About this topic
Your colon is another name for your large bowel. Sometimes, the blood vessels in the colon become swollen and break easily. This is angiodysplasia of the colon. It causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or GI tract. This condition is fairly common among older people. ‚
Most of the time, this bleeding is mild and stops on its own. If there is a lot of bleeding, your doctor may suggest drugs and procedures to help stop the bleeding. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Eat foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day.
- If you had surgery, talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Stop the bleeding
- Soften stool
- Give you extra iron
The doctor may also order a blood transfusion. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Anemia
- Bloody stool
- Too much blood loss, which could lead to death
- Side effects from treatment
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no known way to prevent this condition. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Black, tarry stools or blood in your stool
- Rectal pain
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have rectal pain, black tarry stools, or blood in my stool.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