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Hospitalization?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/15/2008 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
For those that have had to be hospitilized because of their UC what was the cause?  How bad is "bad" is my question.  Right now I feel horrible and am bleeding quite a bit, but it is all relative and I am wondering when a GI would resort to putting someone in the hospital.
Posted 12/15/2008 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
are you on the rowasa enemas at this time? Are you just bleeding or what are your other symptoms?

q
Posted 12/15/2008 9:46 AM (GMT 0)
I was trying to get an appointment with a GI, but ended up as an emergency admission due to a lot of bleeding - couldn't see anything in toilet bowl but blood for several days. Vomitting after eating anything at all, and often after drinking (even water) Very breathless - even just talking could make me out of breath, light-headed and utterly exhausted. Looked like something out of a zombie movie! I ended up needing 3 packets of plasma as my hg (haemoglobin) count had gone down to 6, which was the main reason for admission. A count of 8 is roughly when a blood transfusion would be needed, which would indicate hospitalisation.
If bleeding is your main symptom at present, it may be worth getting a blood check done for anemia, and speak to your doc. Even if hospitalisation isn't needed, you may need to vary your meds.
Posted 12/15/2008 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I have had more bleeding during this flare then ever before(the toilet looks downright scary at times!) and have felt very cold and EXHAUSTED. I'm going to see my GI today and I am sure she will draw blood to check my counts. I am hoping that my flare will end shortly, but was just wondering when people actually have to go to the hospital to be treated. Thanks for the info.
Posted 12/15/2008 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
I've never been to the hospital even with 20 times a day explosive diarrhea. I was able to get in to the GI fairly quickly, or he would have prescribed something until I got there....

I think the hospitals mainly will prescribe pred....I personally would want to deal with the doctor.

But, in saying allll that, I would say that if your symptoms change quickly, you are extremely lethargic and you believe you need to go...do so.
Sometimes anxiety can cause some distress, or the distress can cause anxiety...but i you really believe you need to go to the hosiptal, it would be best to do so.

Let us know how the appointment went.
quincy
Posted 12/15/2008 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
I would stay out of the hospital if you can! I do. And absolutely avoid the emergency room, it will be a miserable experience.

I was only hospitalized once, due to severe anemia. I mean they asked me to climb stairs from the medical faculty office to take a short cut to the emergency room, and I could not do it. I was only there two nights, and did not get a blood transfusion (back in the early 1990's when the tests for HIV in the blood supply are not as good as they are now). I can't remember what they really did for me, but I think I remember an IV...

Jen, if you are cold and exhausted, that might be what is wrong with you. Seems many get transfusions, which still surprises me, but I bet it makes you feel better fast.

So in more than 20 years, no extended hospitalizations.
Posted 12/15/2008 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
The only time I went to the emergency room was when, besides the bleeding and 15 trips to the bathroom, I started have a lot of pain- so bad that I couldn't stand up straight. I ended up staying for 6 days.

See what the doc says... make sure to be as graphic as possible. :))) smhair

Posted 12/16/2008 1:37 AM (GMT 0)

I have been admitted numerous times over the last 5 yrs. Atleast 3-4 x a yr.

My GI bases it on my symptoms. Usually it is due to BM's more than 15 x a day w/ mass amounts of blood, vomiting, pain.

I am treated w/ IV steroids, antibiotics, and pain meds.

It sux being admitted, and i would WAY rather be treated at home, but sometimes, i just get past the point of being able to function.

Good luck and hopefully u won't need to be admitted.

Posted 12/16/2008 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Looks like I turned the corner so to speak. My BMs are way down and more importantly the blood is so much less I can't believe it. I saw my doc today and she said it is likely my UC will never get so severe that I will need to be hospitilized/have my colon removed, etc. She said that the disease usually presents itself how it is going to be within the first year and as I have had UC for 5 this is probably how I will live out my life(unless they find a cure which I said to her and then laughed, of course she had no response to that comment). So, I will stay on the 5-ASAs and hopefully contain my flares, the worst of which have been caused my pregnancy, after giving birth, or after stopping breastfeeding. As this is my last child(I have a boy and girl now so what more can I ask for?) I am HOPING that I won't have anymore severe hormone surges which seem to cause these god awful, unbearable flares for me.

All this talk on this board about hospitilization and surgery always freaks me out...I always think "when is that going to happen to me". Some days I do feel like I just want my colon OUT when I am in a really bad flare and can't seem to leave the toilet, but I guess I am a lucky one that my flares DO get back in remission and when in remission I am ok. I really feel for those of you that have it so much worse and the stories about the kids with it just breaks my heart. Hang in there! I really hope they are working on a cure for all of us!
Posted 12/16/2008 8:38 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you're feeling better Jen. Say on the Rowasa until you feel normal...and please don't NOT taper...you'll find a maintenance. It's one thing that will be sort of ongoing...you'll start to have periods and will have hormonal swings...eventually a pattern may emerge and you'll be ready for it.

Keep us posted.
quincy
Posted 12/16/2008 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe your GI told you your UC presents in the first year how it is going to be. My UC was left-sided for 12 years and I lived with it fairly well. Then, after one colonoscopy, I found it had progressed to pancolitis. Now it seems my life IS my colitis.
Posted 12/16/2008 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had lost so much blood I needed a transfusion. My resting heart rate was 150BPM due to the dehydration. 24-30 bloody BMs a day.

That is what got me in to the Hospital.
Posted 12/16/2008 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
     I had to be hospitalized twice.  The first time was when I was diagnosed.....severe diarrhea, bleeding, urgency, loss 20 lbs in one month.  My hemoglobin was down but just avoided a transfusion.  That hospitalization lasted eight days and was in 98.  My second hospitalization occured this year..ten day stay...same symptoms as first time only my blood pressure was 210/110.  So I believe they were more concerned about my having a stroke than the UC.
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