when do you go to the ER? (A&E if you are British!)

[MrsPeel]

Hello my lovelies.
So, I am in doubt here, give us a hand...
how bad do you have to feel for you to go to the ER?
I usually only go if either I am in agony (and that is rare as I take very strong pain killers for my nerve damage/arthritis, osteoarthritis and a number of other conditions) or have persistent temperature.
Last I was diagnosed with was a heart failure condition (severe left ventricular impairment, left side of my heart is frozen, not pumping blood) I am also medicated for that.
Now I have pain in my upper left abdominal side, has been there since yesterday. I slept, I ate normal, but it still there.
I made the mistake of googling and the first thing that comes up is acute pancreatitis so I thought better not read more and come ask my Pad family.
When I was admitted twice in 2013 it was the gall bladder but I not only had pain but very persistent temperature. Long story short (twice admitted, before & after Christmas, intravenous antibiotics twice, they destroyed (as usual) my arms in the process, finally had the surgery in 2014)
My reluctance to go to the the ER is because here the waits are an ordeal and it will mean even more pain (average 5 hours wait unless you are profusely bleeding) the seats at the wait lounge are metal and also the nearest hospital isn't the place I would go, but in the one I would go, if I take the car and they end up admitting me, the car will be towed in the morning. Also is the weekend, so my family doctor's doesn't work unless you have a pre- made appointment and to go to the weekend GP is also a bit of a pain. (no pun intended LOL)
Sarita is working so I'll wait for her to come back to decide, but it would help if anyone is around and can give your experiences, maybe help making my mind up..

So...do you have the " better safe than sorry" policy?
or you wait to see if it gets better or worse?
Do you look stuff up online?

 

[jenn mccabe]

Oh goodness Cynthia. I'm sorry to read this! I think: you know your body best ... if you feel like you should go - it's usually better to be safe than sorry, especially for you with so many other medical conditions to factor in.

As for looking stuff up online ... yes, of course I do. But with abdominal pain ... it's all over the place as to what the cause could be.

What time does Sarita get home? Is the pain getting worse progressively since yesterday?

 

[QuiltyMom]

Do you have a nurse you can call to ask? If not, it's better to be safe than sorry. Hugs! <3

 

[Tree City]

Hmm. I would tell you to go to the AE. (Hey look, I know the British term for what the US calls "Emergency Room"! lol).
Anyway, all pretend pride aside, I really would say that you should go simply because pain in the abdomen is never good, especially if you are already on pain medicine.
When you say the "side," to you mean the literal side, or is the pain on your front or the back? Are you nauseous or vomiting? Is the pain sharp (like a knife cutting you), or dull? Have you lost any weight or had a change in your appetite? These can all be indicators of what's wrong.
But only you know your body and what is "normal" for you.
GENTLE HUGS, my dear Cynthia!

 

[jesskab]

I am so sorry! When my copay was $5, I didn't hesitate to go the ER. Now that it's $50, I'd have to be dying. Upper left could be a variety of things. I personally would put a heating pad on the area & drink some digestive tea. But again, I'd have to be dying to put out that $50! I hope you feel better soon love.

 

[londoncuppa]

I'm so sorry, sweetie. My thinking is along the line of Jenn's (you know your body best). Personally, my co-pay is hundreds of dollars, plus a percentage of the charges. I also know that I'll be waiting at least 6 hours. So... I REALLY have to be motivated by feeling that it's serious before I'll go, but that's not your situation.

If you think you need medical attention NOW, I would go. Otherwise, you can wait and see how your symptoms develop. Perhaps they'll go away. Let us know, Love.

 

[IntenseMagic]

Oh, Cynthia! So sorry you are feeling bad. I echo what others have said...you know your body best. I'm one that waits and only goes if the pain is so bad that I just can't stand it and taking 4 ibuprofen doesn't help. I avoid the ER at all costs, though. I will go to the Express Care place here unless it happened to be like the middle of the night. I really try to avoid googling stuff because every time I do I find out I'm dying.
I truly hope it is nothing serious and your pain subsides quickly!! Love and hugs!!

 

[LynnG]

Well, as you know from my broken leg saga, I don't go even when I should.

