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should I go to the ER?I

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Posted 3/20/2008 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
How much blood is too much? I am in a bad flare and just started pred & 6-MP. I am on blood thinners for a DVT. I have gone to the bathroom 8 times in the past 2 hours and it is JUST BLOOD! I don't feel tooo sick or weak. I was able to take my meds & even eat breakfast. What would you do?
Posted 3/20/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
You should, at the very least, talk to a dr. or a nurse. My feeling is that if you think you might need to go to the ER, you probably should.
Take care of yourself
James
Posted 3/20/2008 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Given that you have been on the Prednisone for over 10 days, I would think it should have started working by now, so I think you are right to be concerned.  I've never had the best luck with the ER... and given that you feel alright, I would start by calling your GI's office.  He may tell you to go to the ER, but at least he can call ahead for you if that is the case.
Posted 3/20/2008 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
That is what I was going to say. Call your GI or their nurse and ask if they think you should go to the hospital. You hang in there and keep us posted!
Posted 3/20/2008 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks All! I have a call in to my GI. I'll wait for his advise! He is not in today (of course), but they will try to reach a doctor on call.
Posted 3/20/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I would go

Posted 3/20/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
If you're feeling OK....and eating with meds...I say wait for the call from your GI.

I was going up to 20 times explosive bloody diarrhea and the doc wasn't worried. If you were hemorrhaging and it wouldn't stop...then go.


My opinion.

Your blood thinnners can be a concern....you're not taking fish oil or vitamin E are you?


If tomorrow worsens, then consider....but if it's remaining as is and the amount isn't a lot...then wait.

Do you have your period at this time as well?

quincy
Posted 3/20/2008 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! Quincy, I am not taking fish oil or vit. E. I seem to ALWAYS have my period because of the blood thinners. My period only stops for a few days only. I think I just started to panic a little. I will wait to see what tomorrow brings. My doc is out today and will not be calling me back. The nurse said to go to the ER if I felt it necessary.
Posted 3/20/2008 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have a little rule about the ER. If I'm sick enough I need an ambulance, it's necessary. If I can walk and talk and don't think I'm going to die in the next 24 hours without medical attention, I stay away.

The docs there don't know me, don't know my history, and very well may know very little about IBD. If you can see your own doctor or someone taking call for him(her), you're much better off.
Posted 3/20/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Judilyn,  I feel the same way about going to the ER. I never have had to go to the ER before.  I just did not want to stay home and then regret it later, if I should have gone. I get scared that the blood thinners are causing me to bleed too much and don't know how much would be considered hemorraging.  The bleeding has slowed down. I think it may have just collected over night while I was sleeping and that is why I had so much this blood this morning. Thanks for the advise.  This forum has become my life line. You all keep me sane!!
Posted 3/21/2008 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
One more suggestion. Catch what you are expelling to see exactly how much it is. The water in the toilet bowl will dilute the blood and make it look like MUCH more than it is.

A memeber previously suggested covering the toilet bowl with foil or plastic wrap - with a "bowl" made in it - to catch things. This suggestion was made for stool samples - but would work here.

Doing this will give you a better idea. You doc will likely ask how much blood you are passing.

I like Judy's advice too. If I can function, I can get to my doc. What they might give me in the ER scares me. No pred for me!

Let us know how things go :)
Posted 3/21/2008 3:56 AM (GMT 0)

Hi There - if you do decide to go - bring your current meds or a typed listing of the meds, dosage, strength etc. 

I also had an easy-to-read brief summary of my husband's UC situation for the past year  and a plan of action that his doctor (who also had privileges at the hospital I brought him to) along with her telephone # that she wanted the hospital to perform. (Her associate was there that evening and she was there ever day thereafter.)  As he was admitted and remained in the hospital for 5 1/2 days.

In our case when I brought him to the hospital he was in excrutiating out of his mind pain, constant frequency and urgency, sleep deprived, and unable to even talk and comprehend due to the pain level.  Fortunately when the Dr came in to see him he already was on IV with pain medication.

When the Dr came in to see my husband and read over my synopsis first it channeled his questions to my husband to be relevant to why he was there instead of asking a ton of unnecessary questions and didn't waste the Dr's time and my husband who was just so worn out.

(The typed listing of meds was handy for the nurse to enter to the chart and other personnel who came in.)

Also depending on the time of day or night you go to the ER can make the difference how long you are waiting before a nurse triages you.  Some people have indicated they call ahead and inquire and basically stay home until they know the waiting time is a reasonable amount of time.  Nothing worse if you are in a bad flare and need the bathroom constantly and or in a lot of pain to try and sit in a waiting room to be called.  We totally lucked out and my husband was taken immediately as we hit it perfectly.  If it was wall to wall people he could not have done it.  If and when I ever need to take him in again (hopefully never) I will think about calling ahead if he is ever in that same level of distress again.

Of course an ambulance transport goes to the front of the line and is wheeled into ER even if they are stacked up in the ER hallway.  I witnessed 4-5 the day I was there with my husband waiting for a room to open up for his admittance.  So I would not be adverse to calling an ambulance if he was ever in that awful situation again.

Good luck.

Posted 3/21/2008 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Oh my, I am surprised so many people told you to wait.  I would not wait.  If you are losing that much blood, I would not wait to go to the hospital.  Better to be safe than sorry. 
Posted 3/21/2008 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
We have to look at the whole picture and determine what is a lot of blood and what isn't.

My perspective is if you're hemorrhaging....then it's abnormal what one usually experiences.

If you are feeling fine and can get in to see the doc soon....wait.

Only the person can make the decision, but is it anxiety or actual emergency?

How much is too much blood?

quincy
Posted 3/22/2008 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
this might sound crazy, but if you're well enough to be on the boards, posting, then you probably don't need to go to the hospital. i know when I was ill enough & should have gone to the hospital (I didn't- my GI was on vacation) I was so sick in bed, looking at the computer was the last thing on my mind. I didn't get up for like 10 days, didn't eat, barely drank...only stumbled to the bathroom for constant D. I would avoid the hospital at all costs- especially for UC, since all they do is rehydrate you & pump you with either IV 'roids or antibiotics. Another thing- my doctor has always said that what looks like a lot of blood really isn't GI speaking. Again, there have been many days when the bowl is literally bright red thruout the day, & things were alright. I think if you make sure you get enough fluid, you're ok.
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