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Posted 1/17/2009 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering at whet point to you fianlly break down and go to the ER? I have been pretty sick for a few days now and my mom wants me to go to the hospital. I don't think they will be able to do much with me
Posted 1/17/2009 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Chelsea,

I am sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly. What are your symptoms? Why do you think the doctors won't be able to help you? Hope you feel better soon!
Posted 1/17/2009 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
pain, exhaustion, and Diarreha
Posted 1/17/2009 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelsea,

Do you think you may be dehydrated from the D? Dehydration can be dangerous and I know the doctors can help with that. Have you been able to talk with you own doctor? If you really aren't feeling well at all and especially if you are dehydrated, then going to the hospital can't hurt. Better safe than sorry. They can check out what is going on and make sure it isn't serious. Why does your Mom think you should go?
Posted 1/17/2009 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I used to go when my pain got bad .That's when I started to get some help . They can determine if you need some IV and if you are in need of being admitted. lol gail
Posted 1/17/2009 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think i am dehydrated... I make sure I am drinking alot. My mom is just worried because of the pain and D. My GI is out of the country until monday and my GP was on vacation until monday as well
Posted 1/17/2009 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
It depends on the symptoms and severity. Obviously you don't want to wait too long if nothing is improving no matter what you do. I normally go in when I am dehydrated, sleeping most of the day, unable to eat anything, the obvious weight loss that follows, and when I am losing a lot of blood. Generally when the medication is doing nothing...
If you're worried about the pain and it is something that you're having a really hard time with then don't hesitate to ask for pain killers. They obviously aren't permanent and you can let your doctor know that you understand they are on an 'as needed' basis but that you DO need them. As for the D, I'm not sure how much of a problem it is for you so I can't say too much except maybe try half a tablet of imodium, see if it helps, and increase as needed. Of course I would ask a GI about this first as well if you can.

Ultimately, if you feel that things are bad enough and can't improve at home then I say definitely go to the ER. They can at least hook you up on some intravenous fluids and maybe give you something to calm down the BM's.
I hope you feel better soon!!
Posted 1/17/2009 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
thanks.. I already have pain meds but sometimes they don't get rid of the pain just make it more bearable. i am having at least 7 bm's a day sometimes up to 20. There is no blood though and I am sleeping alot
Posted 1/17/2009 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am just apprehensive about going to the ER and waiting for 8 hours around sick people and possibly getting sicker than I am
Posted 1/17/2009 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
If your GI doc is unavailable, doesn't he/she have a backup doctor you can talk to? If not, you may want to call the ER and ask to speak to the GI doctor on-call. You may be on hold for a while, but they will get someone for you to talk to. He/she will hopefully have advice for you, and probably tell you to come in just to be safe. But then he/she will know you are coming and that may shorten your wait. My ER gives out masks for all to wear while waiting and has hand-sanitizers. Just be careful and you will be fine.
Posted 1/17/2009 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
no he doesn't have someone covering for him and the last time i went to the Er and saw the on call GI dr, she told me that she didn't think I had crohns ( after looking at just my CT scan) and then sent me home after keeping me there for 13 hours with no food or water ( in case they needed to operate) I only had an IV
Posted 1/17/2009 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
the last three times i went to the hospital have been like this

one time i went because i was going to the toilet 25+ a day with lots of blood and i could not sleep.

the next time i had 104 F (40°C) fever and bad joint pains(could not walk) and bloody D and just plain sick.

the third time i went because of joint pain i woke up crying from pain and had to have strong painkillers.
Posted 1/17/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
extreme pain and/or a fever are the two main reasons to go to the ER...other things can usually wait for a regular doctor visit. if its a total obstruction, you need to go in.
Posted 1/17/2009 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Myself, I will not go to the ER unless I've been off food for over 5 days BUT also am very dehydrated from D and Vomiting or extreme nausea AND have been running a high fever to where I think my white blood cell count is very high. This is only because I find that all they do is put IV in me and then start running expensive tests. This is also when none of my meds seem to make much of a difference.

I much prefer toughing it out and going in to see my PCP. He will run the necessary blood tests and tell me what I need to do. I trust him and know he's not practicing "defensive medicine" on me.

I thought about going into the ER today because the pain in all my joints is such that I can barely type this email 10 on the 1 - 10 scale... this much joint pain in new to me. Will hold off and call PCP Monday for his direction.

This DD really bites the big one... Good luck to you. Please don't make your decisions based upon my actions, as I have an aversion to all things hospital, so I tend to stray as far away from them as possible.
Posted 1/17/2009 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Well, this is a hard one to comment on-especially if you aren't wanting to go. One thing I will tell ya, if you are dehydrated it makes starting an IV really, really, hard for them. Everytime I have been to ER, I was admitted, why, big time dehydrated. and severe pain. I did not have any big expensive tests done either. I was hooked to an IV, given IV pain meds which made me feel great as far as the pain scale goes. The only test ever done has been Ct's w/contrast to rule out blockages. You can have diarhea and have a blockage. I guess if you get sick enough you will find your way to get help. Only you know how bad off you are.

Susie
Posted 1/17/2009 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
After looking at just your CT scan...I wonder how many times I have heard this? And it's happened to me as well. I went into the ER and was told I had IBS and was mildly anemic. Once I had tests done by a GI it was confirmed that I had moderate to severe Crohn's and was SEVERELY anemic. I normally will go to the ER and get IV fluids and the like, and tell them my PCP is my GI since, technically, he is. Considering most of my health problems stem from Crohn's anyway it makes sense to request all information be given to the GI...
Point being, ER doctors don't have what they need in order to properly diagnose and treat our problems. I think if I were that busy I might not be able to either so I'm not blaming them, but if you did go I would request that your problems be brought to the attention of your GI and go from there...
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