Admission to hospital or no?

[jt5]

Just booked an appointment with my GI due to recent stomach pains and suspecting a flare. Was wondering what usually happen when that happens? :confused2: Do they directly give you medications to treat it when you have a flare to avoid it getting worst and hospital stay or do I have to undergo some tests or even stay there for a few days if they do find a flare? Sorry for all the questions, just really want to know since I don't want to be hospitalize during my favourite season

 

[LNS87]

I had this happen starting in September. It probably depends on your GI as well as your specific path with IBD as to what they decide. But for me, I went in and told her my symptoms and said I think it's a flare, we talked about it, and she put me on prednisone. After I finished the course, my symptoms came back so I saw her again and this time she said she wanted to do a colonoscopy to see what was going on before changing or adding any other meds. So i just had that done a few days ago, waiting for results and we will go from there.

Point being, she will probably have you try a med first and see if it helps, and if not, take things a step further and do some testing. Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[jt5]

I had this happen starting in September. It probably depends on your GI as well as your specific path with IBD as to what they decide. But for me, I went in and told her my symptoms and said I think it's a flare, we talked about it, and she put me on prednisone. After I finished the course, my symptoms came back so I saw her again and this time she said she wanted to do a colonoscopy to see what was going on before changing or adding any other meds. So i just had that done a few days ago, waiting for results and we will go from there.

Point being, she will probably have you try a med first and see if it helps, and if not, take things a step further and do some testing. Wishing you the best of luck!

As much as I want to keep my symptoms in control and use medications for it,I really hope not to use prednisone since I've use it many times before and after the course, I just end up back in the hospital being in a worse condition each time. Have you tried other medications?

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I'm currently in a flare right now and have recently started getting stomach pain. I've also been getting some blood in my stools, even though it's not dripping blood. However, if your doctor is anything like mine they won't be able to do a whole lot till you're getting blood.

I admit to not getting a hold of my doctor yet though. If I do, I know that he will be scheduling a colonoscopy for me and this is too busy a time of the year right now to do one (especially work wise). But, even though I've never been hospitalized I would imagine that the only time that would happen is if you were doubling over and in too much pain to do anything. Or, losing too much blood. Good luck.

 

[jt5]

I'm currently in a flare right now and have recently started getting stomach pain. I've also been getting some blood in my stools, even though it's not dripping blood. However, if your doctor is anything like mine they won't be able to do a whole lot till you're getting blood.

I admit to not getting a hold of my doctor yet though. If I do, I know that he will be scheduling a colonoscopy for me and this is too busy a time of the year right now to do one (especially work wise). But, even though I've never been hospitalized I would imagine that the only time that would happen is if you were doubling over and in too much pain to do anything. Or, losing too much blood. Good luck.

Thanks. I recently got a colonoscopy as well, and the results was normal. However, I still get pain occasionally and the symptoms are on and off, so I'm not sure if my doctor will give me medications :confused2: But do let me know how the colonoscopy goes, since I think we're in the same boat Best wishes!

 

[Mehita]

Have you had any lab work done recently?

 

[jt5]

Have you had any lab work done recently?

Nope, should I go to the GI or family docs for that?

 

[Jennifer]

You can have either doctor do blood work. Have the other doctor's name added so they get the results as well.

During a flare the first thing my doctor does is order blood work (CRP and ESR) to see how high the inflammation is. For me I usually have inflammation in my ileum (its been in my colon in the past) so my GI tends to prescribe Entocort instead of Prednisone (if you're affected in your ileum as well then talk to your doctor about Entocort). In the past they would also tinker with my other meds like raising the dose. If that doesn't work then they switch me to something else. They sometimes do imaging tests like a small bowel follow through etc depending on my symptoms. If my symptoms are mild and I've had imaging tests done within a year then chances are they wont do another test. If my symptoms are more sever then they will do imaging tests (even if I had tests done recently) until they see what's actually going on.

I don't get admitted into the hospital unless things are really bad. For instance last time I was admitted was because of extreme pain and vomiting which turned out the be an obstruction. I went to the hospital before I contacted my GI.

I'm able to deal with my GI mostly by phone rather than waiting for an appointment. Is it possible for you to leave your GI a message (even leave it with a nurse to bring to your doctor's attention) and have them call you back? A nurse may call you back and say that you need to be seen or they may simply give you your doctor's orders. Worth giving it a try.

Also if I'm in a flare I immediately go on the low residue diet to help reduce my symptoms until I hear back from my GI.