Ever been to the emergency room?

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Chronic diarrhea (with blood loss) is the emergency. I basically haven't been absorbing nutrients from my food, and on top of that losing blood.

Sounds like you triggered an onset of Ulcerative Colitis or Chrones Disease...

Are you seing a GP or a specialist..

I can't believe that a Gastro-enterologist would wait a month for a basic colonoscopy... they can do it same day in the doctor's office to see if there's polyps or inflammation in the Intestines...

They'd have to schedule a more invasive procedure to remove any polyps they found, but they should at least be able to begin treating the early symptoms with medication like Asacol or something..

 

[Fayd]

was slicing cheese with a knife (bad move) knife slipped, sliced open my finger pad on my left ring finger. went pretty deep, but not to bone.

went in, got seen almost immediately, sat around for an hour before they shot the finger up with numbing agent. sat around for 10 minutes before they brought someone in to try to sew it closed. it wasnt numb yet, so they left and waited another 10 minutes. it still wasnt numb, but i made her go through with it anyways.

4 stitches, $450 total bill. insurance covered it all. (my insurance is wierd, it's you cover everything up to 1000, then insurance covers 80% beyond that for whatever. we tacked on a $500 accident account and that covered this.)

 

[coreyb]

that sounds like an emergency to me.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Then conveniently during this process I got C Diff

Didn't have to pay anything AND you got C. diff? Win! What's the wait time in Canada for a poop transplant?

Originally posted by: Mo0o
This could be all kinds of bad news bears, you should probably go to the ER and at least get some blood work done. If you have too much diarrhea you can get hypokalemia that gives you arrhythmias.

I find it hard to believe that his PCP didn't write for any out patient labs, if that's truly the case, I'd say the OP needs a new PCP. I still can't say that this is a "true emergency" that would warrant an ER visit, but that doesn't change the fact that people go to the ED for the same (or less ill) situations all the time.

To the OP, I suppose if you really can't get a new PCP/see a specialist for another month, then you could just go to the ED and get some labs drawn. Hypokalemia could be possible if you're going as frequent as you say; among other things.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Then conveniently during this process I got C Diff

Didn't have to pay anything AND you got C. diff? Win! What's the wait time in Canada for a poop transplant?

Originally posted by: Mo0o
This could be all kinds of bad news bears, you should probably go to the ER and at least get some blood work done. If you have too much diarrhea you can get hypokalemia that gives you arrhythmias.

I find it hard to believe that his PCP didn't write for any out patient labs, if that's truly the case, I'd say the OP needs a new PCP. I still can't say that this is a "true emergency" that would warrant an ER visit, but that doesn't change the fact that people go to the ED for the same (or less ill) situations all the time.

To the OP, I suppose if you really can't get a new PCP/see a specialist for another month, then you could just go to the ED and get some labs drawn. Hypokalemia could be possible if you're going as frequent as you say; among other things.

Sounds like he's bleeding through the pooper too. Could be UC or Crohn's. All this definitely needs to be worked up, especially if he's lost so much weight. 4 weeks should be enough time for any infection to pass.

If it's Crohn's or UC he can definitely look forward to a lifetime of shittiness

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

If it's Crohn's or UC he can definitely look forward to a lifetime of shittiness

If it's caught early enough, it can be treated, if its not severe..

I have UC, and i'm on Asacol ... haven't had a relapse...

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: Mo0o

If it's Crohn's or UC he can definitely look forward to a lifetime of shittiness

If it's caught early enough, it can be treated, if its not severe..

I have UC, and i'm on Asacol ... haven't had a relapse...

I think UC is a little better right since it's more limited in range. I know a couple of people w/ Crohn's and it's sounds pretty awful.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: Mo0o

If it's Crohn's or UC he can definitely look forward to a lifetime of shittiness

If it's caught early enough, it can be treated, if its not severe..

I have UC, and i'm on Asacol ... haven't had a relapse...

