An update on my visit to the ER

Thanks to all who suggested (rather strongly, thank goodness) that I get myself to the ER on Thurs. night.  I also took your advice and took my meds with me.  On ice of course.

The Doc. gave me an antibiotic, suggested Ibprofen.  The Hospital hooked me up to fluids, gave me potassium, ran all the tests.  Chest X-Ray, ECG etc.

Did all the bloodwork, have hard copies but don't know how to interpret them, also I'm anemic.  Thats a side effect of Tx isn't it.

I went in at 9:00 PM and was home at 3:00AM.  Mostly waiting for test results.

Determined I have some kind of nasty flu bug!  So I was able to take my shot today, Week 43!

Thanks so very much - Lynne :-)

[GreatBird]

Thanks for checking back in with us. Yes, anemia is a sx of ribavirin. Did your heart rate go down? Boo on the flu! Take it easy, Lynne.

[Lynno711]

Yup heart rate and blood pressure went down.  Much cooler today.

[jdwithhcv]

Glad to hear you're feeling better.  That sounds pretty alarming.  I think a lot of us get to ER at some point during tx - I was there twice.

Ribavarin can cause anemia, and if your hgb goes too low (below 10) you should be put on the rescue drug, procrit.  I hope you can kick the flu quickly, that's just what you don't need!

jd

[meakea]

Thanks for updating us.  I didn't comment on your post yesterday because you had already gotten the best advice from Bill and Greatbird.  Glad you went to the ER and that everything is getting better.  

[Tippyclubb]

Wow having the flu while getting flu like sx is a double whammy.  I feel for you Lynno and glad your alright now.

[annieCinMD]

Glad to hear you're OK. That was scary! Hopefully you have enough anti-viral cocktail in your bloodstream to kick the flu in the tush.

[copyman]

Glad you are feeling better Lynn.

I have to disagree with one of the posters replies that "a lot of us get to ER at some point during tx" .  For any newbies that may see that post it is not true, very few ever have to visit the emergency room. Unfortuantely a small percentage do have to go for different problems related to treatment but most are able to wait and be treated by their doctor.

[Lynno711]

I agree with you to a certain extent, not everyone needs run to the ER for each and every sx.  This forum is perfect for sorting out the "normal" from the "abnormal" sx.

I was sick for a full two weeks.  I was sure it was sx. of the shots I'm in week 43 and had never felt so poorly.  Sx. were minor up until that time.

People on this forum convinced me perhaps it was something else, and encouraged me to go to the ER, they were right!

Still can't talk, but am feeling better.

See Doc. when you can, they can always help you.  

Visit to ER should be last resort, sorry I waited so long!

Just another opinion.

Take Care - Lynne

[jdwithhcv]

Hang in there.  I'm glad to hear you had the sense to go to ER.  Nobody wants to go there unless its necessary, but when you need it, its there.  I had little choice the first time as I was unconscious with hypoxia and the paramedics will tend to take you to ER under those circumstances.  The sencond time I decided to go due to the sudden onset of severe chest pain.  I'm thankful to say it was only bad pneumonia, but I was very anxious to rule out cardiac problems.  

I know plenty of people who have had an ER visit during treatment.  Certainly not everyone goes, but on the other hand, its not unusual.

I hope you're feeling a lot better by now.  Be well.
jd

[toohip]

Plenty of people have to go to ER.  Why would anybody say that is not true?

[copyman]

true, many people have to go to the ER but not because of HCV or treatment drugs. If I had to guess I would say less then 10% because of treatment drugs.

[GSDgirl]

Wait a minute.........what reason are you insuating that people go to the ER?

[ladybug52]

Just curious, where are you getting your numbers on the percentage of people who go to the ER for treatment?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[copyman]

Please read my post again, like I posted just a "guess".
My "guess" would be from conversations with the hepatologists & nurses I have seen as well as many forums I have visited.
Bottom line is I just don't think it is that many.

[ejoli]

  I would hate to have to go to the ER while on tx. With most txers haviing low wbcs and ancs I wouldn't want to be exposed to anything worse!  But there are times when you don't have a choice and I would be sure to tell them as soon as you check in that you have low wbcs so they can isolate you as much as possible.     :)      -Libby

[nygirl7]

"10%"

LOL yes that sure is some amazing guess there isn't it?
Please try to refrain from making things up out of the sky when giving "advice" to people on the forum, you are making it sound like anybody who does have to go is a sissy or something. Thank God Lynn had the common sense to go and find out what was wrong before she got any worse.

Plenty of people have gone to the ER while on treatment for treatment related issues that I can remember. Various issues that are quite severe ranging from transfusions to infections are pretty frequent. We always advise if something seems out of whack to see your doctor or go to the ER as this is the intelligent advice to give since none of us are doctors and can't possibly diagnose anything for certain.

