When To Seek Help?

[Ronai]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's ileitis about 4 months ago after over a year of being told "it's all in your head" "nothing's coming up" "It's just IBS"

My doctor has told me it's mild, and I'm currently only on medication for my acid reflux, nothing for the pain since I reacted quite badly to the steroids, so we're tackling it one thing at a time.

Everything was going fine, it's always painful but I'm pretty used to it now, however 3 days ago I started feeling really off, my balance kept going and I just felt really lethargic and nauseous, I was at the time, on my period so I assumed it was due to that, but then the pain hit big time and I spent about 80% of the night and a good chunk of the next day camping in the bathroom ><

Now 3 days on and I'm still in constant agony in my lower right side, where the inflammation is, and my lower/middle left, I keep telling my mum, but all I get is a shrug and "What do you want me to do?" as a response, and the thing is, I don't know what I want her to do =C

Usually I try to work through the pain, but right now, when it peaks I can't even move off my bed and not to sound too TMI, but I can't control anything and keep having accidents =c
It's getting increasingly distressing, I usually only get it this bad for spans of 2-6 hours max, never 3 days...

I want to be able to sit and say; "It's my body, I know when enough is enough and when to seek help" but...I really don't =c I've only had a solid diagnosis about 4 months, and the last thing I want to do is crawl into the A&E at their peak time, just to be told it's normal and to take some painkillers :C

I just really don't know what to do with myself anymore, I have tried paracetamol, but it's only taking the edge off, and not doing a lot when it really spikes...

 

[DJW]

I know how awful this disease can be. I to hate going to the hospital but sometimes it needs to happen. You need to go. It might be crohns but it could be something else that needs attention. My pediatric GI told me when first diagnosed; you can still get other stuff going on. Don't assume its always crohns.

Sending you my support. I hope they can help quickly and send you home.

 

[Trysha]

Your symptoms are bad enough to warrant an urgent visit to the emergency room
You should not continue to suffer and it could be something serious
Don't leave it any longer your symptoms warrant a proper investigation
Please let us know how you get on
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trisha

 

[tzvia]

You should either go to the ER or call your doctor first thing in the morning

 

[UnXmas]

You can have a mild chronic form of the disease and yet still be susceptible to acute complications. If your symptoms have suddenly altered/worsened, you have a genuine reason for getting the new pain checked out. I think you do have to be prepared that the emergency room may be unhelpful, but ruling out emergency situations is a part of their job as well as treating them. At the very least, you can ask them for painkillers, and they should be able to give you stronger stuff than you can get outside of hospital at short notice. Just by doing simple checks of your blood pressure, blood tests, temperature, etc. they'll get an idea of how sick you are and should be able to tell you whether or not further tests are needed right away. Running these first routine tests is not a lot to ask of them, so don't worry about it. If they tell you it's nothing urgent, make some follow-up appointments with your specialists to try to get a more expert opinion on why things are getting worse and how to get this under control.

Before I had my ileostomy, I used to have accidents too. Don't suffer in silence about this - there are incontinence pads that will allow you the freedom to go away from the bathroom with a bit more confidence. I found a lot of doctors simply don't ask about this issue, and I know it can be difficult to bring it up. Don't be too embarrassed to ask. It's a big deal and can really affect your quality of life, so make sure you get across to your doctors just how bad the diarrhoea is, so that they can treat it both medicinally (it's often treatable, and if you can get the disease under control, it needn't be an on-going problem), and help you find the right products to keep you clean and comfortable.

I keep telling my mum, but all I get is a shrug and "What do you want me to do?" as a response, and the thing is, I don't know what I want her to do =C

My mum has this reaction too. I tell her, I don't want her to do anything, I'm just telling her for the sake of having someone to complain to! I think parents find it very hard when they're helpless and you're in pain. With my mum, I used to think it looked like she didn't care that much... she does care, intensely, but it's hard for some people to express emotions when they're feeling so upset and hopeless. Perhaps you could ask her to come with you to the emergency room, just to be there for moral support? It might help alleviate some of her worries to see you getting the attention you need from medical professionals. My mum always likes to come and see my main consultant with me, because it lifts a big burden off her just to hear that there's someone capable in control, coming up with plans and keeping an eye on me should anything bad be coming up.