No matter why you are having one, I’ve had many Hepatitis C Esophageal Varices Banding – What to Expect is important to know. My friend Mary Lou is having her first esophageal varices banding. We have been messaging back and forth like crazy. She had a lot of fears and questions. As your best friend in the battle, I thought that you too might want to eavesdrop on our private messages. Also be sure and read Varices Stages and Grading here.
Mary Lou: OK. I have this banding coming up. What can I expect?
Moi: Well, the prep is the same as for an endoscopy. All that stuff to drink. Yuck. No food after midnight the night before. Ask your doctor if you can have enough water to take your meds in the morning.
Get the Earliest Time Possible
When you arrive at the outpatient center, they put you in a peek-a-boo gown and start an IV. Wear a little bit of blush and lipstick. Send pics! lol. All of your personal belongings will stay with a family member, wear pretty panties – makes you feel better. They take your vital signs and cover you up with a warm blankie. You will answer a lot of questions about dentures, medications, hepatitis c, and whether or not that is your real hair.
Soon they whisk you back and your doctor chats you up. They give you a gargle that is a nasty tasting mess and has the consistency of owl snot. I hate that part. (shuddering gag) The next thing you know, someone is putting you in a wheelchair. Really. There is no sense of time. On my last banding, my daughter said that I tried to wheel myself out to look for my red shoes. If you get my drift, it is la-la-land time.
Once you get home, it is a good idea to take some pain medication. You will not feel bad at first, but sedation wears off, you know? Then you just curl up in your own bed and drool on the pillow.
Mary Lou: I don’t drool. Ever. It’s not lady-like. 🙂 How long does this take?
Moi: I am usually gone from the house about 3 hours total except the time we stopped at McD’s for an ice cream cone.
Hepatitis C Esophageal Varices Banding – What to Expect
Mary Lou: What? You were out of it. How long before sedation wears off?
Moi: Since you have stage 2 cirrhosis, the sedation kinda cycles in your bloodstream cuz your liver can’t filter well. My zoniness lasts for several days. I think people may do better if their liver is in good shape.
Mary Lou: When can I eat? My liver processes food so crazy that I have to eat frequent meals or my blood sugar gets wacked.
Moi: Exactly! Eat popsicles, jello, and soup for a couple of days. Have some protein shakes on hand.
Mary Lou: Will I have pain? How much? How long? What kind of pain meds? (jaw clenched already)
Moi: Chill sister… You may experience some discomfort. Talk to your doctor Before the banding. I had spasms one time and took mega meds, but usually a little acetaminophen cuts the pain ez. Xanax calms down the spasms.
After the Banding
Mary Lou: Why? What hurts?
Moi: Your esophagus. See, they put the scope down and see how many varices that you have. They put rubber “bands” around them and they die and fall off. Then they just go through your digestive system. If they only have to band 2 or 3, you’ll have less discomfort. When the doctor was banding 5 to 7 varices, I had more soreness – it was not easy to swallow thing for about 4 or 5 days. Matter of fact, it hurt swallowing anything but liquid.
Mary Lou: Sounds gross. What if I have more varices?
Moi: Then your doctor will schedule you to go back in every month and get more removed. I’m way ahead of you and I even had the vomiting blood time with varices bleed. If you have a lot of varices, expect a higher dose of Nadolol – the beta blocker that slows down the portal hypertension. That keeps the ones you have from growing and also can prevent new ones from forming.
But I’m Still Scared
Mary Lou: Were you scared?
Moi: Are pigs pink? Heck yes! The first one was in ER – ICU, blood and platelet transfusions. That was a scary nightmare that I try and block. When I got home I just knew that I would never be able drink coffee, eat nachos, or anything other than homemade soup and popsicles for the rest of my life. They discontinued my hepatitis c treatment. Geez! I was a huge heap of sad, tired, and sorry. It took me a few weeks to manage a higher dose of the beta blocker and learn to chew everything extremely well. My teeth are officially as good as any food processor now. THAT is important information also. Do not try and swallow oatmeal without chewing. It is awful when it gets lodged in the middle of your esophagus. (Shaking my head) Nasty mess. (crying)
All of the other bandings were planned. By then I learned that there is life after portal hypertension and varices bandings. Anything else? It’s hard not knowing… I’m sorry.
