My daughter had to have another balloon dilitation of her small intestines right where it leads into the j pouch. She had it a year ago also. Last year it was so closed the surgeon said he could hardly find the way up into the small intestines from her pouch. Anyhow, she had it done again, on 7/14 and he said it wasn't as strictured this time. The problem is that she is not doing any better since the dilitation. She feels worse since Monday! She did get her period a day later after the procedure so she may have not noticed right away but she is bleeding when she poops. About a tablespoon each time she goes. Yesterday she went 10 times and today 6 times so far by 8 pm. She has stomach pain and not just when she goes to the bathroom. The stools are pretty loose to watery. She spoke with the surgeon who did the dilitation yesterday and today and he said to stop the metamucil wafers and get bloodwork done so he can check on her levels. Then call him on Tuesday. She has not had bleeding before with the dilitation and she hasn't bled since she got the pouch, maybe a little with pouchitis but not like this. I don't know if I should be wisking her off to another hospital or what. Thank you for any advise.

Sounds like she has a slight "bleeder." Bleeding can be expected immediately following dilation, but this should resolve over a few days. Bleeding that occurs or continues several days after the procedure is more likely to be from a small vein rupture that is oozing. She probably does not need emergency treatment unless she begins to feel weak or dizzy. If the blood loss is gradual, the body can adapt pretty well. The lab results will tell how serious the blood loss is and then they can decide to wait and see or go in and cauterize the bleeder.

Jan

Thanks Jan,
It doesn't sound so bad now after reading your post. I was freaking out in my head (silently) I worried that her pouch was damaged somehow.