8 hours spent in the ER and still nothing =(

Please look at my past post here to read what has been going on if you would like to

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4370039/In-so-much-pain -gas-pains-feel-like-labor-pains-above-belly/#36105420

Spent yesterday evening in the ER/Urgent Care had X rays and blood work and was sent home.

Still in pain today so I went to the real ER and here is my story from today:

So 8 hours in the ER and nothing. I just want to curl up in a little bawl and cry. They did not give me ANY pain meds at all. I was getting so frustrated repeating everything a million times to all the different people when I had it written down and trying to explain my anatomy and show them the diagrams. Because I mentioned the anal pain she did an exam and said there was blood and an external hemmeroid and that I needed to see someone for that after I had just told her that was scheduled for Wed. I mentioned the acid reflux as well and she said it sounds like I need to talk to my PCP about an endo. scope which I agreed. I asked for IV fluids since they were doing blood work and putting in an IV anyhow and said I didnt need them as I wasnt too dehydrated but fought with them anyhow and got them. The head guy came in and asked why I went to DC to have my surgery and why I chose that surgery. I hate that they always question me. I explained my reasons and left it at that. They gave me the CT scan I told them I wanted and I told them I needed IV contrast but refused to do it without both liquid and IV contrast. I was so upset because if they were going to make me gag the liquid down I really wanted another upper GI series to be done since my acid reflux is kicking my ass but they said that is to be done on an outpatient basis as well as the scope down my throat and in my tush. So after gagging down 2 big cups of the contrast they told me I had to wait 3 hours from the first one to go to radiology. Went and they said the did a CT scan from my breasts down to cover everything and they would see any obstructions, hernias, leaks, gallbladder issues etc. After about another hour and a half they came back and said they found nothing and gave me a script for anti nausea meds and my discharge papers which said GERD and to take pepcid, rest, drink lots of fluids, stay away from fatty foods, and increase fiber for constipation and to call my surgeon and PCP on Mon for follow up care. I asked her if she thought this was related to my reflux and she said she didnt think so but it was possible. She said I also needed to have some test to check and see if my esophagus spasms but I am not sure what test that is. So I am left even more confused then I was originally and still in pain. I didnt eat anything at all today or take any vitamins yet. I just dont know what to do.

 How far are you from your surgeon's hospital?    So, you did have a CT with contrast, both orally and IV?  And they found nothing?  Have you put in a call to your surgeon?  

 I am about 2 hours away from my surgeons office/hospital. Yes I had a CT scan with both oral and IV contrast and they said there was nothing going on and they gave me anti nausea meds and told me to take pepcid, add fiber to my diet and not to eat fat. 

I called the surgeon on call yesterday and told him what I was going through. By the time I got home tonight it was late so I figured I would put a call in tomorrow to them to see when I could get in to see them. However I dont know what they are going to do that is different from the hospital here.

I was told to call my surgeon and PCP on Monday. I have a GI appt for by hiney issues on Wed but also need to make an appt after getting a ref. for the scope for my reflux issues. They wrote down GERD as my diagnosis for todays ER visit and yesterdays was unknown abdominal pain. She said to also ask my dr about a test to see if my esophagus is having spasms. 

 ER docs and most anyone else don't know JACK **** about how to read a DS'ers CT results.   Let me repeat that - THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ THEM.    There are some unique patterns that show up with an internal hernia such as a clustering of blood vessels and a whirl-type pattern, that not many radiologists can read accurately.   Suffice it to say that your DS doc needs to take a look at those results.   I presented to the ER in severe pain  - dramatically severe pain - and after being there for hours and having a CT with contrast, I was sent home saying "I had a lot of stool in me."    They always say that with DS'ers.   I went to my surgeon two days later, and I was in the OR the next day.    My bowel was kinked and I had an internal hernia.    At that time, Dr. Kemmeter warned me that I should ALWAYS contact him when I have any abdominal issues.   He told me he is amazed at how many people don't contact their surgeon when faced with gastro-related problems.

**Edited to add:   I might sound awfully blunt, but if your husband is unwilling to leave your pets alone for a day or two to help you have this matter addressed, you might want to reconsider your choice of husband.   I had a significant other much like that - his dog came first, and the rest of us took a distant second.     Additionally, he scheduled the closing of a rental property he was buying for my surgery date, even though he knew about my date far in advance, and refused to reschedule it.   He dumped me off at the hospital and left before I even went into surgery.     Suffice it to say, he is no longer my partner.

 LIKE

 Julie: Can he just request them from the ER drs so he can look at them himself? They didnt say anything about them to me other than everything looked good and all was fine which obviously it isnt. 

I guess I made my husband sound really bad and while he can be a pain in the ass sometimes I dont want everyone thinking he is a total jerk all the time. He actually took off a lot of time off for my surgery and was there through everything and helped with all my after care. There is a long story behind what happened bwn us and my mom who used to live with us and she used to take care of the pets when we were gone. So he doesnt trust her or a stranger to be in the house with them and take care of them (one needs meds 2x a day and is currently sick) and boarding them all is too much money and stress on them. 

Anyhow thanks for all your help. I am going to call the surgeon on call and let them know what happened yesterday and see if they can get copies of everything to have to look at. 

Your surgeon needs to see you.

~Becky

That stinks that you are not feeling well- perhaps if even the surgeon is unable to come up with anything new you could go back to basics on your nutrition?  At least you may be able to eliminate any foods exacerbating the heartburn/GERD and any excess gas.   HOpe you start feeling better soon

Sheilagh

I agree with Becky. Go see Dr. E. He understands the DS while the people you are receiving treatment from near your home most likely do not.

 The thing is I dont know what he is going to do that the others havent and if he has to do something then he will have to book OR time and I will have to pay out of pocket. I am not sure if I just need to take a day trip there and talk to him or he needs to actually book OR time. My mother is no longer living with us and my husband doesnt trust anyone with all our pets and its too expensive to board them so I really dont know what to do. 

The hospital has tried to get in touch with them but couldnt or so they said. My PCP has sent him all my labs and other things and never heard back from him regarding anything.

So at this point I am wondering say I lived across the world from him what would I do? I just dont know if going back to see him is going to do me any good.