I really can't answer your question about demanding in-patient treatment. I live in England where we have socialised medicine i.e. we don't pay for any visit to the GP or consultants, just have to pay a nominal fee for prescriptions when under retirement age. I have never had to "demand" in-patient observation, it has always been prescribed, usually because I have had a flare of my Crohn's and need IV medication and occasionally, blood transfusions. However, I do realise medical treatment in the USA is quite different to that here, as I have had experience of 4 days in a hospital in Florida when visiting friends, for a severe rectal haemorrhage. The did every test in the book, as well as hooking me up to a 24 hr heart monitor, although there is nothing wrong with my heart. I guess because I had medical travel insurance, they were just getting their monies' worth, or else afraid of being sued for negligence.
I would go back to your PCP and ask to be referred to a gastro who is compassionate - and knows what he is doing. In my experience, drs in the ER don't know a lot about digestive diseases. They are just "quick fix" merchants in my opinion.
Hope you get help soon.
Liz.
I am on xannax for anxiety because ive been so distraut about this that im starting to doubt my abliltys and now the doctor put me on flexeril and vicodan the thing that i am stressing pain is so much of the symptoms as the nausea is a the lack of appetite im loosing weight rapidly and so far all my urine and blood work our normal i only have 1 kidney so im concerned but somewher in my patient chart a doctor disn;t like me he said i was making myself sick and so now the other dr.s wont listen should I and can a demand to stay for observation at the hospital
Sorry to hear of your problems.You are not crazy, just very concerned about your symptoms and quality of life. Has your gastro done a colonoscopy or endoscopy to rule out inflammatory bowel disease? IBD does not always present with loose stools, but certainly with pain and abdominal cramps. Telling you that you are a hypochondriac is counter-productive - you need a proper diagnosis and treatment - not anxiety drugs. Has your gall bladder and pancreas been looked at? I would strongly suggest further testing, rather than rely on the drugs you are taking at present.
Hope you go back to the gastro and demand further testing.
Good luck.
Liz.