Relax Baby – I’ve done this a LOT
Mary Lou: I’m sorry you had the bleed out. So the banding will prevent that. I think I’m about ready. Not really – but that sounded good, didn’t it? Any more tips for your girl friend?
Moi: Yes – bandings done regularly can prevent bleeding esophageal varices. Try and schedule the banding at the earliest possible time slot so you will not be too hungry. Blood sugar does drop with liver disease and fasting is hard. That makes you look pale. Put on more blush and lipstick.
While you’re waiting your turn, relax, ask for the lights to be dimmed. Take some slow deep breaths, pray or meditate. I always get a little jittery. I even tell my daughter that she is the only person allowed to get in my personal belongings if I should die before I wake. It is never easy to go under sedation. Once you’ve stared death in the face, you treasure each moment and know that it is a gift, right?
Mary Lou: I know you’ve had many Hepatitis C esophageal varices banding – What to expect is helpful for me to know. I feel better already, but I’m just ready to get it over with.
Moi: Within a week, you will forget that you had it done. Even after my first emergency one, I was back at work in a week.
P.S. I hope this helped. We’re all in this together. The good, the bad, and the ugly of cirrhosis, hepatitis c, and on and on… xoxo Karen:)
Vomiting Blood is a blog about how to survive a bleed out.
Read about the stages of Varices here.
27 thoughts on “Hepatitis C Esophageal Varices Banding – What to Expect”
thanx for breif discusing hapatitac c ,moi my father have hapatitac c ,he vomit blood 3 time last day,his stomac has been swollen ,he has also internal bleading ,platlets count is also reduce ,know he is admited in hospital plz give me any advice to tackle the problem
Ramzan,
This is a frightening time for you. I think the hospital will try to do these things.
1. Transfusion of new blood
2. Put tube in stomach to stop bleeding.
3. Give IV medication to reduce water in his stomach.
I had all of these also. It is not a very good situation. But if they can band varices and get him fresh blood it will help. They may try and take water from his stomach to help swelling. Your doctor is someone you can trust. You will have to be strong for your father. Ask the doctor and nurses what steps they will take.
I can tell you they said my death was sure. But then I got better and better and now have a good life. I pray that your father will have this! It can be true even if his liver is failing. Will you tell him that there is hope? He may be confused right now. It is frightening. But he needs good words of comfort.
My heart and prayers are with you. Please keep in touch. OK?
xo Karen:)
I had my first bout with banding had 5 or 6 episodes of bleeding before this last time I had emergency surgery no one listened too me till it was killing me I had little painn just the feeling that someone had their hands around my neck for a while all i needed for pain was a numbing agent for my throat. It is hair raising but i am still here .
Hi Linda,
I’m glad you stopped by. It’s scary business. Once you’ve had a bleed out, it kind of stays with you forever.. I ended up with esophgeal spasms after one intense banding. That hands on your throat feeling is some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. Hang in there dear.
How good of you to share your experience with us. Let’s stay connected, ok?
I hope your day is good,
xo Karen:)
For 6 yrs my varices were grade one, no BP meds.. this year a new doctor banded me, I don’t know what stage, or how many. As prepared as I thought I was for the worsening of liver disease, it was nothing like I had imagined. For nearly a week I couldn’t even sip water. I became severely dehydrated before the EGD due to colo prep. My blood pressure was 140+ over 90+. I woke up immediately with horrific pain in my sternum. I have yet to get any answers from the new doctor. I am disgusted. Discharge paper says to limit sodium to <2000 mg/day. But no BP meds. Interestingly enough, my blood pressure with all the colo prep finally out of my system is 109/69 this morning. I am wondering if anyone can comment on salt reduction without acsites or high blood pressure. I have not tried to make an appm't to follow up with this since, I feel I was blind-sided and left out of the loop. I was expecting no changes and had been promised to FINALLY be treated… Hah! I got my Hep C.. Feb. 23, 1974 in the same hospital where I had this banding by a new doctor. I am giving up at this point. I know so many who have been treated more than once.. I have excellent retirement insurance from working.. including no copay RX plan, but all I get is expensive MRI's, ultra-sounds, lacerated veins from blood draws and more EGD's. I had bridging fibrosis in 1994. So I am under the impression from reading topics on this site, that I am well into stage 4 decompensated liver functions. I have hit rock bottom. I have no help and no one to care one way or the other, including this new doctor who seems to be closed lipped. Should I be looking for another doctor? Do I even want to have another EGD in 3 months? Perhaps I should just do a living will with a DNR? I am totally out of my element here in this State. I came here hoping to get treatment and help. That was 8 yrs ago.. too long to wait and now I can't go home again~
Hi Ginger,
It sounds like you had some esophageal spasms. I had those after one banding. Really bad pain for days! I am surprised your doctor did not give you anything. I’m so sorry and hope you are better now.
