Gastrology procedure

[Carol]

Hi again.
I have been made redundant from my job and have time on my hands again. I was called into the doctors surgery because my heamaglobin was 6.8 again. She really has no idea what to do with me, so sent me to the gastrology dept. Doctor found me an interesting case and has persuaded me to have an edoscopy and colonosopy on Monday to see if he can "zap" my AVMs and prevent them from further bleeding. I am going to give it a go, but tentatively dont know how successful it will be. Suspect they will find a lot in my bowel. He is not lasering them because that can cause further bleeding, but this new "zapping" method will apparently permanently seal them. He has done it before (dont know how many times). I dont get such bad nosebleeds as some members - and I can stop them pretty quickly. However, I have now found an iron tablet that has got my blood count up to 10.9. Double figures for the first time in about 30 years!!! Since my pregancies actually.
I will then continue to have 6 weekly blood tests to keep a check, which my GP is happy with. The gastrologist says that the procedure on Monday will give me 10 years free from bleeding. We shall see!
Has anyone else experienced this? I am with Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by the way.
Bit worried to see that persistent aneamia can cause an enlarged heart!!! Will check that one out.

Carol

[maggiemay 1241]

hi carol
          I have had the endoscopy & colonoscopy laser treatment to stop the bleeding and i have to agree it does not work,the doctors have told me that they zap me and to be honest it has made no difference to me,i still have blood tranfusions approx every 3 months and usually 3 units at a time,i am with the royal london hospital whitechapel,but i get my blood tranfusions at the kent and sussex hospital in tunbridge wells,i was told by a doctor in the kent and sussex hospital that i would be having blood tranfusions every 3 months and so far he has been proved right,personally i do not think the laser treatment has made any difference to me at all in fact it seems to be worse,i have tried tranexamic acid tablets ( they did not work,caused upset stomach) then i tried thalydamide tablets but again no good ( they made me sleepy but no difference) then they offered me a injection but i cannot remember the name apparently it is new,but i refused this because when i asked what risks/sideaffects are they told me it could cause cancer.
 Maggie