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My first ER visit...

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/16/2011 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I went to the ER last night, first time since after my dx. I was already going in with hesitation just because of all the horror stories including one from before I was dx. Anyways, I decided to go in, I was having an extremely bad spasm that ended up lasting at least 2 hrs and was associated with lightheadedness which I'd never had before with one. We get to the er and it was an hour wait, the waiting room was jammed pack with people. Finally get taken into one of the triage rooms for them to start my iv before getting me admitted, but afterwards they decided to keep me in there.

by the time the Dr came in my attack had finally subsided some and I think he did understand that I wasn't faking and knew that it wasn't a bad uti (I was afraid he would think this per my experience and other horror stories), but the only tests they did were bloodwork (which all came back normal) and him pressing on my tummy (ouch!) He put me on Zofran, morphine, and a steroid (it started with a C but I don't remember the name), then they had to give me another shot of morphine because another attack started, that wasn't cutting it so they gave me dilauded, then it finally calmed down. once everything was settled they sent me home.

But they sent me home right as I said the pain was gone, and they hadn't even fully admitted me yet so they couldn't really discharge me (I was still in the triage room) I hated how the door was open at first and so everyone in the waiting room seemed very interested at looking/staring into my room at me, I asked if we could close it after I threw up from getting the first round of meds. I never even had a gown on, just my sweats (which is fine, I hate hospital gowns) The last time I was on morphine and dilauded my breathing went way low so I was kinda scared to be released and have that go wrong. They didn't even have me in a wheel chair out to the car, my husband had to come back in and get me to walk me out. Once we left I started getting another attack but we weren't going back. That made 3 attacks within a few hours which doesn't happen at all. I need to follow up with my GI today, I wonder if I might of had a partial obstruction, but since the only test they did was push on my belly it's hard to say. Oh well...
Posted 3/16/2011 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that you had to end up at the ER just so you can get seemingly inadequate attention. I think that steroids are like the go to for addressing a flair quickly but sending you on your way with out much more is unfortunate. Probably a reflection of just how busy they are there. Frustrating in the meantime huh.

I had a similar experience where I had to wait 4 1/2 hours to get in to the triage room at the ER. They found i had an abscess and the whole time I thought I was going to keel over. Thank god it wasn't a real emergency. rolleyes

Scary to think that this type of thing happens everyday at any given ER.
Posted 3/16/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey sgirl! Were your pains centered around the belly button and came in waves much like labor pains would? Were you able to move air from either direction, and were your bowels moving at all?

The reason I ask is that all of the above are symptoms of an obstruction. Just from your small description it did sound like an obstruction and they should have at least done an xray on your abdomen.

How are you feeling today? Any better? Are your bowels moving and are you passing gas or burping? Hope you can see your GI quickly, and if those pains start again, do not hesitate to go back to the ER. Obstructions can be serious issues. Hugs!
Posted 3/16/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
The pains always start below my left rib cage then radiates over my whole abdomen and up my back and into my shoulders. It does come in waves, but not as quickly as labor. If I get double attacks it'll subside for a few minutes and then it comes right back, but there's usually 15 minutes or so of the pain before it subsides. I was passing some gas at the ER, but I haven't been able to move my bowels yet, probably because of the pain killers.

I'm feeling okay today, no pain, but a lot of nausea. Waiting on a call from my dr...
Posted 3/16/2011 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry I hate ER docs a lot of the time when i had to go here (this was my 1st doc visit while in Oregon I was still trying to find a GI out here and a GP that took the insurance I had) The doc (who oddly enough had also gone to the same H.S. I did just about 10yrs before me) asked me well what do you normally do she had no idea what to treat me with etc....She did give me dilaudid and then the pred pack.
Posted 3/16/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Back in the day - mid-1970s - a visit to ER always got me a shot of demerol and phenergan, maybe an abdominal xray, maybe even some IV fluids - and then sent home.

Which was usually okay be me as the phenergan and demerol pretty much put me to sleep and I could go home and sleep it off for several hours.

ONE time, I was admitted. That was my last ER trip for Crohn's when it was decided it was a full obstruction and quite likely a perforation and I spent 6 weeks in hospital on IVs and a NG before releasing myself AMA and flying to Mayo Clinic where I had an emergency resection the next day.
Posted 3/16/2011 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you had such a rough experience. I'm glad that you are feeling somewhat better today.
Posted 3/17/2011 7:01 AM (GMT 0)

Hey sgirl, so sorry about your recent pains. I tend to spend a lot of time in the ER on the years I have a colonoscopy so my GI and I put together a game plan. I call him when I know it's time for an ER trip and he calls ahead for me and tells them exactly what to do, how to treat me and when to call him in if necessary. My hospital has a VIP entrance (stupid name I think lol... I never feel all that special as I'm doubled over in pain) for pts. who's doctors call ahead. So I still have to wait for a bed to open up but they are aware of how severe I am or may be and I don't have to prove how sick I am to the triage nurses. Also waiting by myself in a much nicer waiting room is kinda nice. Then when a bed finally opens up they know to give me IV fluids (always dehydrated @ this point) and Phenergan (for nausea/ vomiting), Dilaudid (as many shots as it takes) and Ativan all together. Many years of research have brought this lovely combo together :) ...it usually takes two to three rounds. Once they have my info they take me back for a CT scan w/ contrast to check for an obstruction. My GI knows it's just a matter of time before I either perforate or need an emergency resection so he's always ready. I stay as long as it takes to get my symptoms under control. Once my pain has calmed down and vomiting has stopped they discharge me. I've never been admitted for CD. and they always wheel me out per protocol except for my last ER visit. I was in my ER that I work at for a severe migraine, I go to a different hospital closer to home for my CD stuff, and I'd had a shot of morphine and Zofran then two more shots of Dilaudid and Zofran and the nurse asks me if I'm good to walk out. I was like "Seriously?!" my nurse wasn't too smart..lol

Sooooo point of my long post (sorry) was that you should maybe talk to your GI about getting him to call ahead for you so the ER knows what to watch out for.

Take care I hope you start feeling better soon!  ((((sgirl))))

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