I am also concerned that they did not put you on a beta blocker like Nadolol. It is the 1st line of defense against varices. Your blood pressure is really high hunnyo.
I am really discouraged at the lack of communication. You should look for another doctor since you have good insurance. You deserve to know more about the causes, medications, and side effects of varices.
About Sodium – YES it does come into play even though varices have not been a problem. A low sodium diet will help the liver in many ways and it is also healthier for your heart. It’s not so bad once you get the hang of it.
Don’t give up on treating. The new meds are awesome. SOOOO much easier than the treatment I went through. Cirrhotics don’t have a bad time with it and their cure rate is Amazing! This is your chance. Forget that doctor, or at least go in with a new attitude and let him know that you have some expectations.
This is not the end. It’s just the beginning.I was totally decompensated. Still stage 4, but going and a-blowing as my mom would say.
One more thing. I had bandings every month for a while. Then down to every 3 months. Now it’s been 6 months. I’ll get one soon, but I don’t expect any new varices with the beta blocker and all the adjustments I’ve made.
You can do it. Please keep in touch. Check in with me on facebook. There is a cirrhosis forum with tons of support. Also groups for hepatitis c and the new drugs. A lot of people in your shape are treating.
Keep me posted Ginger. I mean it. So glad we connected.
xoxoxo Karen:)
Ginger,
I am ihelpcKaren on Facebook and there is a Sovaldi and Olysio group, Hepatitis Friends and Family, Hepatitis C Organizations, Hepatitis C News, and a lot more communities. They may not be easy to find because many are closed to the public. Come in my front door and I’ll hook you up!
Thank you for the info. I have never had my blood pressure go over 115/80, until just before the knock-out drops hit me. Low BP runs in my family and I had thought perhaps that was a reason I was not on BP meds. As for sodium, I am not a “salt” person either. I don’t have ascites so I didn’t understand why it was written on the discharge paper. I live 60+ miles one way from the Dr office I had been going to. I may make one more effort to see if I can pay to have my records and notes copied and mailed to me. Otherwise, it just isn’t worth it go back there.
Hello!
It’s complicated, but the blood pressure and the portal vein pressure are 2 separate things. I’ve been studying to way blood moves into and out of the liver and still don’t fully understand. I know that the ascites and kidney problems are connected to portal hyptertension also. I’m with you. If you’re doing ok now, just wait. If you need the records, they can always mail them to you or even fax them.
I hope your weekend is going great!
Much much love,
xo Karen:)
Hot tea, i like Lipton Black tea was soothing and actually made my throat feel better.. I had less trouble drinking tea than I did with water.
I’ve never tried the black tea, but it sounds soothing. I have been drinking decaf coffee this week since I just had a banding. I let it cool down a little first. You’re right though, water is a bit painful going down. Maybe because I take gulps instead of sips.
Thank you so much for the tip. I appreciate it!
xo Karen:)
I just had to come back and read this as I head out for another banding. My first experience was memorable. Unfortunate for me, my doctor leaves you completely dressed & when I woke my shirt was soaked in drool. I must have been a real mess walking out of the clinic. Thankfully, I barely remember it!
Hay sweet sister,
How did the banding go? Did they find any new ones? I had mine a couple of days after yours and it was a mess. Lots of varices. I’m lol but they leave you completely dressed? No way! Of course I never remember any of it either. It’s like, “Who put my clothes back on me?” I always ask for ice cream on the way home and do not remember eating it. I think about you a lot. Your little guy is growing up fast!!! And the best part is that you are here to enjoy it. So very grateful for that dear friend. You’re a miracle! xoxo Karen:)
Wow ! I just had my first band put on 5 day’s ago .I have hep c and on my second treatment Harvoni .My liver is decomposing .I went into my first coma Dec 24th of 09 .The doctors never tell me anything .I have ,or had not wanted to Google the prognosis until now . Read your conversation and o.m.g .I do not follow my low sodium diet , I can’t stop it . Is it really gonna harm my conditioncondition ?I mean I have so much already wrong with me .I live Vegas and the lox , shellfish primerib ,along with pizza and youname itI devour.Here it’s cheaper than groceries .I also eat at night several times.Pickel’s olives,blue cheese etc… Please tell me it’sit’s not as bad as my Dr. makes it out to be .
