When do I go to the hospital?

I'm new here, had Crohn's for 11 years now,, and I still don't understand how "bad" i need to feel before I run off to the hospital.

I'll spare the details until/unless i get a response.....but the last three ER visits i have not been admitted or feel like I've gotten much help from the ER docs or my GI afterward.

Hoping for some ideas.....my brain is really playing tricks on me right now, getting rejected 3x is making me wonder how sick i really have to be....I'm not doing well, but im worried i'm not sick enough to get help?

And is that a legitimate complaint?

Soooooooooo confused

My personal rule of thumb is, when I can't bear the pain anymore I go to the e.r. Sometimes there isnt much they can do in the e.r except help w/ pain. What meds are you currently on?

I'm really bad with this. I've dealt with crohns for so long now, and have built quite a pain tolerance because of my abscesses that you really start to second guess what "normal" is.

Thanks all. Im more frustrated than anything, went to hospital today because the nausea got unbearable. 4 days in the couch in the fetal position before that tho.

Current meds......

30 mg prednisone
Donnetal as needed
Remicade every 6 weeks
Norco for pain (stopped working 4 days ago, ran out 3 days ago)
Cymbalta 30mg daily

CT showed signs of flare even with Remi last week and prednisone.

Now i have an abdominal patch (forget the Rx name)
More Norco
up to 60mg Prednisone
GI appt next week and hoping to add a pain specialist to my team

I take zofran for nausea. It works better than anything else I'v tried. You can ask the doc for some of that.

From a recent discusion with my GI - vomiting, fever and no bowel movements / passing gas would be an indication to go to the hospital (blockage / partial obstruction).

I agree on the Zofran working the best. It comes in 4mg and 8mg tabs that will melt on your tounge.

My GI uses Donnetal....it helps somewhat with the cramping, minimal/useless when the nausea gets bad.

But nothing has really been a fix-all drug for any symptom i have.....

But thanks all, and i need to spend more time here. I feel better knowing people care n take time to answer (even when the disease is so different for us all). I think posting, and active chatting, can help more than meds ( in its own way).

Thanks again...I cant describe how much better i feel emotionally. Two days ago i felt alone.....again. Now im functioning (in my own lovely Crohn's prison), but at least my spirits are up.

KWalker said:

I'm really bad with this. I've dealt with crohns for so long now, and have built quite a pain tolerance because of my abscesses that you really start to second guess what "normal" is.

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And thanks K...I think most of us feel this way, i know i do.

If i say my pain's a "6", its probably a 4 or a 10.

Sometimes i get frustrated and just want a break, others times i think there's no help and dont go to the doctor w/o my wife dragging me.

Excessive pain + excessive time =a big ? for me when trying to gauge my own pain....i got frustrated and vented.

Nausea is what send me to the ER 95% of the time.....i hate that so much more than pain.

If your Dr. will let you give (4mg or 8mg melt on your your tongue) a try it may be worth a shot. It got me through both of my pregnancies when I had "morning sickness" 24hrs/day (prior to CD dx) as well as my sister who was pregnant with twins at the time I was (twin pregnancy causes much higher hormone levels which are the cause for nausea during pregnancy). If he won't or you prefer not to, just keep the idea in mind for another time.

I am glad you are feeling a bit better!

Ask your doctor for the zofran. I take the 8 mg. It might save you a trip to the e.r

VenomousDuck said:

And thanks K...I think most of us feel this way, i know i do.

If i say my pain's a "6", its probably a 4 or a 10.

Sometimes i get frustrated and just want a break, others times i think there's no help and dont go to the doctor w/o my wife dragging me.

Excessive pain + excessive time =a big ? for me when trying to gauge my own pain....i got frustrated and vented.

Nausea is what send me to the ER 95% of the time.....i hate that so much more than pain.

Click to expand...

First off, I just gave you your first "thank you" lol. Second, yeah you're right. I'd say my 4-5 is somebodys 8-9 after what I've been through

I feel your pain Ven... I came to this site to try and figure out how much pain do I need to be in to go to the hospital. The last 3 times I went, they did nothing to treat me, other than tell me "yup, you have a mild to severe flare up" (DUH! why do you think I'm here!?) Then they send me home, no anti-biotics, nothing. They tried the remidcade on me, which gave me real high hopes for remission, but I had such allergic reactions I ended up in ER. Which just treated me with Benedryl and sent me home.
I am so frustrated with this disease I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle. I was give a colostomy bag in 2008 (a HORRIBLE thing to endure) went in to have it reversed in 2009 and came out of surgery with an ileostomy (wtf?) That was THE WORST MOST MISERABLE 4 MONTHS OF MY LIFE!! Until I ultimately had that reversed. My abdomon looks like Freddy Kruger got a hold of me. I have had 1 and 1/2 feet of my colon removed, I frequent incontinense, so I live in depends most of the time. I am so depressed I am beginning to have suicidal thoughts, and I don't know what to do or where to go. My life sucks, and quite honestly, I'm over it! How do people live like this, is beyond me!

I have gone when the pain meds have not worked and I am nauseous. Most of the time I get admitted for a night. Last time I just got an afternoon with Demerol (I am allergic to Morphine). It was nice to have a break from the pain.