HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Would you bother going to the hospital?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/11/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am having a hard time figuring out if my situation is bad enough to go to the hospital tonight...

Like I posted recently I was tapering Prednisone after my first flare ever and my syptoms came back a week ago. I am eating well but I am having abdominal cramps, pooping urgency, blood (light red and pink), mucus, tissue... I feel tired all the time...

I started again with 40mg prednisone yesterday morning and I don't see a big difference since, maybe a little less urgencies to go to the bathroom but I still pass blood, tissue, mucus and cramps ...  I went at least 10 times today..

I am hesitating on going to the hospital for this... I don't know what they would try since I am already on a high dose of pred???

I am kinda scared that if I wait too long the only option will be surgery?? Is that possible?

Thank you I feel a little anxious right now...

Posted 4/12/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
If you were hospitalized, they would put you on IV prednisone (solumedrol) and fluids.

Before surgery I'm sure your doctor would try: Imuran or 6-MP, Remicade, or Humira - depending where you are at. So, you are not out of options yet.

I would give the pred a couple more days to work. Make sure you are getting enough fluids. Sleep and rest as much as you can to give your body time to heal. Eat a good balanced diet that is pretty low residue (to avoid things scraping your insides).

Are you taking a multivitamin? Any probiotics? Did your doctor give you anything for the cramping? (Bentyl is a good one.) Decreasing the cramping can help decrease urgency.

Prednisone can increase feelings of anxiety! I hope you find some relief soon.
Posted 4/12/2009 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
     What other meds are you taking?  Stick to a very light diet, low residue.  Give the prednisone a few more days, if you think you can, to start working.
Posted 4/12/2009 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I would try to stick it out for the weekend and call your doctor on Monday. Doesn't sound like you need to go to the hospital, but everyone handles their bodies differently. When I was hosptialized, I waited til I was running to the bathroom every 20 min. When I'm flaring, I push salads, but with bleeding involved, I'm not sure if that is good. Good luck!
Posted 4/12/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)

PinkPaperclip said...
Hi, I am having a hard time figuring out if my situation is bad enough to go to the hospital tonight...

Like I posted recently I was tapering Prednisone after my first flare ever and my syptoms came back a week ago. I am eating well but I am having abdominal cramps, pooping urgency, blood (light red and pink), mucus, tissue... I feel tired all the time...

I started again with 40mg prednisone yesterday morning and I don't see a big difference since, maybe a little less urgencies to go to the bathroom but I still pass blood, tissue, mucus and cramps ...  I went at least 10 times today..

I am hesitating on going to the hospital for this... I don't know what they would try since I am already on a high dose of pred???

I am kinda scared that if I wait too long the only option will be surgery?? Is that possible?

Thank you I feel a little anxious right now...

If you are seeing tissue (other than toilet tissue) that is certainly something to be concerned about...are you sure it's tissue? 

Posted 4/12/2009 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
definitely call the GI if that's who you're dealing with and if that's who put you on pred.

I don't consider your symptoms out of the ordinary of a bad flare...that's not meaning to make it like it's nothing. It's difficult to handle, but it doesn't seem that you're in a state to require hospital care.

From what I've read regarding others on pred....there are symptoms that return after some tapering if it's quick...the adrenal glands need to kick in the production of cortisol after the pred isn't giving the body that amount it's used to.

You do have to allow some time for the body to regain function while tapering on pred.

What dosages did you taper from....were you completely off pred and then symptoms started again?

Hang tough...call the doctor and discuss the matter with him...

Maybe the pred ups and downs are adding to your anxiety feeling?

quincy
Posted 4/12/2009 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies it is sincerely appreciated.

I wrote a long reply and accidentally deleted it , it always happen to me when I use my laptop!!! I will ty to make it short and sweet.

I went to bed early after posting my thread and it helped, I woke up at 5 this morning, went to the bthroom 3 times (no blood or anything scary!) and took my 40 mg of pred. I am going back to bed soon.

I was sure that there was intestinal tissue yesterday but it seems that this morning I am ok.

I have been tapering 5 mg of prednisone per week for 2 weeks (so i was at 30 mg) when my symptoms came back. I realise that this might be too fast for my body I will tell my GI on my next appointment on the 24th (he is on vacation until then).

I don't feel like the pred is making me anxious, I have been stuck with mad anxiety pretty much all my life (taking paxil and seroquel for this) and since i got diagnosed with UC I feel more relaxed. It made me realise I have to be optimistic and trust the course of life I think... also made me realise I haveto take good care of myself and do one thing at a time! I am grateful for this, I believe pretty much everything happens for a reason...

I take calcium suppplements and a multivitamin (centrum) everyday, I take probiotics in capsules and in yogurt occasionnally and I have Bucospan for the cramping , I don't used it very often though. I don't like taking so many pills so when I can I prefer a hot bath to bucospan.

