This time there was no question for me on ER trip

I started a new type of medication (compounded) on Friday morning. My pain levels slowly rose all day Friday, which wasn't a big deal, but all of a sudden I had to potty about 5 times an hour. Then it went up to 9 times an hour by Friday night! I had other symptoms as well, urgency and burning.

Well, I connected the dots in my head, at least, I thought it must be something to do with the medication. I felt sure I had a bladder infection, was having a fever on and off, so I came right to the ER. They admitted me due to some 'off' results on my original urine culture, so they had to send it out for more testing and it won't be back until Sunday AM (for us US folks).

My doctor happens to be on a DWB (I think) trip to Africa, but one of his colleagues will be in to see me in the AM.

*Sigh* The good thing about this is that I feel that I've established a relationship with the ER at this particular hospital, I have never been to the ER here, it is quite a distance from home, but it is the same hospital that my main team members are affiliated with.

So thoughts, prayers, vibes, whatever you send, would be appreciated.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make a ton of sense - it's 3:10 AM and I've been on RTC IV dilaudid for 12 hours... as far as any hospital I've ever been to, this one is the best at understanding that CP patients need a more aggressive approach to treating acute pain attacks. They're only giving me a small amount of dilaudid (2 mg every four hours, followed by an additional 1/2 mg an hour later), but they are layering it with other meds (including Toradol, my favorite medication ever) and also actually had my ER med on the floor.

Wishing you all pleasant and pain-free Sundays.

Post Edited By Moderator (nvrthesame98) : 1/18/2015 1:21:59 AM (GMT-7)

BTL,
I'm soo glad that your ER is treating you right, I had the same experience at our local hospital and it was such a relief to not have to be worried about substandard care, etc. get better and best wishes, I will pass the news on to Dixie. . . . Q

Hate that you're inpatient, but I'm glad you are receiving good pain control. Hopefully this is something quick that will pass. Let us know how you are doing.

Hi you, sorry to hear that yo u are still bed bound but I'm sending you T&P's from NM. Overnight, Fed-Ex . . . Q

Vickie, I don't know, I can't get straight answers :( I've seen a doctor once for all of 7 minutes since I've been here. Thankfully it was actually MY doctor. If it hadn't have been, they'd have sent me home and said 'follow-up with your doctor.'

I'm going to request that a sample be sent out for a sediment culture, to detect more insidious bacteria. It doesn't make any sense that there would be NOTHING going on with what happened (is happening) to me. Out of 'nowhere' this starts, and there's nothing wrong? That can't be - even if it was 'just' an allergic reaction, at least that's something.

If you don't have dilaudid after you leave the hospital you will most likely have withdrawl symptoms.  I was the hospital for 10 days, same dilaudid I.V. every day and man when I left withdrawl kicked in. 

Good luck, I hate hospitals but because I have MRSA when I go I'm in my own wing with a huge room by myself.

What did they finally decide was the issue? Hopefully it's something you can treat and not happen again.
I've never heard of co-ed hospital rooms-that would be strange.

I've never had withdrawals when returning home. I was in for a month and was still ok with the meds at home. Maybe I've just been lucky. I would hate to finally get home and then have to deal with withdrawals-jpjr, you must have been miserable.

Did you PM allow you to go home with the med change?

Thought it said he…I jumped to where you said the pancreas was out because it is unusual. With the GI stuff I have met people who have had stomachs removed and other organs so I guess the pancreas could be out, too. I would assume the liver could pick up the slack, but that would be a stress on that organ. One thing I've learned about the human body is that it's very strange. I wouldn't mind a coed room if I could pick the roomie...

Sounds like you were in a transition/observation(TCU) area. I've been there when the beds upstairs are full. One time it was great because I was going to go up to the ICU but spend 24hrs in the trans area and by then I was bumped down to the progressive care floor. I live for privacy so the ICU is my nightmare area…

Definitely check and make sure that you hospital stay was coded correctly. Often the TCU is coded as a 23hr admit, and if the stay is longer, the Dr needs to recode for insurance purposes. Medicare is very strict when it comes to how hospital stays are coded. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

My ERs always run a sed test because it can point to a kidney infection, a stone, UTI, or dehydration. It shows RBC, WBC, crystals, casts, and bacteria. If something still feels "off" I bet your primary Dr could do this in the office. That might give you some peace of mind.

Hopefully you PM will get back with you about a med change. I know I'm spoiled and text with my Drs. Funny story-after get a text from one of my surgeons, I got another text about 10min later asking me to pick up diapers on the way home. The Dr didn't realize that my name popped up and sent me a text meant for her husband. I texted back and asked if she could take the cost out of my copay.

I'm glad you are home and can get some sleep. Hospitals are exhausting. Definitely stay on your Drs until you get an answer. You don't deserve to feel miserable.

How are you feeling?