Hay girl – First off I hope you are recovering well from the banding. I’m glad you finally got the idea to google some answers about how to love your liver. You’ve been through a lot. I’m guessing you’re a strong person! If you’ve been in a hepatic coma and are having to have varies banded, then heck YES you need a low sodium diet. It will change everything!!
The diet is not gonna hurt so much. Hit the salad bar first. Then you can have some of the things you like: pizza, shellfish, whatever… You can’t change it all over night. Give yourself a break and make the changes as you can. Cook something up and then use the leftovers. Its a great way to save money.
I WILL tell you this: You will live longer and feel better if you make those changes. I get where you are. My whole body is in a crashed state. But the diet is what turned it around for me. I just got back from a long walk. The 5 hours outside in the sunshine felt better than anything in the world tasted.
Thanks for dropping by. Again, you sound like a strong person and I know you’re gonna make it through the treatment! Congratulations on getting this far and let me know if you need anything.
xo Karen:)
Hi there , I was reading all your comments and it got me interested to add some of my experience with HepC and Cirrohsis…In 2005-2006 I did received the Interferon/+Ribaverin treatment for 48 Months and side effects nearly killed me..TLast year 2014 read about the new drug of Sovaldi+ Simprevir and got my specialist to have me on that treatment for the duration of 3 Months…..It was awesome , no side effects whatsoever and after the following three month after treatment I was totally free from HepC , I was completely cured…..As for my liver in which was already damaged I have to manage it in a way with a good healthy diet and also follow up on my banding of varices regularly .Yesterday I have had that banding procedure done in which for the first time after three banding Igot so much pain which seem to be gaz up and down to my stomach.Hope it is only gaz !!!Up to now for the last 10 years I have had 26 banding done and I have never experienced so much pain after each one as I got from these last three done yesterday. I am a 72 year old male and have had HepC since my diagnosis in 1989……Hoping that my liver regenerate a least a bit to eliminate some of the bad symptoms that I do experience.
Congratulations on beating the virus! Woohoo! At your age, to be free of HCV must feel wonderful. I’m amazed at how you survived 2 treatments. Double bravo to you for changing your diet. That is the key, you know. And also taking that Nadolol. Low salt kept me from having major bleeds for years. Those bandings are not so fun, but can save our lives!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I wish you all the best in your journey. Keep in touch. We’re in this together. xo Karen:)
My husband had a liver transplant 7 yrs. this may , due to Hep C he was on the medication and is HepC cured ! But due to the medication after transplant his liver has been badly scared and he is delvolping varies he had 5 band no bleeding no pain , he is on the Nadolol also the DR’S. At Jefferson what to see if his melt score would be high enough to be retranslated , we spoke with the DR’S but they seem to go around in circles , I would like to ask you if with varies is your life over they DR’S . made it sound like this is the worst thing ever, he dose not have Encephalopathy or ascites Just the varies , just would like some insight about what you think !
Hi!
Nadolol is the same thing I took. It’s a shame that his new liver got damaged. I can tell you that varices is not the end. It means that his portal vein is backing up. The thing to do is 1. take the meds 2. keep exercise low and steady. No heavy lifting. 3. eat a low sodium plant protein diet.
He will be able to live for many years. That’s part of the problem though.. varices alone does not raise the MELD score. It sounds like his blood labs must be good if he doesn’t have HE or ascites. That means he can have a good quality of life for many years. If the rest of it goes downhill, I know a reader who got a transplant AFTER he treated. So that is an option.
The landings will probably be done regularly until they do an endoscopy and don’t find any. With the right dose of Nadolol, it’s very possible that he will only have them checked every 6 months!
