Re: Diving right in - Going to the ER

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

Everyone has their own tolerance levels. Complaints that might send

one person running to the ER may not be enough for another. It's a

very personal decision, most often based on previous experience.

Personally, I have only gone to the ER three times. The first was

with an acute attack with a grapefruit sized pancreatic pseudocyst.

The second time was when I was in diabetic ketoacidosis shock,

reaching coma state. The third time was with a severe exacerbation

of pseudocyst inflamation. Admittedly, there have probably been

other times when a trip to the ER would have benefited me, if only

for relief from the pain. I do not set a good example for others to

follow in that regard.

Because my pancreas has burned out, I don't have any elevation in

enzyme levels, and the emergency room doctors have been skeptical of

my complaints. The last time I was admitted, it only happened

because my GI called ahead and told the ER doctors on duty to admit

me. When they insisted on checking my A & L levels, my GI told them

not to bother, because they wouldn't be elevated. They insisted on

the blood tests anyway, and my levels came back below normal. Had my

GI not been there to get me through, I doubt that the ER doctors

would have admitted me at all. I was hospitalized that time for 6

days.

My choice of action is to go to the ER only when my pain meds do not

and have not brought me any pain relief after taking them through

three dosing periods, or any time I have pain and an elevated

temperature. If I've taken my meds, take them again within a few

hours, and then a third time, doubling the dose, and have no

distinguishable relief, then I go. As a general rule, I'm not one

who suffers with nausea or vomitting, so if my attack includes one

or both of these symptoms, I'm more inclined to go earlier. If I

were to have a temperature with any pain episode, I would go to the

ER immediately, as this is a warning sign of my pseudocyst rupturing.

Everyone's situation is different, though, and because of this, you

really have to analyze your own needs when considering when it's time

to go. Since there's nothing they can really do for me except hydrate

me, put me on a PCA with dilaudid and NPO, I figure that I can come

close to that at home. I go on a clears only diet, drink tons of

water, hit the meds as often as I can, and lie low for several days -

and that usually solves the problem.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.