I need to watch out for upper right quandrant (URQ) pain but, yes, upper left can be pancreatitis. I think if it is a new pain and bad enough that you are having trouble sleeping you should think about going. Hopefully (looking at the time and doing a quick conversion!) you are asleep now or else Sarita came home and was able to help you decide. Keep us posted xxx

 

[kimingvtx]

Oh Cynthia, I don't really have any advice that hasn't been given. I'm just sending you good thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated! Hope you feel better very soon!

 

[MrsPeel]

Hi guys, apologies I didn't come back straight away, I was charging the mouse and the new iMacs , they had this "genius" idea to put the socket in the back of the mouse so you can't use whilst it charges...

Oh goodness Cynthia. I'm sorry to read this! I think: you know your body best ... if you feel like you should go - it's usually better to be safe than sorry, especially for you with so many other medical conditions to factor in.

As for looking stuff up online ... yes, of course I do. But with abdominal pain ... it's all over the place as to what the cause could be.

What time does Sarita get home? Is the pain getting worse progressively since yesterday?

Sarita was working night shift, she should have been back by now but she might have gone for a drink I was going to call her now as is weird that she hasn't called, I don't usually like looking up stuff because I 'm highly influenced and suggestion is the worse....
I was reading some NHS page and I can think on such a number of issues that can be.... will wait for her to come back

Do you have a nurse you can call to ask? If not, it's better to be safe than sorry. Hugs! <3

Thanks Jan We have a number that is answered by nurses, is called NHS Direct, and actually this was what saved me of a heart attack the first time I had problems, I thought I was having a panic attack and called, thinking a nurse will talk me out of it.... the woman asked a number of questions and the n said: OK - don't worry, but, is there anyone to open the door? you aren't having a panic attack , is a heart attack, the ambulance is already on it's way. This was 2005 when I had my last hip operation, my mum was here, so I asked her to tell them to kill the siren, because of my mum heard it and it was for here, there would be two patients!! LOL
Thing is, at the time, it was a very precise pain, now...I'm not even sure how to describe it, as is all over my left side, but, yes, that maybe an option, I had even forgotten about the number so thank you!!!!

Hmm. I would tell you to go to the AE. (Hey look, I know the British term for what the US calls "Emergency Room"! lol).
Anyway, all pretend pride aside, I really would say that you should go simply because pain in the abdomen is never good, especially if you are already on pain medicine.
When you say the "side," to you mean the literal side, or is the pain on your front or the back? Are you nauseous or vomiting? Is the pain sharp (like a knife cutting you), or dull? Have you lost any weight or had a change in your appetite? These can all be indicators of what's wrong.
But only you know your body and what is "normal" for you.
GENTLE HUGS, my dear Cynthia!

LOL you are awesome love you!
Ok, the pain: is all over the left side of my middle body. Nope, I am not nausea, not vomiting, not weight loss nor appetite loss (I wish!!!!! LOL) and that is why I am here kinda calm talking to you...if I was feeling ill, I would have gone already... but is just pain in the left side in the front and also a bit into the back...I have thought and talked to family and friends and I can think a number of issues from gall stones that are blocking the bile duct , some kind of kidney, intestinal, anything really
Pain isnt' sharp but persistent, it got worse from yesterday to today but has been same for most of the day today
Sarita just called by the way she is on her way home....soi I may go with her now or tomorrow morning try my GP thank you, you know I love you <3

I am so sorry! When my copay was $5, I didn't hesitate to go the ER. Now that it's $50, I'd have to be dying. Upper left could be a variety of things. I personally would put a heating pad on the area & drink some digestive tea. But again, I'd have to be dying to put out that $50! I hope you feel better soon love.

see, that is the thing, we don't pay, so I don't have anything financial stopping me (apart from the fact that going to UCH means paying a taxi)I have been laying down on a bit of the left side with a bunch of cushions that put pressure on the back and that alleviates a bit, but after all I read and what the girls told me on FB, I m thinking if not now, in a few hours to my GO to force them to see me .... thank you, my darling sister <3 love you

I'm so sorry, sweetie. My thinking is along the line of Jenn's (you know your body best). Personally, my co-pay is hundreds of dollars, plus a percentage of the charges. I also know that I'll be waiting at least 6 hours. So... I REALLY have to be motivated by feeling that it's serious before I'll go, but that's not your situation.

If you think you need medical attention NOW, I would go. Otherwise, you can wait and see how your symptoms develop. Perhaps they'll go away. Let us know, Love.

Precisely.... I don't have the financial to worry about... I am not that bad that I can hold till tomorrow (well a few hours as it is 3 am already!) but I think I will try my GP, they known me for 15 years so I may get lucky and someone will see me, if they don't , then I think about A&E thanks so so much <3 love you

Oh, Cynthia! So sorry you are feeling bad. I echo what others have said...you know your body best. I'm one that waits and only goes if the pain is so bad that I just can't stand it and taking 4 ibuprofen doesn't help. I avoid the ER at all costs, though. I will go to the Express Care place here unless it happened to be like the middle of the night. I really try to avoid googling stuff because every time I do I find out I'm dying.
I truly hope it is nothing serious and your pain subsides quickly!! Love and hugs!!

oh I am the same about googling stuff LOL that's why I thought I come talk to you here!!!!! anyway, yes , I cannot imagine how worrying it must be not to have free health care Sarita is here and we will see if I can hold a few hours till morning but tomorrow would go somewhere for sure. Thanks for always being around for us Jan, Love you!!!!!

Well, as you know from my broken leg saga, I don't go even when I should.

I need to watch out for upper right quandrant (URQ) pain but, yes, upper left can be pancreatitis. I think if it is a new pain and bad enough that you are having trouble sleeping you should think about going. Hopefully (looking at the time and doing a quick conversion!) you are asleep now or else Sarita came home and was able to help you decide. Keep us posted xxx

LOL nah, still awake LOL she just came back this minute!!! I'm not that bad, but yes, as I said above, I wil try my GOP tomorrow, if they see me, at least they can give me a letter that will cut through at the A&E if they need me to go.....
thanks so much Lynn, and hope your leg gets better soon!!! you know my main issue are my legs so I can feel your pain, literally!!!!!! Huggzzz Love you!!!!

Oh Cynthia, I don't really have any advice that hasn't been given. I'm just sending you good thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated! Hope you feel better very soon!

Thanks so so very much, just having you here and even more so some prayers always mean more light in my heart, thank you so so much <3

 

[AnneofAlamo]

I hate going. I think I will be found in my home, passed on. Cause I have to be dragged for me to go to the doctor for any reason. But...........
I will take my kids and press my husband to go...

 

[Tree City]

Cynthia, I'm glad that you don't feel SO horrible that you think you should rush to the hospital! I know you're in pain, which makes me sad! Does your GP's office have a doctor on call? I mean, could you call your GP's office number and get transferred or connected to a doctor who is scheduled to handle urgent matters outside of regular office hours? Because he or she could have some more questions to help you decide if you should go to the hospital right now or if it is okay to wait until you can see your GP tomorrow.

 

[LynnG]

Hi guys, apologies I didn't come back straight away, I was charging the mouse and the new iMacs , they had this "genius" idea to put the socket in the back of the mouse so you can't use whilst it charges...

Least of your worries right now but I have to agree here too!! What were they thinking? So annoying!!!!

Glad you have someone with you now. Hope you get some answers very soon xxxx

 

[MrsPeel]

you all cannot imagine how much h better I feel right now, thank you from the very core of my heart <3

 

[jenn mccabe]

Least of your worries right now but I have to agree here too!! What were they thinking? So annoying!!!!

Glad you have someone with you now. Hope you get some answers very soon xxxx

I third that! Why it isn't on the end - like the keyboard (and not on the bottom) is beyond me! Epic fail on Apple's part on that design!

Glad Sarita is back & you are feeling a bit better.

 

[EHStudios]

From personal experience I can't give you any advice since I don't go. Even when I should sometimes...And GOOGLE is my enemy sometimes, though mostly I can weed out the crazy ideas & kindof self diagnose, lol!

But like others, you KNOW your body best! If you need to be at the doctor don't hesitate! Your life is worth more than worrying about the awful wait times! I hope the pain lessons for you if you are waiting. I'll keep you in my thoughts Cynthia!!

 

[flowersgal]

No advice just prayers for you now to know what to do and to get some relief from the pain as well as finding out what is causing it. Sending love and hugs ....

