Upper GI bleeding
Date issued: April 2021
Review date: April 2023
Ref: D-347/JS/Learning Disability Team/Upper GI bleeding
Upper GI bleeding final April 2021.pdf[pdf] 839KB
What is your upper gastro-intestine?
When you eat and drink food goes into your stomach to be digested.
Your stomach breaks down what you have eaten creating digestive juices. The digestive juices go into your intestines.
Your intestines are a very long tube. They:
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Take out what your body needs to keep; for example vitamins
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Get rid of what your body doesn't need and turns this into waste. We get rid of this waste when we go to the toilet for a wee/pee or a poo.
Your upper gastro-intestine is the piece of tube which connects your stomach to your small intestine.
This piece of intestine can sometimes bleed.
An upper gastrointestinal bleed
Blood in your sick, bringing up what looks like ground coffee and sticky dark poos can be signs that you are bleeding from your stomach or intestine.
This can happen if you have an ulcer (sores inside your stomach), have drunk far too much alcohol or been violently sick.
The ED (Emergency Department) staff will have checked your: symptoms, your heart rate, breathing and blood pressure and have done some blood tests.
If it is safe for you to go home we will ask you to see your doctor within 5 days of coming in to talk about what happened. You may need further tests. For example, an endoscopy, where a small camera will be used to look inside your stomach.
Helping you to help yourself
Try to avoid drinking too much alcohol. You can talk to the practice nurse at your GP surgery if you are unsure how much you can have a day.
You can take paracetamol to help with any stomach pain or cramps you may have. Do not take ibuprofen.
Most patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding recover quickly. A small number of people may have more bleeds.
If you continue to have strong stomach pains, start to vomit blood or have dark poos again see your doctor as soon as possible.
In an emergency ring 999 and ask for an ambulance.
