If it's just a few drops, I'd likely not worry about it. I ended up with an encapsulated vein right at the suture line between my bowel and skin. (I've been pondering having a surgeon see if they can cauterize it one day)

It will often not give me any trouble, but if I hit the edge of my flush stoma with a washcloth in the shower, I'll bleed like crazy until I apply some pressure on it for awhile. Of note, this was my second stoma. My first failed before I even got out of the hospital!

Liza....One sign of ongoing blood loss is anemia. Do a check & see if your dealing with any symptoms.  If so then make sure you see your Doctor asap.

Any amount of on going blood loss should always be reported. With Crohns this is a possibility and another reason to report it to your GP. 

Remember blood can appear black in a pouch also.  Is it clotted or fresh red, these need to be reported along with approx. amounts.  If your not sure if its the blue M9  Liquid deodorant reacting to food colours leave it out for a day or two.  Tomatoes can pass thru in small pieces mimicking a blood clot too. Some food colours can turn up in your pouch...beets can make it look blood like in output or even urine. 

Your on the right track of keeping an eye on it especially so close to your trip & with the activities you have planned.

Always...Better safe then sorry. You don't want to end up in a hospital away from home. 

Linda is spot on with this advice Liza. Best checked out!

@goatherder 

It was actually quite a bit. I emptied in the middle of the night and there was blood in the top half of the bag. Then the next 2 empties during the day were pretty much blood red. 

So I took the bag off to see if I could tell what was going on. There was a lot of blood in the bag but it looked like the output was just poo, no blood. So I snapped the bag back on. When the next empty was again mostly blood, I took the bag off again. At that point I could see the wafer had been breached, so I took it off. There was a blood clot under the wafer. So I started cleaning up the stoma and saw that blood was coming from the seam where the top of the stoma is connected to the skin. At one point it started spraying out like an artery, all over my bathroom counter. Ugh. I sat on the edge of the tub holding pressure until the bleeding stopped. Then put on a new bag. No more blood the rest of the day, but then in the middle of the night, I had another bag that was half blood. So far this morning, it is doing okay. It is scary though to see that much blood. 

Linda, I have been extremely anemic due to blood loss before, so much that I had to have a transfusion. I was starting to feel the beginning of some of the symptoms I had that other time. 

I know I need to see someone but I’m not sure who to call. My primary care provider, the ostomy nurse, or the surgeon who did my stoma surgery?  I’ll probably send my primary a message through my electronic chart and see if I can get an appt at the ostomy clinic. I’m guessing it won’t be before my trip though. The ostomy nurses are usually booked out a couple weeks. 

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the advice. 

@squeakyandliza Yeah, with that much, you need to get to the hospital and have them fix it! Hope you can get it cared for sooner than later/

Lisa, I don't think waiting for appointment is good idea. Why not go to emergency. Please, not to hesitate anymore. You deserve to have better treatment. Please, have someone who has medical knowledge to check this, meaning, go to the hospital.

(a cut on the finger with blood not stop are allowed to go to emergency)

Lisa

I agree with Stella you should check it out with someone if only for your peace of mind.

At least one or two simple tests can be done, ie anemia and Ig Immune response, With all you have been through its always better to play safe.

Yes your stoma can bleed a little (Little is the key word) anymore can risk an infection and sepsis or can be digestive Crohns issue!

Best wishes and fingers crossed its a minor issue- but play safe.

PS Just read your last post not sure how I missed it?

Go to emergency they will direct to to where you need to go!

No one should admonish you for that, its the right thing to do.

Chris

I have left a message for my primary care provider to see what she recommends. Since there hasn’t been any more bleeding since early yesterday morning, I’m not going to go to the ER at this time. 

Thanks to all who have shown concern. I so appreciate your responses!!

Update:

I just got my blood results from my primary care provider.  My Red Blood Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and Iron are all down from my last bloodwork at the end of August, but they are all still within the acceptable range.  They are toward the very bottom of the range, so I wasn't crazy that I felt the difference.  But since they are in the range, my doctor isn't concerned about it.  And I haven't had any more bleeding in my bag since the weekend.  So, I feel comfortable going on my trip. 

I was worried something was going to happen to prevent it.  This is my 50th birthday trip which has been delayed for 2.5 years, first because of my health problems, then Covid.  Deep down I was afraid it was going to get cancelled and when this blood thing happened, I thought "there it is" but I think we are really going!!  We drive down and stay in a hotel tomorrow night, because we have to be at the airport at 4:30am Friday morning.  We are meeting our good friends at the hotel tomorrow night.  We have done on trips for all our 50th birthdays.  Mine is the last one.  I've been having a pretty rough time lately, so this trip should be a nice distraction, and gear me up for starting my new job on November 1st.