Keep me posted. Take care of yourself too!
xo Karen
Hi Karen,
I just had my first banding. I had two and they were pretty bad. Still have a few more to take care of next month. I have mostly been drinking water and a few no sugar added fruit pops. I tried a couple bites of scrambled eggs on the first day which really hurt. I just ate a couple scrambled eggs with salt substitutes and tumeric. Not as bad. But I keep getting these pangs of pain that start near the banding and extend to both side on my neck. It feels like nerve pains or something. I’m not coughing blood, my urine is normal and no rectal bleeding. The pain is terrible but I don’t want to taxi my liver. Any suggestions? Heating pad or something?
Sincerely,
Margaret
Hi there, I am so sorry to hear this. I was just about to go to bed when I read this. I remember that Karen ate very soft food, like applesauce. Eggs are good but at first the softer the better, yogurt? Be careful with tumeric at first because it can thin the blood. Her is a diets I found for people who have just had the banding. I will pray for you. If you feel really bad, please call your doctor, Dee
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/cirrhosis-discussions/general-support/3526792-discomfort-after-varices-banding
Karen,
How many milligrams of salt do you have everyday? Is there a limit that you stick to per meal or over all. I’m including salt in natural foods as well. I do not add any salt since this diet started but I am finding out that so many foods have salt naturally. Can I have an example of your daily meals? Thank you for your positive attitude! Not giving up without a fight!
Sincerely,
Margaret
Hi there, try to keep it as low as you can. When my Mom was on a low salt diet I seem t remember under 2,000 but everything has salt in it, even milk. One thing I would not eat is soup out of a can. That has quite a bit of salt. If you look in the upper right hand corner of the page you will see the liver loving diet. Karen has some goo ideas. Mrs Dash is a good salt substitute. I don’t add any salt to anything. I have slowly gotten used to it and I used to eat processed lunch meat, potato chips, TV dinners, etc. I stopped all red meat, fried food, I eat more salads, no fast food though Karen does have a list of acceptable fast foods. It was a slow process but I have cut out quite a bit. I drink a lot of water to help my liver work better. Take Care, Dee
Karen can you have s bad attack and what foods are good I ate poorly for s while ffor give days dry heaves like BSD heart burn doc has me already on prolosect can you have an attack or is this s sign I did go in one year to severe to completely healed
Hi I’m sorry Karen isn’t here right now. I don’t think she knew she had any problems with Esophageal Varices until she started vomiting what looks like coffee grounds and is actually blood. Is this what you are referring to when you say attacks? Take Care. Oh I would try eating lots of yogurt, low sugar or taking probiotics to promote “friendly flora” in your stomach. Good luck, I hope you feel better. Dee
Hello every1 first of all please respond asap any1 who can help, my mother is terminal ill cancer, unfortunetly the liver is afected as well, for the last 2 fays she is almost in a coma only wakes up cuz of the pain and falls back asleep shortly after i give her a morphone injection, that helps with the pain, she probably has some varicies bleeding she can noy open her mouth for me to clean it properly and it s a mess in there, i would lime to know from people wlike you with experience with such pain, what can i do to comfort her with the throt pain besides the morphne, i read black tea here but would lime to kbow if you guys have experies sipping somthing else that helped with the pain… I tried some coconut thin milk warm with some honey and peper but now sure if it worksso well, excuse my bad english as its not my primary language, help me give her some more confort in her final moments, as i know the pain my father when throu when he died of cyrosis, lookn forword for the respons
What a dear son you are. I know that your mother can feel your loving energy as you care for her. I will share my experience. When I was waking up from varices bleeding, in the hospital, I would hear my daughter talking softy to the nurse. One time I remember her wiping my lips with a warm cloth. Many times I remember her telling me she loved and squeezing my hand. I woke briefly and say my husband sitting in a chair with huge sad eyes and it broke my heart to see him suffer. Then I was out again. My family said I did not speak during these times.
Your mother too may be in and out. She is in a peaceful place where everything is soft and gentle. The past is gone and everything feels like a warm blanket to her. I remember looking at my daughter and wanting to talk. I tried to say I love you and realized that no words were coming. I remember thinking I could say I love you with my eyes. I hope if she looks at you, you can understand her heart is only love. She is thinking that you may need her in the future, but she won’t be there. She wants you to be strong and make good choices.
I don’t know your relationship, but I can assure you that all of these things were in my heart at life when I was dying. I am grateful to be here and to share this with you. I hope it brings you comfort. Any act of kindness, any drink or gesture is seen as love to her right now.
xoxo Karen
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