Dec 2. I am wondering if it is possible for the lead to rupture the bowel. I went to the doctor yesterday and he looked into my bowel in the office and couldn't see where the bleeding is coming from. He was only able to look at about 5 inches of the lower part of my bowel, if that. When I have a bowel movement it feels as though something is getting ripped inside of me. It is very painful. Then toilet is also full of blood when I finish. I also have to wipe alot to clean all of the blood of off me.

Sorry for the graphic post but I am really scared. :confused:

[littlebear]

Hi Louise, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I think I've seen something about this on the Q & A that Jill put together re "Surgical Electrical Nerve Stimulation Techniques (Revised August 2002 - Jill Osborne)." I printed it out from the ICN website, but don't remember how I got there. It's listed under "Known Complications." Here's what it says: "A review of the FDA Maufacture and User Device Experience (MAUDE) database currently reports 18 serious adverse events resulting in injury . . . . Two reports revealed bowel perforations resulting in the lead migrating out of the rectum during bowel movements." That's all I've learned about this issue, but I think that it's something that you should at least keep an eye on (and maybe push your Dr. to look into further--asap--as well). Gentle hugs and best wishes, little bear

[radstudent]

Little Bear, thanks for your reply. I think I am going to at least ask him to do an x-ray to see if the lead has moved. I am not sure it has because I am getting the same stimulation and my symptoms are under control.

I will look up that q&a of Jill's. Thanks.

[littlebear]

Hi Louise, I'm glad to hear that you're thinking about getting an X-ray, etc. I'm glad, too, that your IC symptoms are under control and that there aren't other indications that the interstim is the culprit! I hope that you can solve this puzzle, stop the pain, blood etc.--asap. I wish I had more info for you, but that was all I could find in my stack of print outs (I don't think there was much more on Jill's Q & A--a link to the FDA page maybe? . . .). Please take it easy, take good care of yourself, and let us know how you're doing. Sending you all my best, little bear

[Teri]

PLEASE, get to a gastro ASAP to have this checked out. This is one of the very serious things that can happen with the implant and it's more proof that it's not as safe as some of our dr's want us to think.

I am praying for you Louise and hopefully there will be an easy solution for you grouphug

[Teri]

p.s. If you continue to have these huge amounts of blood.....a trip to the ER might be a good idea since the weekend is here~

[ICNDonna]

Please give your doctor a call and let him know how much bleeding you are doing. And if you can't reach him, I suggest a trip to emergency room.

Sending gentle hugs,
Donna

[dyno]

I agree with everything said here so far. This is nothing to just sit around and wait on. Good Luck.

Jolene

[ICNJess]

Louise,


That sounds painful. :( I agree, go to the e.r. if the doc can't do something soon. Keep us posted, you poor thing!! :(

Hugs and love,
Jess

[vm]

Louise - I hope you got the the ER last night. That sounded like a lot of bleeding. Please update us. frown

[tigger_gal]

Louise,
I hope you went to er... I pray that your new interstim did't create this problem..but now, I am wondering tho if its not caused from the old interstim and wires tunneled thru your belly. hugs hugs hugs please let us know..
Brat

[Iris]

Hi Louise, I agree with the gals posts, I would definitely go to the ER if the bleeding persists, it sounds really nasty. Hope you will keep us posted as to how you are doing, and hope you get some help. Take care and a hug Iris. hi grouphug

[radstudent]

Thanks for all your posts. So far today I haven't had any blood. However, I have not had a bowel movement. That is when I start bleeding. If I do bleed severely again, I a heading straight to the doc. My new primary care doctor works at an urgent care center so he is there thru the weekend. Of course, if he is not there I will immediately go to the ER. I am hoping that the meds he gave me will stop the bleeding.

[ICNJess]

Hi Louise,

Good luck, I hope things get straightened out. That just sounds so painful! eek eek


Good luck!!!
Jess grouphug

[auntiedeb]

grouphug grouphug grouphug

[littlebear]

Hi Loiuse, How are you doing? I'm sending you good thoughts and all my hope that the bleeding has stopped and that there's nothing troubling going on (either with your interstim or otherwise)? Best wishes, little bear

[radstudent]

Little Bear, I am still bleeding. I am having a colonoscopy on Saturday to see if they can find the source of the bleeding. They do not think that it is caused by the interstim.

[Iris]

Hi Louise, just catching up with your posts, good luck with your colonoscopy on Saturday. Please let us know how you get on, take care and hugs Iris. hi grouphug

[littlebear]

Hi Louise, I'm so sorry to hear that you're still bleeding. Am glad that you'll be getting a colonoscopy (well, not glad you're getting one . . . but happy that folks are looking into the problem). I know that you're in the medical profession and that you're taking all this in stride. But, I just wanted to let you know that I've thinking about you, that I hope you're not in too much pain, and that I hope they'll get to the bottom of this asap. All my best wishes to you, little bear

[Teri]

Will keep you in my prayers Louise grouphug