Flare Question! Maybe a little controversial.

I'd go to the hospital for unbearable pain, dehydration you cannot stop, or high fevers as they all could be serious issues. Otherwise see your gasteroenterologist.

going to er with massive blood and so much D there are serious dehydration issues can lead to admission and iv meds.

just some blood and d with pain will often not lead to admission. you get hydrated and sent home - sometimes with an expedited GI appt.

the ER's job i crystallization, and trauma. maybe imaging to rule out sources of pain (e.g. kidney stones) or potential IBD complications (e.g., stricture).

many ER today are suspicious of people whose main complaint is pain. and many ER do not treat IBD - just things like hydration.

so anything with enough symptoms, especially fever, to suggest possible infection could be worth the hassle. but be aware many UC people go to ER for bleeding and pain and they do not get a lot of treatment and/or admission. this varies from place to place

When I was hospitalized I saw my PCP first, who requested an urgent GI referral, who then admited me. Unless I had severe pain plus a fever or passed out, I personally would not go to the ER without speaking to my doctor first. Second hospitilazation it was the same order of PCP, speak to GI , then ER per his instructions. He met me there shortly after I got there and was put back in triage. Just my 2 cents.

i just stopped by for the controversy ------- where are it ?!?

agree with DB & ima -

I went to ER 3 times before I was officially diagnosed. The first I was feeling really weak and weird shaky like I was going to pass out. My blood sugar was 30 so all they did was treat that by having me drink juice until it was normal again and sent me home The second time the bloody uncontrollable diarrhea was much worse a couple weeks later I was still waiting for diagnosis at this point because of my history of diverticulitis they thought it was that at first my symptoms the second time were rather like the first in addition to being tired of pooping every time I had a sip of water I was admitted this time and treated for pancreatitis because those enzymes were trip!e the norm. After 9 days I checked myself out because they were doing nothing for my diarrhea I went to a GI in another town and on his recommendation went to his hospital ER to get admitted immediately since it would take him several days to get me admitted otherwise. By then I was in bad shape and my heart rate wouldn't drop below 90 so I was admitted for another 10 days in a low grade ICU

Personally I wouldn't go to an ER again unless I was flaring and didn't have a GI or if I had one but he was unavailable or unable to see me for several days. All the ER wants to do is stabilize you and send you home. Of course sometimes that's what is needed when the uncontrollable diarrhea causes dehydration and other issues.

Oh and, the "controversy" part was mostly pertaining to the whole "medical advice/ER advice" thing. A lot of people don't want to tell you what's worth going to the ER for versus what isn't, especially if blood in the toilet is involved.

certainly folks will differ on their ER advice depending on where they are coming from - medical folks will rarely tell you NOT to go - the whole liability thing -

most regular non-UC folks will probably say go - better safe than sorry -

but as you figured, the best advice comes from those on this forum and other like sources -

me, i went for one reason only > to expedite getting a GI appointment - once that goal was achieved, i was outa there lickety-split ---- no germ- teeming, gun shot victim filled ER for me any longer than required -

GI docs are on call 24/7, just call your doc and his/her office will set up hospital admittance if necessary. It's much smoother that way, you get a private room and usually they will put you into a hospital with a great Gastro department. I agree with those above who say do not go to the ER unless you feel its an emergency. I went to the ER for pancreatitis during a flare, it was nightmare and they kept asking me if I was an alcoholic, drug addict etc. it's always best if your doc sets up your hospital list. Best of luck!

Does everyone get ALL of the symptoms listed in the OP? If I cheat on SCD and get a flare, I don't get belly pain nor do I get a fever. But I get all of the others.

I would only go to the ER if my GI Doc told me to. More likely he would just admit me directly if he thought it was necessary.

My insurance company does not pay for ER visits it deems unnecessary, and honestly they really do next to nothing. Some fluids, some narcs to get you feeling happy, and then they punt you out the door.