I will go back to bed now, thank you so much for your help, it really makes me feel better just knowing there are people out there I can talk (well.. write) to.
Posted 4/12/2009 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
One more thought. It sounds from your last post like the blood scares you alot. I remember my first flare and that blood is scary. Just remember that when blood hits the water it can look like more than it really is. When I am flaring badly I will often go to the bathroom and have only blood come out. This is pretty normal for a flare but if it is your first flare it will feel prety abnormal. That you didnt have blood this morning makes me think you are doing ok for now. Anyhow, that being said, if your gut tells you that you are not ok, by all means go to the hospital. It is hard for us here to determine what you may need. Oh, one last thought. I think the most serious complication from UC is toxicmega colon - crazy name huh? The signs of it are bowel distention, pain and tenderness (more than a usual flare I would think), fever, rapid heart rate, dehydration and shock - the bowel distention and bloating is probably the most obvious sign. But this is not common and I would suspect that you would be feeling so awful you would take yourself to the hospital. Eventually you will learn what your own 'normal' flare is and then will feel less scared when it happens.
Posted 4/12/2009 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
You should be at the hospital getting medical attention. Are you really going to let a bunch of medically untrained people on some forum advise you of such a important decision? Albiet everyone means well, but at the end of day it's all opinion.

I had a similar instance where 40mg of Pred stopped working. It won't get better on it's own, my hesitation caused serious problems as I went from Proctitis to Pancolitis. Had I been at the hospital earlier things may of turned out different.
Posted 4/12/2009 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
While everyone has to make their own decision, I think the advice given to Pink Paperclip was pretty good. I do think, as others had mentioned, that a call in to his GI (or whomever is covering for the GI while he or she is on vacation) would be a good idea, but unless you're suffering a high fever and/or severe pain, the ER is likely the last place where you'd be made to feel better, especially over a weekend. ER people are not versed in UC or Crohns, I've been in ERs where there has only been ONE bathroom available ... unless you're in real trouble, and if you are, you'll know it, better to stay out of ERs.

When I was nursing my daughter I had a textbook case of mastitis (can't spell it, but infection of a milk duct). I knew I needed a strong antibiotic -- I had a very high fever, breast was red and very warm, my mother was with me, we could NOT convince the idiot resident what was wrong. We had to insist on another doctor, threaten lawsuits, you name it. And since that time I've found myself in ERs quite a bit, and with rare exceptions, while they try to do their best, they're over-extended and unless you have a pretty black-and-white problem, they are often at a loss as to what to do. I usually end up leaving after getting an injection for pain, a prescription for pain-killers, and instructions to see my own doctor as soon as possible. At this point I only show up in an ER if I am in so much pain I can't make it until morning.

Meesh
Posted 4/13/2009 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
The last time I went to the ER was because my fever wasn't going away while having the stomach bug, and with being on Humira, I kinda over worry about infection. But I do agree with Meesh, if you aren't constantly running to the bathroom like every 10-20 minutes you really don't need to go to the ER. When I was in the ER the last time, they kept saying that I noticed that you have IBS, so I kept correcting them. Even the doctor who was attending me wasn't to up to date on UC. Although, my very first visit I had my own bathroom, but it was at a newer hospital.
Posted 4/13/2009 12:17 PM (GMT 0)

It was probably mucus, not tissue.

I have never gone to the hospital and I used to be on the toilet over 10x a day with a bowl full of blood. I am not saying you should not go to the hospital if you feel like you need to. I didn't go and I survived. If I were in pain or scared, I would have gone to the hospital but I always thought my flare was simply out of control and I needed to see my doctor asap. I couldn't get an immediate appointment and had to go weeks without any medication.

Posted 4/13/2009 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Im in exactly the same situation (and my specialist is away on vacation too)....Before my doctor went he knew of the flare so he is aware.....the only time i go to hospital is when i had suspected toxic megacolon I got the rigors for hours and bloated up really bad....nw i look for similar symptoms..... definately talk to your doctor
Posted 4/13/2009 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
If you think the ER is the place to go to get relief, you will be in for an unpleasant surprise, as has been said. If you think you were uncomfortable at home, just imagine feeling that way in a waiting room chair or on a gurney for hours and hours, where your case is likely not going to viewed as urgent.
I have suffered a lot but have not been near a hospital for UC since the 1980's. I frankly am not convinced they can do anything for UC that you can't do for yourself -- hydrate and take steroids, iron, etc -- unless you have some other complication or need surgery. And I would rather be miserable at home, where it's quiet and comfortable.
I think doctors will say "go to the ER" just to cover themselves, why not? No thanks!
I realize my views about this are not typical....I'm a hardened & stubborn UCer.
Posted 4/13/2009 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with all the "no hospital" posts. From what you are saying, it doesn't sound too serious, honestly. I've never actually been hospitalized solely for UC- yes, admitted with complications arising from being on UC meds, immune suppression, etc. But never just because of a flare- I'd much rather wait it out at home. The one time my GI suggested it, I said NO! And I got better... slowly.... all you can do during an acute flare is rest, drink fluids, take whatever meds/supplements you're choosing, & hope for the best. Plus, when the accidents happen, it's a lot better to deal with them yourself than be cleaned up by nurses!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply