Emergency rooms, or when is it time to head to one

[sus7.livejournal.com]

This is part searching for answers, searching for opinions and searching for assurances, like so many of the posts in this community. I posted last week about abnormally heavy discharge during my 2-periods-a-month on bc, and how my doctor doesn't believe me about it. When I was in her office last week for various illness (two infections, woo) she told me I was presenting bacterial kidney infection symptoms and gave me an antibiotics shot to help combat it, but nothing else. I also had a virile infection. Well the virile infection got better and the bacterial infection seems to be worse, and following my doctor's orders, I called back in to get another appointment for this week with my new and worse symptoms. I can't get in to see her until late Friday. I have an off-and-on fever, and I am a mass of pain from the neck down! My kidneys hurt (I've had baaaadddd infections before and know the feeling), my back hurts, all my major joints hurt more or less, standing is so painful I can hardly do it by sitting and laying down hurt as well, and my lower regions are in some serious ouch, including torrential bloody discharge like nothing I've seen before (and if it's a period, it's three weeks early for a normal monthly period, or three months early if you're me and only have four a year). I want to hit the ER but I aleady have this doctor appointment. Would you wait? Is it right to burden ER staff with something I could *probably* wait two more painful days to have addressed by a physician? I've always thought of ERs as strictly last-resort options. Thoughts?

Comments

[sus7.livejournal.com]

Something like this? http://www.uwmedicine.org/PatientCare/MedicalSpecialties/SpecialtyCare/UWMEDICALCENTER/UrgentCare/

It sounds as close to urgent-care-but-not-an-ER as I can find in my area

[mercy-rain.livejournal.com]

I do not think you should wait two more days to deal with what sounds like a systemic infection, especially when the kidneys are involved and you're in that much pain. ERs aren't fun, but they aren't strictly for 'at death's door,' they're for situations which need to be addressed quickly, which I think is what you've got here! (Unless there's a walk-in clinic in your area that you can go to, in which case I'd try to go there.)

Hope you feel better soon :(

[ssyndrome.livejournal.com]

Totally off topic but how do you like being an EMT? I'm toying with the idea of trying it out, taking the classes.

[ssyndrome.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it seems like it would be really awesome to know how to save a person's life. :) that's why i want to do it... I think that knowledge would be incredibly powerful, and being able to help people, even to the point of saving their lives, is something I really want to do. And, I do not have a problem with gore :)

Thanks for the encouragment, I hope to check it out when I am done with my current degree!

[jasminelily.livejournal.com]

Before hitting the ER, I'd call your doctor's office back and tell them that the symptoms have gotten a lot worse, particularly in your kidneys, and see if they can move up that appointment.

[libragirl-77.livejournal.com]

Yep, this is what I would do as well.

[sus7.livejournal.com]

I did call and Friday is the soonest they moved it up. They are a really busy low-cost clinic so I can understand problems getting an appointment, but I'd hoped for sooner. The nurse didn't even sound phased when I told her about the worsening symptoms.

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

Perhaps this link (http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/tag/should-i-go-to-the-emergency-room%3F) from our sidebar will help.

Good luck!

[sus7.livejournal.com]

Ah thank you, I was just going through vulvapedia links and such to see if there was something about ER posts. :p

[restlesspoetry.livejournal.com]

I would go, I think. The bloody discharge and the kidney pain worries me! You may have to wait for a long time though, and if you hurt really bad that might be hard. Good luck either way.

[grace-is-gone.livejournal.com]

Usually, when I have kidney problems, my insurance company tells me not to wait for a doctor's appointment. This has pretty much been the case whether it was a kidney infection or stones. It's possible that the doctor's office will send you to the hospital for further testing on Friday, and if you're in that much pain, waiting is probably not good.

[whoa-breathe.livejournal.com]

I'm on antibiotics for a kidney infection myself, yay...or not. But it never got as bad as what you are describing, and the doctor's office seemed pretty alarmed by what I did describe... (I believe you remember that conversation, that plus sudden lower back tenderness and a fever.)...enough to get me in in the one hour I had free yesterday between work and class.

Just because of their reaction, I would think that what you are describing is serious enough that it would not at all be a burden to the ER. I think of a "burden" being someone going in for a runny nose and a sore throat! You really should not have to be in that kind of pain until Friday...I'm worried about you and think you should go now.

[breathless-girl.livejournal.com]

I say this kindly but with assurance: NO ONE is expected to be in that much pain. Go to the ER.

I had no clue what was going on with me in 2004... thought I should just drop in the local ER and let someone have a quick listen to my heart. I blacked out halfway thru the intake and woke up 2 days later in the ICCU on a ventilator. Right sided heart failure with double pneumonia.

I was unsure about "bothering" the staff as well. They assured me.. if you are in pain, they understand. Please go.

[br0ken_dolly]

you POOR GIRL! i really think you should check out the ER... yes, it's a bit of a hassle waiting and explaining the whole deal to a doctor who doesn't know you, but it sounds like you're *really* uncomfortable and in pain, and not in the kind of way that just means you're a little sick and waiting it out.

if there's an infection going on, you don't want it to become systemic (especially if the antibiotics did nothing good) and a fever's a sign that you should listen to your body.

i hope you get to the ER even before i post this reply :) i don't want to be scary or anything, but you sound really uncomfortable, and well deserving of taking up ER staff time tonight.

take care of yourself! good luck! i *really* hope you feel better.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

I would actually recommend presenting yourself at your doctor's office. Seeing someone grimacing in pain is often a great motivator to get you in very quickly. Bring a book to read in the waiting room, and good luck.