I think UC is a little better right since it's more limited in range. I know a couple of people w/ Crohn's and it's sounds pretty awful.

yea...i've heard UC called "Crohn's lite" .... the doctor said i need to keep ontop of my meds, or it could turn into Crohns..

 

[RedCOMET]

My last trip to the ER brought me a 4.5 day hospital stay, 1 operation, 1 pack of blood for a transfusion, 27-ish staples, morhphine, and a prescription for oxycodine. I rupture my spleen somehow due to my Mono. I also stopped eating food for about 10 days before my surgery. I apperently lost about 2.5 liters of blood. As for cost... I have no idea. probably expensive... but I was covered under my parents insurance since I was in college at the time.

I only went to the ER b/c I had some pain in my stomach area, which was bother me slightly before that (but Student Health services said it was nothing, just a sympton of mono and not eating that much)... I really went to the ER when I couldn't lie on my back b/c the pain was really severe, nor could i say to a sit up b/c of the intense pain.. thats when i knew shit was wrong with me. I didn't have to wait very long in the ER waiting room ( i walked myself to the hosptial, since it was close to my college dorm). Once inside, they gave me stuff to drink for a CT scan, did the scan, did some more blood work, told me the results and said we need to operate, but i want to wait till the morning when I have a fresh staff with me... all in all..I waited about 7.5-8ish hours from the time to i got to the ER waiting room to the time my operation took place. I think it took maybe about 3-4 hours from all the test etc that they informed of the need to operate. It was certainly not fun calling my folks up and telling them i'm having surgery.

Good luck OP!

 

[ScottyB]

I've been quite a few times. One time I went because I had severe foot pain and couldn't walk on one foot. The doctor forgot about me and I was in the hospital over 9 hours. Another time I sliced open my thumb and went to the ER. I literally soaked a kitchen towel all the way with blood. While I was waiting, two doctors walked by me and one said to the other, "Looks like somebody lost a digit." I didn't get in for about another hour.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: RedCOMET
My last trip to the ER brought me a 4.5 day hospital stay, 1 operation, 1 pack of blood for a transfusion, 27-ish staples, morhphine, and a prescription for oxycodine. I rupture my spleen somehow due to my Mono. I also stopped eating food for about 10 days before my surgery. I apperently lost about 2.5 liters of blood. As for cost... I have no idea. probably expensive... but I was covered under my parents insurance since I was in college at the time.

I only went to the ER b/c I had some pain in my stomach area, which was bother me slightly before that (but Student Health services said it was nothing, just a sympton of mono and not eating that much)... I really went to the ER when I couldn't lie on my back b/c the pain was really severe, nor could i say to a sit up b/c of the intense pain.. thats when i knew shit was wrong with me. I didn't have to wait very long in the ER waiting room ( i walked myself to the hosptial, since it was close to my college dorm). Once inside, they gave me stuff to drink for a CT scan, did the scan, did some more blood work, told me the results and said we need to operate, but i want to wait till the morning when I have a fresh staff with me... all in all..I waited about 7.5-8ish hours from the time to i got to the ER waiting room to the time my operation took place. I think it took maybe about 3-4 hours from all the test etc that they informed of the need to operate. It was certainly not fun calling my folks up and telling them i'm having surgery.

Good luck OP!

Wow your lucky. Must have been a minor tear/rupture because a ruptured spleen is well known for being VERY serious (read bleed out into your abdominal cavity!).

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

One day I found half of my face was paralysed. Went to the ER, diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, got appropriate meds, several follow-up visits and a referral to a neurologist, just to make sure. Cost me $2 to fill my prescription, that's it.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
One day I found half of my face was paralysed. Went to the ER, diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, got appropriate meds, several follow-up visits and a referral to a neurologist, just to make sure. Cost me $2 to fill my prescription, that's it.

Wow that must have been scary before the diagnosis! First thought must have been Oh F*!K I've had a stroke!

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
One day I found half of my face was paralysed. Went to the ER, diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, got appropriate meds, several follow-up visits and a referral to a neurologist, just to make sure. Cost me $2 to fill my prescription, that's it.

