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What causes you to finally go to the ER?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/11/2014 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey gang. I have been quiet on the board sine having heart surgery in dec. guess what, the crohn's is showing it's ugly side right now. I am into my 3rd day of the "D" and all last 10 days only ate a little lunch and not much for dinner. Even had a low fever for a while. Have a few sharp pains and cramping, but nothing close to blockage level, which is good. The issue is with all my other problems and surgeries this year, it does not take much to cause me to go downhill.

My question is do I continue to manage it for now and follow up with GI Tuesday, or do I make a call? The issue is the last time I was n the ER I was there 8 hous and wanted to release me. Until my reg GP called the head dr and told them I needed to be admitted. So after 12 hours I was in a room. It was 12 am. The heart surgery who did my heart surgery came by to see me at 630am mad looked at my infection and ordered emergency surgery. I was under in 30 mins.

Point is I hate the ER and they never take me seriously. So I just think I will continue to suffer and call the GI. By the way I have been on zero crohn's medications since December 2013 due to all the surgeries and illnesses. They just could not take risks with a week immune system. I guess I am now paying the price.
Posted 8/11/2014 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mirowpl,
I'm so sorry that you are not doing well. Can you speak with your GI or his nurse on the phone today? Unless you think you need another admission to the hospital, I don't recommend going to the ER. But you need to trust yourself and if the pain gets really bad or you think you do have a blockage then you really need to go in. Make sure you stay hydrated even if you can't eat much. My ER has always been super nice to me, but still, they don't know my case and it's a big waste of time unless I'm really in crisis. I hope today goes ok for you.
Posted 8/11/2014 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Dehydration and blockage are the two things that I will consider when deciding. My experiences with ERs have ranged from so-so to terrible, especially with my mother's treatment. One thing I did with my parents that made a huge difference for them was to call an ambulance. They were treated in a totally different manner.
Posted 8/11/2014 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
In the last year, I've been to the ER at least 8 times. I was admitted all but one of those times, and would probably have then, too, if I had accepted a CT scan. If you have a fever, I am considered, no matter how low it is, even though most physicians will not take it seriously unless it is over 101 degrees. Your history of infection is worrisome. I had an infection for all those months and nearly died due to an anastomotic leak that my physicians routinely denied. Is there a different ER you can go to? How often has this hospital been difficult for you? How weak do you feel? You know your body best, and it's best to be safe than sorry.
Posted 8/12/2014 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
thanks guys. starting feel better this am, so did not call. now its night time and just had another huge BM, all D and watery. Will call tomorrow. I do not think its a blockage. but the crohn's seems active. I am trying to eat mashed potatoes and such.

I told my wife to only call an ambulance if ER is in the picture. The GI said tell them he suggested it.

So, I will be calling GI tomorrow. might be time for predisone.
Posted 8/12/2014 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Dehydration and no pain control. Or an abscess or too much blood for too long. Or any kind of infection, like this last time was a UTI, because I don't absorb antibiotics well enough to make them work but well enough to get c. diff., so it's better to just admit and do IV antibiotics right away instead of playing around with multiple kinds of antibiotics that won't work on the infection but will make me flare and then get c. diff. again. Fever is another one, because even with abscesses I don't get fevers. The last time was because the abscess went septic before it was drained (idiotic doctor told me the lump was a swollen gland and sent me home).
Posted 8/12/2014 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Scifigal2k, you last line is exactly was happened to me in Feb. the huge knott in my groin area was hurting and I had a low grade fever. However, since the blood work did not indicate bacterial infection (i might not for those of us on biologics during the first few days-confirmed by the infectious disease DR.) they were sending me home. my GP happened to call me while i was in ER to see if they had scheduled surgery, she was shocked when my wife told them i was going home. she called the head ER doctor and i was admitted and in 6 1/2 hours later i was in surgery.

Moral of the story..... we know out bodies better
Posted 8/12/2014 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
another night with another accident....messed up the pajamas as i could not get to the bathroom fast enough. this is second time in past 4 days and probably 5th time overall. Basically a "shard" but then i still have alot of "D" when i do get to bathroom.

anyone else have these accidents? I told my wife i am so embarrassed
Posted 8/12/2014 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mirowpl,
I don't have those accidents often, but yes, it has happened to me, and it is very humiliating! I hope all goes well with your doc appointment today and you get some immediate help. So sorry you are going through this!
Posted 8/13/2014 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Mirowpl,

Are you on any meds for your heart? If so could they be contributing to your D movements? I know it sucks but I wore a liner when I was having problems with urgency and it helped with accidents.
Your not being on any meds for your crohns and having had heart surgery recently definitely make deciding when to go to the ER harder. I too hope you get some answers and proper help for your crohns soon!
Posted 8/13/2014 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Libra1979, oh yes still lots of medications for heart/blood pressure including blood thinners. but i have taken these for almost 25 years, so i do not think i they are contrbuting.

everyone, at this point things have slowed down a bit and the gi wants me to stay off even predisone so i can make it to my colonoscopy scheduled for Sept 10th. so, i am trying to really watch what i eat, drink and keep fingers crossed. the colonoscpy will tell us the treatment plan.
Posted 8/13/2014 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Libra1979, oh yes still lots of medications for heart/blood pressure including blood thinners. but i have taken these for almost 25 years, so i do not think i they are contrbuting.

everyone, at this point things have slowed down a bit and the gi wants me to stay off even predisone so i can make it to my colonoscopy scheduled for Sept 10th. so, i am trying to really watch what i eat, drink and keep fingers crossed. the colonoscpy will tell us the treatment plan.
Posted 8/15/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Oh @mirowpl, I am so sorry - those accidents can feel so embarrassing. I've had them happen several times, and each time I just cry and cry. I especially hate when it happens when I am in the hospital because I can't get cleaned up quickly, and/or when I am c. diff. positive because it's a whole other story. One time I even had an accident in the car because we were stuck in traffic. I am so grateful my husband is so patient and not grossed out or anything. He still thinks I'm sexy, even though I don't have a sexy disease, lol.

But don't be embarrassed, please. You don't have control, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. If you could, you would, you know? Maybe wear Depends to bed for a bit or something? I did that for a while, especially during c. diff. positive times. It feels so dumb, like wearing a diaper, and I hate it, but it's much better than cleaning up a mess.

I hate when doctors are dumb. For me, it was my PCP in an office visit that said it was a gland and to go home. It was the ER doctor who freaked when he saw it and called the surgeon to do surgery within the hour.
Posted 8/18/2014 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
so, 8 days since my post, and the stomach has settled down with no predisone! I am eating more now and no "D" for 36 hours. i am glad the GI said to see if I could ride it out, that was his suggestion, and then go to ER if i got any worse. He would have put orders in to have me admitted if I showed up at ER.

Anyway, the goal was to stay off meds to get a clear scope on Sept 10th. the GI really wants to see what is going on st the site of my resection now that i have been off meds since December. This will tell us the action plan: do nothing, go back on Humira, or consider one of the newer drugs.

i appreciate all the support, especially with every making me feel better about having "shards" in my pants....how embarrassing. Hopefully my next post will be an update from the colonoscopy in a few weeks.
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