Thank you all so much for all your support and concern.  You guys are the best!!

If anyone wants a postcard from Hawaii, just sent me a message with your address!!  I love sending postcards!!

@squeakyandliza glad to hear that things are getting back to normal. You have had a rough go lately - I hope your vacation is absolutely perfect! 

Laurie

@tigerlily 

Thanks Laurie!!

@squeakyandliza ...Liza, I completely understand. I'm so glad you reached out to you Primary Care. I know that blood loss can appear to be a lot &  mixed with watery Ileostomy output it can appear more. The clots are good. Your body is working to stop the bleed.

You did good getting your numbers checked, but was it after the blood loss or before? I think your using your gut instincts here & thats good, but please don't hesitate to go to an ER if things get worse.  If the blood results were from before & if there's more bleeding, after your home be sure to get them rechecked. Listen to those familiar symptoms your body gives you. 

I hope you have a wonderful time meeting up with your long time friends! I know that you so deserve this fabulous holiday & I hope you have a wonderful drool worthy time! Oh...I know you will!!!  I'll be thinking of you & your hubby as I sit here nursing a 4th ingrown big toe nail removal!  Hopefully the sucker will behave & not grow back again! So please,  tuck your tender little tootsies into the warm sand for me too & have a fabulous time!!! lololol!!!

@squeakyandliza Happy to hear this Lisa. Have a super wonderful fun and safe vacation. You deserve. 

We will be waiting here to hear all the happy stories from your trip.

@dlkfiretruck 

Linda- the results were from the blood I had drawn yesterday, so after the bleeding stopped. I have another appt scheduled for the beginning of December, so she will have me do labs again then. I do labs every 3 months because my numbers were so out of whack for a while there around the time I got my ostomy. 

@squeakyandliza 

As usual, I am late to this, but I am so glad you took the advice of the others. Blood in the bag is not to be taken lightly. I truly hope this doesn't happen again for you. Also, I hope you have a fun and much deserved vacation.

God bless 😇

Stella

....... I'm not sure about the rest of you all here,  and Liza, please don't be offended,  lolol, but I sort of feel like we raised you up from being a puppy ostomate to off on your wonderful trip without supervision! Lol!! ...But we all know that having your amazing supportive, attentive man beside you is a big part in the confidence you have in taking this fabulous so overdue 50th Birtbday trip. 

Considering it was first canceled once, because  your life & death emergency & maybe 2ce. thanks to Covid19,  I'm pretty sure that your hubby is keeping a steady eye on you to make sure you take it easy & enjoy every moment of your trip without over doing it.   

I'm so glad your blood work is up to date & I personally thank-you for contacting your Primary Care for advice before going. My concern is for fun not worry because of that phone call.  So...big-time, Thank You! 

I hope your having as great a time as you had planned & I'm pretty sure you are enjoying this time with your friends too.  What a fun way to celebrate 50th birthdays. I think of you often,  having fun & I'm  sending prayers your way also. 

Do not reply to this!! Go...play! Shop! Put your toes in the sand...get yourself a bobble head Hawaiian Dancer to add to your Memories...or your Hubbies! Lolol! 

Enjoy it as much as you can for all of us! ...now, is that the Beach Boys I hear???? Anyone else hear that...???  Lololololol! I'm so happy for you! 

Posted by: @squeakyandliza

Has anyone had a significant amount of blood in their bag when they empty it?

A little can be "normal" since it can be coming from the stoma itself if it's been scratched or bumped, but a *significant amount* is something that I would be calling my dr about, which I'm glad to see you already have =) 

I feel like I have tried really hard to maintain a positive attitude about this drastic change in my life, but sometimes it feels like it is just too hard. I’ve been having more blood in my bag. There was quite a bit Monday afternoon. I was finally able to get it to stop by applying pressure with the appliance off, but it scared me enough to ask my husband to come home from work (I’m teleworking now).  Then there was nothing yesterday, but this evening I had a bag that was mostly blood. I have an appt tomorrow morning with the assistant of the surgeon who did my original emergency ostomy surgery. 

I had a bit of a meltdown Monday evening. It’s been a long time since I felt this despondent about my life, and I cried about how much I want my old life back and how unfair this all is. I thought I had got all that out of my system 3 years ago, but apparently it was back. 

Thanks everyone for being here and letting me share my stress. And Linda, I’m not offended at all at your puppy ostomate comment. I sort of feel the same way. ❤️

I am sorry to hear that Liza, the appointment is the opportunity to raise the issues with the surgeon. All your problems are not what an ostomy life is about. Having your husband sit in would help support and put forward the seriousness of your problems. Best wishes