Wow that must have been scary before the diagnosis! First thought must have been Oh F*!K I've had a stroke!

I was actually pretty calm about it at the time, I figured I'd pinched a nerve in my sleep or something. I started to worry around the afternoon when it was still messed up and posted a thread to Doctor ATOT and a bunch of people freaked out and told me to go to the ER immediately :laugh: In retrospect I was probably a little too calm, everyone else's immediate thought was "stroke" when they heard about it. I wonder if I can still find that old thread.

Edit - found the old thread, but it's a bit confusing because it was my old account, iamaelephant, and the username at the time of writing was actually Falcon39. Wow, can't believe it's been 3 years already. They told me it should go away by itself in a few weeks :laugh: 3 years later...

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
One day I found half of my face was paralysed. Went to the ER, diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, got appropriate meds, several follow-up visits and a referral to a neurologist, just to make sure. Cost me $2 to fill my prescription, that's it.

Jim Ross? is that you?

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
One day I found half of my face was paralysed. Went to the ER, diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, got appropriate meds, several follow-up visits and a referral to a neurologist, just to make sure. Cost me $2 to fill my prescription, that's it.

Jim Ross? is that you?

Hah, I didn't know he had Bell's Palsy. I was a big fan of Ross when I was a kid.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Hah, I didn't know he had Bell's Palsy. I was a big fan of Ross when I was a kid.

Yea.... JR took about a year or two off a while back... and when he came back, it was announced his Bell's Palsy kicked in hard.

last i saw, it was 'getting better' .. altho his face still looks partially paralyzed, it looks like he has some muscle control.

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: Locut0s


Wow your lucky. Must have been a minor tear/rupture because a ruptured spleen is well known for being VERY serious (read bleed out into your abdominal cavity!).

Well, I believe the Doc said i was bleeding into the "spleenic sack." i would have to check my records to make sure i have the terminology correct. I also believe they said it was the size of deflated volleyball.

But yes, i was lucky. I want to a family doctor for a follow up a few weeks later and he said, if you didn't go to the hospital when you did, things could have ended up a lot worst if you passed out / waited till morning.

The other thing that made the experience more bearable, was the fact that my brother and my GF at the time (now an ex-gf) where very helpful, etc. Since it was in college that this happened, my bro and ex-gf, basically stayed in my hospital room all the time whether i was conscious or not. Plus, they got the leg work started on getting me withdrawn from classes for the semester. I missed about 2 weeks of classes becuase i spent about 5 days in the hospital and then another week just staying in my dorm room getting my strenght back. Even though i still had mono, i had a nice 6in or so incision down my stomach. So it was best that i not continue a full or even partial class schedule so that i could get better 100%. I took the semester off and stayed with the parents. I then started taking classes again in the Summer time to be able to graduate in 4 years with my Computer Engineering Degree.

 

[Bacstar]

I had open-heart surgery to repair a mitral valve beginning of this year. 2 weeks later I was at my sister's house recovering when I started feeling chest pains and had an elevated blood pressure. My sister is an RN and wanted to take me to the ER just to be on the safe side.

I get to the ER, and they pretty much rushed me through. I guess being 2-weeks post-op has its advantages. They gave me some meds to bring down my blood pressure, and the doctor had a couple electrocardiograms done. The second showing some elevated something-or-others. Since this ER wasn't equipped to handle this type of emergeny, the doctor had me air-lifted to the hospital that did my surgery.

Once I landed, I had a whole team of doctors, nurses and EMT's poking, prodding, and asking me how I was feeling. In short, they ran more tests, did an echocardiogram to make sure my repair didn't fail, figured out I wasn't having a heart attack, kept me overnite for observation and released me the following afternoon.

The helicopter ride was pretty much the highlight of the whole experience. Luckily, my insurance covered it for a total of $17k. It's kinda funny that my sister who had to drive beat the helicopter to the hospital. The surgery and other stuff though is a different story...$164k which i have to pay maybe $3500 altogether.

