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Hospitalization questions

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/3/2008 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I see from the posts that some of you guys have been hospitalized. I know this sounds sorta stupid, but when do you know you have to go to the hospital (pain? dehydration? way too much bleeding?)

How do they determine how long to keep you there, etc?
Posted 8/3/2008 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I would think when it's out of the ordinary for past flares or fast and furious increase of symptoms such as pain and bleeding/diarrhea. There is always the chance it could be something else going on.

Some people will literally be on death's door before even admitting they should deal with symptoms and then can't get in to see their docs for weeks. The doctors will usually suggest go to the hospital. Desperation does play some part of it I would think....dehydration and nutrition loss can happen fairly quickly once the body can't cope with symptoms.

There are more factors involved I would think than just one day perfect, the next day all hell breaking loose.

quincy
Posted 8/3/2008 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
For me, I went because I was so anemic I could not function in my daily life. When it got to the point that I couldn't stand long enough to take a shower without fear of passing out, my husband said we needed to have my parents come watch the kids because I needed to go to the hospital.

They kept me for 4 days. They wanted the bleeding to be under control before I left, and my hematocrit level had to be at a certain point-I don't recall the number. (it was still lower than normal, but higher than it was when I went it) Those were the basic determinations of when I could go home.

Definitely better to deal with things before they get to that point. I was in serious denial.
Posted 8/3/2008 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
If you are not sure better to go in, We always wait too long and then he ends up at risk of perforation and peritonitis. When he can't eat has a fever and can't stand the pain anymore we go in and they always tell us he should have come sooner. Suggest VM to you as in the other post much happier with the GI staff here. The one thing about going in to the hospital they do alot more for you than when you just go the office. He has been in now 4 times in last 3 months. Can't seem to get this under control.
Posted 8/3/2008 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I got UC pancolitis a month and a half ago. Before I was hospitalized, I had daily headaches due to anemia and dehydration and super weight loss. I went from 57kg to 52kg :( I need to gain weight. After I got IV's the first day, my headaches went away and I felt so much better. There was a point where there were three different types of nourishing liquids going into my body. one was white in color, one was clear, and the other was yellow. The doctor wanted me to stay in the hospital until the bleeding was controlled so I was there for like 11 days.
Getting nourishment from IV's is so nice, I just hate the needle sticking into my skin :( I wouldnt mind doing it once a week hehe.
Posted 8/3/2008 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I don't feel the need to go to the hospital at all. The cortifoam, canasa and upped asacol (from 2 to 3 3x per day) seem to be doing the trick slowly but surely. The urge is still there, but no more blood. I think I am on the downside of this mini-flare.

I was just curious as originally I went to the ER for dehydration due to diarrhea. They gave me an IV and a few hours later sent me on my merry way. The ER doc didn't even suspect UC. I made him give me a referral for a colon specialist for followup. How sad I had to beg for it.

In anycase, I was just wondering if there was any criteria for when they actually hospitalize you.

On a different note, I just swapped GIs. So far I am pleased with the new doc. However if things don't continue to go well, I will head over to Virginia Mason.
Posted 8/3/2008 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Happy to hear you like your new GI.

Is Virginia Mason a hospital?

What exactly are your symptoms that you would determine "don't continue to go well"?

q
Posted 8/3/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, VM is a hospital in Seattle with clinics also in Seattle.

My relationship with this GI (as opposed to the previous GI) is better. My symptoms seem to be improving. I meant to say that as long as my relationship with my new GI go well.
Posted 8/3/2008 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Supa, I was exactly like you when I was severely anemic. But I never went to the hospital... I should have, but, by some miracle, I made it after my blood tests came back with my hemo so low and I got my levels up by taking supplements and stuff.

Next time I feel like that I'm going in. For sure.
Posted 8/4/2008 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
i ended up going to hospital one night as the pain was so bad that i couldnt straighten out and i just started to panic really. so did my husband.

called the doc and he said go in and he would call the hospital while i was on my way so they were expecting me.

kept me for 7 days.

liquid diet and hydrocortisone shots and morphine every 4 hours.

was pretty bad.

i guess its a matter of when you think you hit that threshold and need some professional care just in case.

i wouldnt have died it i didnt go, but i guess its goood i did. (i think)... except for the mouth thrush from the hydrocortisone. yuck

Posted 8/4/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I have been hospitalized many times. But i only go in when i can't sleep for many days at a time. And when I couldn't go to school for 3 weeks or more. When I get to the er I make sure they don't give me morphine. *really important if you have left sided colitis. Trust me it is better to ask for demeral or dellotted *sp?*. Constipation is my problem...so if you guys ever think that the pain is too much the best route is for dellotted and compasein *nausia meds* for this pain med will make you dizzy. I am a small person so i ask for 1mil only makes my life better.I am not a doctor but it is sad when i know that the GI docs agree with me. The look relitively happy to see that i remember morphine has bad side effects with my UC symptoms. But I do however know that all pain meds will have some effect on me. Even dellotted and demeral has some side effects. Hope this helps you out if god forbid you need to go to the ER. sad
Posted 8/4/2008 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
I had to be admitted to the hospital when all my treatment options were not effective at home.  I was on the highest oral steroids I could be on..and still continued to have a very bad flare up,  with blood,  mucous, pain, etc.   I started to see my doctor in the office everyday,  and was given shots of steroids, and sent home on high oral steroids,  and yet continued to worsen.   Finally my doctor decided I needed to be in the hospital....I was upset by it,  but yet happy by it...I knew I would get whatever treatment needed to be done to get me better.    I had already had a few ER visits before that as well...and was ready to be done with the flare once and for all...and it worked after 6 days in the hospital....
Posted 8/4/2008 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I have not been hospitalized yet but at point I became so Anemic I almost was. One good thing that my doctor does is when I flare I have an open ticket for blood work. This allows me to stop in to my local lab and give a sample once a week if I am losing allot of blood or every few weeks when things are still happening but not so bad. The results are sent to him sometimes the same afternoon. He can monitor your hemoglobin that way, if he can't get you in. Try and see if your GI will let you do something like that.
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