[jdwithhcv]

I have read many posts by people on tx who have had to go to ER.  It could be only 10%, but perhaps not and it seems silly to speculate on the percentage. As for telling the newbies that my statement is "wrong" - nonsense!   These drugs can play havoc with us, and sometimes there is no other course available.  Complications often seem to happen on the weekend, when its hard to reach the doctor.  Sometimes ER is the only recourse when you have symptoms that simply will not wait for Monday morning!

[nygirl7]

I think it was 32.578%.  :)

[Lynno711]

Excuse me for asking.  But were we all not "Newbies" once.

Not sure who to address this to, no offence meant.

Lynne

[nygirl7]

Excuse me for asking.  But were we all not "Newbies" once.

Don't know exactly what you mean because I think you did the exactly right thing going to the hospital when you knew something was wrong.  I was joking about 32.578 or whatever I said because it's so random. I had the flu two weeks ago and by the time my son insisted I go to the ER I needed several bags of saline, morphine and then the anti-throwup meds two nights in a row I was so out of it.  Of course i wasn't on treatment but....

I think it's a good thing you went when you did.

[copyman]

nice guess NYG. "guess" = "opinion"  same thing. that is all that is offered here in a public forum :-)

I will stand firm on my guess/opinion and even think 10% is high. Factor in all the people that TX and "most" that have no need to visit forums because they have SX that their doctor treats and NEVER visit an ER.

TO ALL NEWBIES, PLEASE DON'T LET OPINIONS ON FORUMS SWAY YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHEN MAKING A DECISION TO TREAT. USE THE OPINIONS OF DOCTORS TO MAKE YOUR DECISION. A HEPATOLOGIST WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST ADVICE. OF COURSE IT DON'T HURT TO FIND OUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THIS DISEASE.

[nygirl7]

"We always advise if something seems out of whack to see your doctor or go to the ER as this is the intelligent advice to give since none of us are doctors and can't possibly diagnose anything for certain."

Thanks copyman I wasn't sure if my English was clear enough or good enough to reflect the common "opinion" (not really a "guess" more like # 2 in websters dictionary personal view here), it's nice to have someone back it up.

10%, 6%, 45% who cares it's the fact that it's the WISE thing to do if something is wrong with your body and your doctor is off duty for weekend, holiday, night or Yom Kippur.

[copyman]

you are right. if you don't feel right and can not be seen by a doctor go to the ER. That is what they are there for.

I flagged you on the post by tippy about thyroid problems she is having. I posted that I thought you experienced something similar and might be able to help her.

[nygirl7]

Thanks copy I am going to go find it right now.........damn thyroid problems, treatment is enough fun without that happening (although it's manageable it's just annoying!)

[nygirl7]

Can somebody help me find the post I'm almost blind in my right eye today (allergies) and can't get it together enough to find tippys post!

[franke566]

Well I'm a newbie and while on Tx I had chest pains one friday evening and a cold so I called my Hepatologist who told me to come in monday-wound up in the emergency room that night with a heart attack!  I would think that being on Tx weakens our immune system
and it is better to be safe than sorry.

[jdwithhcv]

Wow, Frank, that must have been frightening.  Tx certainly weakened my immune system.  I agree - better safe than sorry!

jd

[nygirl7]

By the way.........just to make sure.....when you put the meds on ice you really have to make sure they don't FREEZE - you just want them to stay at the same temp as in your fridge but if they freeze they aren't good any longer.  Just happened to think of that out of nowhere, so next time just be careful if you have to take them with you and keep a good eye on them!

[Lynno711]

First of all welcome to the Forum.

So sorry to hear about your Heart Attack, this stuff does play havoc with your immune system.

Glad you took care of yourself and hope you are feeling better.

Keep in touch, lots of good information here.

Take care - Lynne

[alagirl]

I will stand firm on my guess/opinion and even think 10% is high. Factor in all the people that TX and "most" that have no need to visit forums because they have SX that their doctor treats and NEVER visit an ER.
-----------------------------------------
You think less than 10%?  I wish that was true but it hasn't been what I've seen or what my physicians have seen.

[Lynno711]

Don't know how percentages even came into this.  I was only posting about my experience.  If it were up to me, I would hope the percentage would be zero.

It's nice to know that they are there when you need them though.

[alagirl]

It would be nice if it was zero, and I'm glad you got the help you needed.  I don't want folks beginning tx to think that it's out of the norm for them to need to utilize the ER for tx related sx when there is a reason for them to do so.  Many of us have gone to the ER and I don't think it's unrealistic to think that one may well have to do so at some point (or more than once) during treatment.  There are emergent conditions that arise for some folks due to tx in relation to things like blood counts, nausea and infection.