 

[scrappyjedi]

Hugs to you, Cynthia! You really have to be the one to make the decision on whether or not you should go to the AE. I would think that if you are able to eat normally and aren't vomiting, etc., then maybe it isn't *so* serious, but please remember that I am most definitely not a doctor, and that is definitely not medical advice! Sometimes pain can be translated, too, from one part of the body to another. My asthma pain actually presents as acute upper back pain and not chest pain, which I'm told is not uncommon.

I pretty much have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the doctor, much less to the ER. The last time I went to the ER was in 2000 (with, oddly enough, very severe abdominal pain, but I was also vomiting up everything I tried to put down), and I ended up having my appendix removed in emergency surgery. The complete irony of my aversion to going to the doctor is that my husband is in his last year of school to *be* a doctor, and he is applying to Emergency Medicine residencies! So if I have any health questions, I'll basically just ask him if I'm dying.

 

[MrsPeel]

I third that! Why it isn't on the end - like the keyboard (and not on the bottom) is beyond me! Epic fail on Apple's part on that design!

Glad Sarita is back & you are feeling a bit better.

I think once Steve Jobs was gone...the quality went down a bit (or a lot? LOL)
MY old iMac lasted almost 10 years without not even once me having to go to the store....
I'm sure you remember it was not even 6 months when I had to take it to the store and they kept it over Christmas!!!!
and yes, also I hate it that doesnt have a CD slot oh anyway.
Sarita made me tea and toast , I (of course!!!)n scrapped a page and will try sleep a couple of hours then call my GP doctors, see if they see me there at least to have an idea, even if they end up sending me to the ER...they will give me a letter which will make things easier
I ll keep you posted!!!!

From personal experience I can't give you any advice since I don't go. Even when I should sometimes...And GOOGLE is my enemy sometimes, though mostly I can weed out the crazy ideas & kindof self diagnose, lol!

But like others, you KNOW your body best! If you need to be at the doctor don't hesitate! Your life is worth more than worrying about the awful wait times! I hope the pain lessons for you if you are waiting. I'll keep you in my thoughts Cynthia!!

Thank you so much Elisa!!!! I am very good at diagnosing some stuff... not only I have had some stuff for years (like 30!!! and my hips was congenital, but was fixed and then I had a full on life) but some stuff I can't recognize. With this, the pain area makes it that can be so many different things...
anyway, of to sleep so I can go docs tomorrow!!!

No advice just prayers for you now to know what to do and to get some relief from the pain as well as finding out what is causing it. Sending love and hugs ....

thanks so much±!!!!! we will go try see my family doctor, first sleep at least a couple of hours , but having you all here to talk...sure takes a lot of ,my worry away!!!!!

Hugs to you, Cynthia! You really have to be the one to make the decision on whether or not you should go to the AE. I would think that if you are able to eat normally and aren't vomiting, etc., then maybe it isn't *so* serious, but please remember that I am most definitely not a doctor, and that is definitely not medical advice! Sometimes pain can be translated, too, from one part of the body to another. My asthma pain actually presents as acute upper back pain and not chest pain, which I'm told is not uncommon.

I pretty much have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the doctor, much less to the ER. The last time I went to the ER was in 2000 (with, oddly enough, very severe abdominal pain, but I was also vomiting up everything I tried to put down), and I ended up having my appendix removed in emergency surgery. The complete irony of my aversion to going to the doctor is that my husband is in his last year of school to *be* a doctor, and he is applying to Emergency Medicine residencies! So if I have any health questions, I'll basically just ask him if I'm dying.

oh a doctor husband!!!!!!!! I grew up with my Dad who is an MD but then he did Bio Chemistry and had his own laboratory, then worked for the Army, but he was always the one I would go for advice, have a lot of doctors friends but I didnt want to call on a weekend in the middle of the night.... I'm being monitored for a lot of the stuff I have so I am not too paranoid, even less so after I spent time here , still we will go in a few hours, will keep you posted!!!!!
thanks so so mu ch for taking the time to post Melissa!!!!!

 

[berniek]

Such a difficult dilemma. I mean, you know your body better then anybody else. I am sometimes afraid I don't take pains and issues too seriously. So I would probably not have gone to A&E yet. But that's just me.

Also I don't completely understand the concept of A&E and ER in your countries. Because in my country, if you would go, you would get helped basically right away. So we might be talking about something else.

But I'm happy you felt a bit better in your last posts. I hope it's just a false alarm.