Well I did as everyone suggested and went to the ER. Sat there 4 hours. They take me back tell me I am under weight asked who my Drs. were. They couldn't get ahold of either. So they told me to drink Boost or Ensure. Then they told me to see my MD. or RD. for follow up. They said it looked like a severve case of RA. Like I didn't know that. They didn't help a bit. Only run up bills I can't afford just to tell me to drink Boost!
So now I am still in pain, still sick and worrying about it all
Seems the ER never helps with RA symptoms, at least not mine anyways. Better for me to just "tuff" it out and make due with what I got. I also do not like running up bills, so when I go to the ER it is certainly for a reason.
I hope you get to feeling better soon , and hope on of you Dr's can fix you up a little.
Many hugs to you.
Thanks Joonie. I hope my MD. will do something. Love to ya!
LostPoet, did they do any blood draws? They should have at least looked at your electrolytes numbers. Do you have a doctor that you can go see? Let them know you had to go to the ER and you might get in sooner to see the doctor. Lindy
No. No blood work or anything. Just weighed me and temp,as well as blood pressure which was low as usual. I go see my MD. Next week. I will tell him!
That's is really disappointing. I know you must be very disappointed. What did you tell them you were coming in for? Did you ask them any specific questions, tell them how you are losing weight and that you were feeling ill and weak and concerned? Did you express concern about your electrolytes? And did you tell them how frightened you are about the reason you are "wasting away"? It would be infuriating to express these things and ask these questions and have them not even take any tests!
[QUOTE=lostpoet]No. No blood work or anything. Just weighed me and temp,as well as blood pressure which was low as usual. I go see my MD. Next week. I will tell him![/QUOTE]
That's bizarre. I think the only time I've been to the ER without a blood draw was when I had a scratched cornea and just needed pain relief. Every other time they want blood. Especially if you go in with symptoms such as yours.Welll guys that is why I didn't want to go. Small town, stupid DRs. I told them why I came in and they just looked at me like ....HUH? Boost or Ensure..yeah right like that is going to help. Never did before. I hate DRs. and hospitals around here. No one has a clue about anything at all and further more they don't care.Poet, I am really sorry to hear about that. That is a bunch of BS, if I would have been there with you I would forced the dr's to do something other than prescribe boost to alleviate pain and try to give you answers. I hate Dr.s and hospitals too for your same reasons (they can be dumb and expensive) but you have to know, or hopefully will experience sometime soon that there are good DR's out there and good hospitals too. You have to search for them though because tey are not the norm.HI Lostpoet,
I am so sorry to hear that. Heck, I suggested ensure to you a couple of weeks ago. That is infuriating to say the least. Maybe get yourself some ensure and some Aleve (a lot of folks swear by it) and wait until your appointment. In the meantime, make out a list of questions for your doctor and make them answer them to your satisfaction. Hugs to you...Hiking_gal
I'm so sorry. No wonder you're so frustrated. I agree with hiking_gal that Ensure and Aleve are the way to go until your next appointment. Ensure is great for making sure you get the nutrients you need, and Aleve is a good painkiller, although sometimes it's necessary to double the dose, like the naproxen strength. If that's not strong enough, push your doctor to give you something else. You can't keep going like this and you shouldn't have to live in pain. Make him address all your concerns before you leave his office. Hugs.So sorry they treated you that way. Ensure never worked for me to make me eat, but I bought the One a Day Vitamins for Women and it really increased my appetite and has finally helped me gain some weight. It was getting really bad. It seems like I was losing weight in my sleep. I take Naproxen for the pain and that has really helped, but 2 Aleves will help as well. Make sure you eat and drink lots of water with Aleve.Oh, I am so sorry! I know what you mean. When my RA gets really bad, I am never hungry. The only thing that makes me eat is my steroids. I hope you get to feeling better!Thanks everyone!
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