My husband has ileostomy, Crohn's disease for 30+ years. Has blockages approximately once every couple of years. Yesterday he had blockage & was taken by ambulance to ER (at 64 he's too old to wait it out anymore). During the ER visit, he vomited at least a GALLON of black coffee ground emesis, his abdomen was distended (he looked pregnant), and was having 8/10 pain. At this point no one had even examined him yet, once they saw this humongous amount of black emesis all over the floor, the gurney, etc., they were clearly alarmed and came running into the room. Immediately drew blood, hooked to vitals monitor, ordered an abdominal x-ray, injection of morphine and antinausea med, inserted nasogastric tube, and told me they were sending him up to the intensive care unit. Another 400 cc of black emptied into the nasogastric container. They eventually decided he had to be transferred to a nearby hospital due to insurance issues.
By the time he arrived at the other hospital (6 hrs had passed since vomiting the coffee ground stuff), the nasogastric container had very little in it.
This morning a GI doc performed an EGD. He said it looked fine. Husband's blood counts are good. They will release him today.
My question: I asked the GI doc about the large amount of black coffee ground emesis, where could it be coming from? He replied that it was a "very small amount", I said I was referring to the amount from the first ER which was at least a gallon and another 400 cc thru nasogastric tube. He didn't believe me, said it wasn't possible with his blood counts being normal and EGD looked good.
DO WE NEED TO SEE A DIFFERENT GI DOCTOR FOR A 2ND OPINION, IS THIS POSSIBLE THAT EVERYTHING IS "OKAY" AFTER VOMITING SO MUCH COFFEE GROUND EMESIS ????? It doesn't sound right to me. Doesn't an EGD only cover the UPPER intestinal tract, what about lower tract?
Any advice you can give would be appreciated.
By the time he arrived at the other hospital (6 hrs had passed since vomiting the coffee ground stuff), the nasogastric container had very little in it.
This morning a GI doc performed an EGD. He said it looked fine. Husband's blood counts are good. They will release him today.
My question: I asked the GI doc about the large amount of black coffee ground emesis, where could it be coming from? He replied that it was a "very small amount", I said I was referring to the amount from the first ER which was at least a gallon and another 400 cc thru nasogastric tube. He didn't believe me, said it wasn't possible with his blood counts being normal and EGD looked good.
DO WE NEED TO SEE A DIFFERENT GI DOCTOR FOR A 2ND OPINION, IS THIS POSSIBLE THAT EVERYTHING IS "OKAY" AFTER VOMITING SO MUCH COFFEE GROUND EMESIS ????? It doesn't sound right to me. Doesn't an EGD only cover the UPPER intestinal tract, what about lower tract?
Any advice you can give would be appreciated.