Flare up, Emergency room??

The previous poster addressed most of the questions, so I'm not going to double up on those responses. However, if you are not holding down fluids or solids and you're bleeding to the degree you are, a visit to the ER may end up with you being admited to the hospital. At the hosiptal, they can give you IV fluids to keep you hydrated. I'm no expert, but I'm sure they can get you some meds to make you feel better. Something is definately wrong. You sound like you are in rough shape. I know $5000 is a lot of money for an ER visit, but my personal thoughts are that this is your health. To me, my health means everything. You can always go on payment plans. Most hospitals will accept whatever payment you can afford. When I first moved off my parents insurance and had my own, I had a c-scope and an upper and a few visits to the ER - payment plans were my friend. And the hospital didn't charge interest.

Please take care of yourself!

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Diagnosed with UC January 2007

Responding well to Asacol 2 pills 3 times per day

Asacol upped to 12 per day until the flare is under control - starting to tapper 1 pill per week

Canasa added nightly until the flare is under control

It is so sad in a country like ours that insurance or lack thereof is such a bottom line and interferes with important health decisions. It is easy to say get immediate medical attention and you definitely do need it for sure but I can sympathize with the worry about the financial end of things too. I hope you can get the help you need and it all works out for you. Definitely get signed up on your husband's insurance as their may be a "waiting period" you may need to go through as well.

All the advice above is great....my husband was in so much pain and a lot of what you are describing that I couldn't stand it any longer and insisted he go to the ER. He was admitted and kept for 5 1/2 days. Needed IVs and almost 3 units of blood. He was given pain medication in the IVs to quiet things down and slowed down the colon too and the frequency and urgency was a lot less. He was put on a pain management program and is still on it. He is starting to show signs that we should be able to think about tapering off the pain medications -- these meds seem to work very well for him - he is not in a stupor and "out of it" as they are timed released. I am not happy that he is still on them but it has made the difference in him getting his life back.

He sees his local GI tomorrow and the Mayo Clinic again on 11/19th which I am sure may want to start to get him off these pain meds and see how things go from there.

I hope you can get some relief fast. I'll be praying for you.

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61 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 (now UC) & hospitalized 5/07-currently heading towards a remission. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  Oct 07 feeling quite normal most days.  150mg Imuran 15 mg prednisone & tapering, 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 1X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Cortifoam enemas AM & PM, folic acid 1mg, Fosamax 1x month

Definetley go to the ER. If youcan wait another day for your insurance to kick in and I am assuming that is 12:01 midnight then I would go then. Are you running a fever?

Stacy

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Current meds are:

Asacol 6 pills a day

Lexapro 20 mg once a day

Ativan .5 mg when needed

sweetmelody,

Something that "may" help would be to avoid sugars & milk and eat smaller amounts of carbohydrates. This may or may not help you feel better, but try it for a week and see what happens.

ps.
No sugar means, no cakes, candies, sodas, fruit punch, maple syrup, etc...try using honey instead.

NBT

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Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis January 2007

Meds: Remicade, Primal Defense Ultra, Multi-vitamins (also iron, B12, Magnesium and Zinc), Flaxseed/Natures Bounty Fish Oil

Swanson Ultra Caprylic Acid (natural anti-fungal) 600mg x2 daily

Carrot & Garlic supplements (natural anti-fungal) x2 daily

glad you are doing better, not sure where the $5k came in for an ER visit......my husband nearly sawed off his hand (prior to his being on my insurance) and that whole thing was only $1,500 for the ER visit, surgery, x-rays etc.

When I was first dx'd I had just quit my job for another and had to wait 90 days for insurance but that job was so horrible, I found another job and had to wait another 90 days for my insurance (have been at that co for almost 8 years now) and I racked up over $2k in medical bills Doctor visits, some kind of oscopy (not a colonoscopy) and prescriptions, I remember going to see my specialist for 5 minutes and he poked me in the stomach and sent me on my way.......the bill was $300. Anyhow, it took me almost a year to pay it off but I was glad I did not wait......your life is worth it!!!

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Beth, 32

UC Diagnosed March 2000

Azathioprine 100mg 1xday;Remicade tests pending;Hydrocortisone enemas 1xday;Calcium and Vit D 500mg 3xday, Multi Vit, Folic Acid 400mg 2xday, Potassium 600mg 1xday, Probiotics.

Minimal Change Disease (Kidney Disorder) Diagnosed Sept 2007

Prednisone 60mg 1xday, Simvastatin 20mg 1xday, Diovan 80mg 1xday. Fosomax 70mg 1xweek. MCD may be from hypersensitivty to 5ASA drugs.

I'm pretty sure the pred nipped that flare in the bud. Unfortunately, you need to address it by keeping the flares down. Do you have a GI or a PCP that you can go to who can refer you to a GI?

Like you, when I was first diagnosed, I was so sick. I kept calling my doctor, I remember, but I only got a c-scope scheduled. I really needed to be on pred or enemas to stop the flare. Instead, I just got sicker and sicker, and the day before my scope, I ended up in the emergency room, gettings bags full of fluids. I could hardly get up long enough to go to the ER, I was so weak and dehydrated, but once I had fluids, I felt like a new person. By the next morning, however, I was again just about unable to function. They left the IV in my hand in anticipation of the scope the next day, so they gave me fluids during the process and I felt better afterwards. I was immediately put on pred and started the treatment regimen I'm on now for my UC.

My emergency room visit was only like $800, and that was about six years ago. My scope was much more. Be sure to do what I didn't do, and ask for an insured price on your bills. I was shocked to see since I now have insurance how much cheaper things are for insured patients. I thought I was getting a great deal with payments and no interest for my $2300 or so, till I recognized later on that billings by clinics and hospitals are routinely discounted 20, 30, 40 even 50 percent and more by insurance companies.

I hope you stay on the well side!

Mitz

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Sporadic proctitis since about 1985. Mother had UC, then J-pouch surgery 1983.
DX'd with clostridium difficile in 2000. Prednisone, two courses of Flagyl, then Vancomycin finally got rid of it. Symptomatic with UC after that.
Colonoscopy in 2001 dx'd left-sided UC. Was pretty darn ill at that time, dehydrated, weak, unable to work. Treated with prednisone, Rowasa, Asacol. Asacol not working so switched to Imuran. Three small flares since in 2002, 2005, and 2007, brought under control with enemas, steroid and Rowasa.
Gall bladder attack 6/13; ultrasound showed stones; Lap chole performed October 26, 2007.
100 mg Azathioprine and 225 mg Effexor XR (for chronic, longstanding depression) daily.

I'm SO glad to hear that you got some help! What miserable time for you :(
Pred is that drug we love to hate - but at certain times it works like a charm!
Take care and keep us updated!

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