BLOOD IN COLOSTOMY BAG

Hi Em, and welcome to the group, although I am sorry that you have had to seek advice on, what must be, a very stressful situation.

I cannot offer any medical advice on what is happening, but there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that you must tell the oncologist/GP/consultant.  The appearance of blood is rarely a good sign, but can be caused by something that is not a major threat, and so it must be checked out.

Having undergone the same operation on the bowel as Peter, followed by chemo, I can understand that he will not want any further invasive investigation or operation, but he can't just hope that whatever has caused the problem will just go away.

Please, please tell the medical team, and tell them that Peter didn't want you to tell them - maybe they can 'stumble' across some indication that things aren't right without implicating you.

Very best wishes to you both,

RobM

Hi Em,

As Rob said the medical team must be informed, particularly in light of the fact that your husband is on Avastin, it can cause bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation and could be very dangerous for him to continue.  I understand his unwillingness to inform them, my husband was the same, but it really needs to be done.  Hopefully it is nothing serious and they will just adopt a watch and see policy.

I hope it works out ok 

Ann x

Hi Rob Thank you so much for your rapid resonse and I feel better already. I think I just needed someone to tell me that I must speak to his consultant/chemo nurse. I will make a phone call shortly and like you suggest, they will find a way of getting the information from him. Not sure what's wrong with my lap top but it's not letting me turn up lines to start new paragraphs so I'm typing in continous sentences !!!!! - any IT advise would also be most welcome !!!! Again, many thanks for your help and I wish you well. Best wishes Em

Hi Ann - many thanks for your reply also. I am def going to make a phone call. How is your husband at the moment ? This is such an awful situation to be in, but so good having this site to get advice from people in the same situation - the only people who fully understand. Best Wishes Em X

Hi Em,

I'm glad you are going to take action, these men need looking after!  Unfortunately my husband had extensive mets throughout his liver at diagnosis so chemo was only ever palliative.  I am approaching the first anniversary of his death but am grateful for the extra year he had because of the chemo.

It certainly is a horrible situation for everyone concerned and I know without the help and support of some people on this site I would have found it very difficult to get through it.  As you said, only those who have experienced it really understand.

Ann xx

Hi Ann - I am sorry about your husband and am sat here now having a little cry for you.

Peter has mets in both of his lungs and his chemo is also palliative. The Avasitin has shrank his tumours in size by 29 percent and he's had 10 of 12 sessions. We are told that after his 12th treatment he will have another scan and then they willl reduce is chemo down to just the Avastin and the FU5 pump that he wears for 46 hours. He started his chemo in June and has it every other Monday.

The other problem is that he's got it in his head that he has less than 12 months to live - the reason being is that he received a copy of a letter from Occupational Health in June which was sent to his employer as he had applied for early retirement (he's 52) on ill health grounds. The letter stated that they had received a report from his consultant and that his condition was terminal with a life expectancy of probably less than 12 months. I wanted to take the letter to his consultant and ask if this was correct but he wouldn't let me. I think that he has longer than that and that his consultant worded it that way to aid/speed up his application for early retirement. What was actually said to us at the time was that the chemo would slow down the progession but not cure him - we did not ask for a time scale.

The hardest thing is that he looks so well although he does tire easily.

Once again, I am so sorry about your husband.

Sending you a big hug

Em x

I have blood in my stoma pouch. My operation for bowel cancer was in March 2011

Sorry to read of your problem.

How long have you been seen the blood.

The first thing we have to establish is where the blood is coming from.

There are two possibilities

1. From the surface of your stoma

2. From inside your stoma.

Scenario 1

If it could be coming from the bursting of the small blood vessels on the stoma surface it's not really something to worry about and could be down to stoma management, it could be that the size of your stoma has changed and you need to address the cutting size, worth a check to make sure hole size is okay and that the wafer is not cutting into the stoma.

Scenario 2

Is a little bit more serious if the blood is coming from inside your stoma you need to contact someone urgently and I'm afraid the best place to contact is NHS 111 for urgent advice and you should NOT delay in making the call.

Please come back to me and tell me the reason for the blood and how it was resolved.

After 11 years since having it formed are you still having your annual check up to make sure your stoma is still healthy, these checks can be carried out at your hospitals stoma care unit, your original community stoma care nurse or your supply company may have nurses that hold clinics in certain areas.

Please seek medical advice if you think the blood is coming from you bowels through your stoma urgently that may need a test or scope.

Ian

CC

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I've got a doctor's appointment at 11.10 this morning and I'll more than likely be sent for a scan.

Clavinova