 

[kranky]

It's typical to have to wait for a while in the ER. You always have the choice on treatment. They can't "make" you have surgery. I have no idea how to research ERs, but if I was going, I'd pick the hospital farthese away from the poor areas of town.

Remember, they treat patients based on the seriousness of the situation. Be sure to tell them about your chest pain and trouble breathing, and not just about the diarrhea.

You probably will have a decent co-pay for an ER visit - $50 to $250 is what I hear people paying. Bignate603 mentioned an urgent care place, that might be a better place to start. Call first and ask if they accept your insurance.

 

[911paramedic]

A few thousand times, give or take.

Sounds like your doc is a quack. Waiting that long to do more testing is simply unacceptable IMHO.

An ER visit will mean you sitting on your ass for a long time. Then they will take you back, spend a couple of minutes with you (and probably hang an IV) and do some labs. The simple fact that you have lost that much weight is a problem, probably means your electrolytes are WAY out of whack.

The ER doc will not be able to do much more than simply give you fluids, maybe a prescription, and refer you to an outside doc...back to square one.

But everything they do has to be approved by you, they cannot do anything without your knowledge or consent. (unless you are unconscious)

 

[imported_Imp]

Went twice as a kid. Once for scalding of my right forearm, doctors considered skin grafts from my ass, but luckily, that didn't have to happen. Still have scar. The other time, I fell and hit my head on a headboard of a bed, so there was blood and thus a hospital visit.

Zero financial burden unless you count the taxi I took. Just flashed my healthcard. Wub you socialist healthacre.

 

[RbSX]

Once, I punched someone in the face and I think I broke my hand.

Cost: 0

 

[actuarial]

Twice as a kid.

Once, because I hit the edge of a nightstand and the corner went through my ear. Needed stitches. I was very young and barely remember, but I was bleeding like mad and am pretty sure I got in quick.

Second, I had a migraine the day of a high school exam, and needed a doctor's note to re-write. Waited 3 hours to see someone. The just happened to be conducting a fire drill (remember, had a freaking migraine) that day, which is really long for a hospital.

Both were free eh!

 

[Modelworks]

A few times, some good, not so good experiences.
I cut my finger, nearly off with a steak knife. Tip, never put on pipe insulation in the dark, feeling your way around making the cuts . I didn't notice I had done much damage to my hand until I pulled back my hand and blood was gushing everywhere. Not sure why I didn't feel the cut as being that bad. I ran in the house and grabbed the first thing I saw, a sock on top of the dryer, wrapped it up and went to the ER. The intake lady asked my why I was there, I told her I cut my finger nearly off, so she said let me see it. I told her it was really bad, she wanted to see it anyway. So I removed the sock and blood went everywhere, she started screaming, put it back, put it back ! I still laugh when I think about it. They stitched it up, gave me a tetanus shot and sent me home. Healed well , though no feeling in the tip of the finger.

Worst experience was when I had a tooth infection. Doctor gave me Clindamycin as an antibiotic. After the second day taking it I started vomiting, couldn't walk and had to call rescue because I kept passing out. The ER doc comes in , sees me shaking, pale skin, and covered with sweat, so he gives me IV fluids, and starts drilling me on what drug was I on, when was my last fix, and who did I think I was kidding ? He ran a drug test and because it came back positive, he assumed I was having withdrawals. He didn't bother to look that it was positive because of the Vicodin that the ER doc gave me the day before. I stayed in there for 3 more hours till I felt better and went home.


Next day I was right back , same symptoms and again the same DR in the ER claiming I was a addict. I got pissed and asked to see someone else, the DR told me he was the only one there and I would have to settle for that. I got even more irate and told them to call someone. Finally he called in another DR, who was not happy to be coming in on a day off. He walked in , looked at my chart, asked me if I was telling the truth about not being an addict, then requested some lab work. About two hours later he walked in and said the problem was I was allergic to Clindamycin and that if I had continued to take it , it would have killed me.