Constipation and the ER

Tmi warning: Has anyone here had to go to the ER with severe constipation or should I have waited longer? I felt so bad about it but two days after getting discharged after being hospitalized for two weeks with a partial obstruction I suddenly couldn't go despite the overwhelming urge that sent my whole body into a panic mode with the chills and weakness. I spent the whole day from 10 am on trying suppositories and Miralax but nothing worked and I ended up throwing up.i didn't feel comfortable trying an enema at home since I had had the fistula and though I believed it was healed I didn't want to do anything without consulting a doctor first. I have a new GI doctor now so I tried calling the office but since I hadn't been seen in the office yet (only seen at the hospital) they told me they couldn't help me over the phone and that it was probably best to go to the ER. I waited it out until midnight hoping something would start working but it didn't. So I went. They couldn't hear any bowel sounds so I got a Ct scan (4th one in three weeks) which was fine other than showing I was constipated. The whole night was a horrendous nightmare blur since I had to get Benadryl for the ct contrast and they gave more than I usually get and could barely keep me conscious to drink the contrast, was half conscious the rest of the night and them trying absolutely everything and I mean everything they could think of to get me to go to the bathroom and nothing would work. It took until mid morning to get any where. at which point the covering hospitalist came by and questioned me as to why I didn't call my doctor. I told her I did and what they said and she informed me that I should have asked to leave a message because they would have returned it despite what I was told over the phone! How on earth was I supposed to know this I really don't know! she didn't say it but she left me feeling like I had wasted everyone's time and feeling even worse. They ended up keeping me for observation until midnight since my white blood cell count is elevated but most likely from the steroids. Did I make the right decision? I keep thinking now maybe I should have just waited longer despite feeling so bad and tried to resolve it with more miralax or something.

My theory is, if it is worth it to me in the moment I decide to go, it's the right choice. Practically every time I go I have at least one person that makes me feel like I shouldn't have, but the way I see it, it's better to be safe! They should make a IBD call center or something, so we can call with what's going on and get an outside opinion when we can't reach our doctors on if we should go or not, because the decision is much easier when someone else tells you to go! But you absolutely made the right decision, don't let them make you feel any different.

I understand the distance thing. The nearest and my most used hospital to me is more like an urgent care that can do expensive testing, and I've found that PAs tend to give much better care than the doctors there. Every time I go it's like rolling dice on weather or not I get a doctor that believes me and knows anything about Crohn's, but the other hospitals are an hour away, and I'd have to drive myself or wait an extra hour or so for my mom to come get me. If I could start a call center I would haha. It just seems so hard for me to get information from my doctors office, I called on Friday to ask about a new and different pain I have been having (it seems everyday I'm in more pain, but I can still function normally enough I don't think I would be taken seriously at the ER). I just want to know if it's cause for concern or if it could possible be pancreatitis because I've been on 50mg of imuran for about 2 and a half months now, but it takes days for them to ever call back, and then all they ever really say is to take Tylenol. At least with a call center they could tell me how serious the symptoms are without having the wait.

Please do not second guess yourself. You had valid concerns based on your recent past...and I am sure that was not foremost in the minds of those that were telling you you should not have gone.

I actually spoke to my GI practice (on call not my GI) once and he wouldn't give me a straight answer about whether I should go or not...well if you think you should go you can was the answer. I went and was admitted with a potential bowel obstruct...then the hospitalist was going the other extreme and talking surgery.
The next trip to the ER, I didn't call anyone..just went. ER made me wait 2 hours...during that time I became violently ill in the waiting room bathroom (sorry TMI but out of both ends). They still kept me waiting after that....I told them I was going home and they still billed me my copay.

I tell you both stories because you don't know what waiting will do. You can't know. Do what is right for you.
Take Care