Bleeding

Mum has had the NJ tube inserted for three days now. Vomiting has at least ceased, though she still cannot eat, not even tube feeding as the doctors had intended. They can extract stomach fluids, which cannot escape naturally the "other" way. Normally, those juices get absorbed in the intestines and are filtered by the kidneys. But since the blockage in the intestines has become more severe, there is less fluids going into the kidneys, and more collecting in the stomach. Everyday, at least 1.5l of stomach liquids are drained out of her into a collecting tank...

Today, the tank drew visibly browner liquids, almost reminiscent of dried blood. I was worried and the nurse and resident doctor also noticed the noticeable difference in colour and the quantity of liquids drained. they gave her more bags of chloride solutions than before (up to six bags of 500ml compared to three bags in days...). A blood test revealed a deficiency in vital minerals, and a test on a sample of the stomach fluids revealed traces of blood.

The nurse say it may be from an ulcer, and that is causing mum to bleed. The suction from the vacuum pump draining fluids from her stomach may also be a cause of bleeding.

They have since stopped the draining of stomach liquids, but it may mean mum will start vomiting again...

Another complication and another issue to deal with...