What would it take to make you accept

[graceanne]

I hate to beat a dead horse, but . . . don't you also have migraine problems? So, now you're passing out, falling, have migraines and nausea. The other issue is that most seizure will look, to a trained eye, like you passed out. I've seen two people have seizures and if it weren't for some training I'd have thought they were just stiff and sleeping. If none of the people who saw you 'fall' were trained they wouldn't know if you passed out or had a seizure.

Look at it this way, what if you put this off for years and you get to them and they say 'well if you'd come to us when you started having problems we could have helped you, but now it's too late. You're dying.'? Please, please, PLEASE go see a doctor. I'm not talking an ER visit, make an appt with a neurologist.

 

[graceanne]

Things I've been in the ER for:

Crohns

Crohns

Crohns . . . (seeing a pattern)

A bad fall - I was afraid I'd broken a bone

Things my kids have been in the ER for:

Asthma

HIGH TEMP (three times 104.7)

Ear infection (no insurance and they're legally required to see us)

dehydration due to vomitting

 

[graceanne]

I wasn't insured when I was diagnosed and I had to wait 18 mos or whatever it is before my disease was not considered "pre-existing" when you are entertaining toxic megacolon as a possible outcome, you just go.

Broke you can fix. Debt you can pay.

Do not let fear of debt keep you from accessing what you need. They WILL treat you, you will just owe money. Money you may never pay off, but MD's generally WANT you to have access hospitals have non-profit funds and patient assistence funds, there are non-profits set up to help people. No one *has* to die in the street. Public hospitals are not pleasant, but I've entertained myself in them at times when I've had to.

(and the hospitals have insurers that pay them if you REALLY can't pay, too)

Yep. *nods* I won't go into my medical debt - it's a long sad story, but if I hadn't gone I'd either be dead or I'd have a bag strapped to my side to replace my colon. *ew*

 

[callinectes]

There are those that rush to the Dr. when they stub their toe. There are those that won't go to the Dr. when it is obvious something serious is up. Once is as bad as the other IMHO.

Fury, whatever it is that is bothering you doesn't just affect you. You have kids to worry about. Kids that need their mom around. Don't be selfish and pig-headed about not going to the Dr. just because you don't like them.

I know I sound harsh and I make no apology for it. I lost a friend to cervical cancer 3 years ago. She had 2 sons, ages 9 and 13. She had all kinds of weird stuff going on for 5 damn years until she finally went to the doctor. By then it was far too late. Within 16 months her husband was a widower and her children motherless. All because she kept blowing off her symptoms when her cancer could have been treated. You are a big girl and can do what you want, but doing the right thing is responsible and mature.

/bitchy preachy rant.

 

[BiBunny]

Lemme see...I've been to the emergency room four times in my life. Once was when my parents took me with a terrible bout of pneumonia when I was about 3 years old. They kept me there at the hospital overnight, which is the only time I've ever had to stay in the hospital. I also went when I was 19, when I broke my hand in a fall off a horse. When I was about 20, my boyfriend at the time and Kitty forced me to go one night because I had such a terrible kidney infection one weekend that I could hardly breathe. Then, at 21, I fell off another horse and dislocated my shoulder. That was the last one.

Now, even if I'm dying, I'm going to have to stay at home and die because I don't have insurance.

 

[callinectes]

Yep. *nods* I won't go into my medical debt - it's a long sad story, but if I hadn't gone I'd either be dead or I'd have a bag strapped to my side to replace my colon. *ew*

All I'm going to say to that is.... I have a dear friend that had a colostomy at age 25 (she is now 30). She does not have one ounce of regret and feels like she has her life back. She is also single and dating and manages to handle it with grace and tact. *shrug*

 

[graceanne]

All I'm going to say to that is.... I have a dear friend that had a colostomy at age 25 (she is now 30). She does not have one ounce of regret and feels like she has her life back. She is also single and dating and manages to handle it with grace and tact. *shrug*

I'm going to be nice - but I've heard and heard and HEARD this. I don't care. It would matter TO ME, and it's my colon that we're talking about. I'd almost rather die.

Like it's not bad enough that I'm fat and disgusting - lets add a bag of shit to the equation. Joy.

 

[SharpObjects]

It depends. I have been to the ER for stitches. I have been when I couldn't stop vomiting and was dehydrated to start with. Took them 20 damn minutes to find a vein to draw blood from.
I went when I had crazy throbbing pressure in my neck and head and didn't know why. I went when I hurt my back and couldn't move or lay down with out horrible pain.
Other wise I tend to ignore things for as long as I can. If I'm sick, I don't rush off to the doctor.

I guess because I am responsible for the care of my 83 year old grandmother I take my health seriously. If something happened to me, she would be shipped to a nursing home in a heartbeat.

 

[callinectes]

I'm going to be nice - but I've heard and heard and HEARD this. I don't care. It would matter TO ME, and it's my colon that we're talking about. I'd almost rather die.

Like it's not bad enough that I'm fat and disgusting - lets add a bag of shit to the equation. Joy.

I understand completly. It is your colon and your life . I was just saying.

It does make me terribly sad to read you think you are fat and disgusting. I have no idea what you look like but you are far from being a disgusting person.

 

[graceanne]

I understand completly. It is your colon and your life . I was just saying.

Sorry I'm bitchy - but people have been telling me this since I got diagnosed with Crohns. The truth is that I'm very likely to eventually need to have it removed, because of the nature of my Crohns and that I struggle to stay in remission. I don't care - I don't. I DO NOT WANT TO WALK AROUND WITH A BAG OF SHIT ATTACHED TO MY SIDE. I swear to God, I would never leave my house again.

 

[Bandit58]

I've been lucky. I've never needed an ambulance for anything. However I've called one for Sir - three times for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) so low He was unresponsive, and once when He developed peritonitis the first time. That was the only time He was transported to hospital....He spent the night in the ER and finally got a bed in the ward around 4pm the next day

Because He's on disability He has never had to pay. However I know there is a charge for those who aren't on a pension.

Back when I lived in NZ my father would need to go to the hospital sometimes when he had bowel problems (acute blockage caused by excessive radiation therapy for bowel cancer in 1981), yes grace he had a colostomy He would need to spend a night in there while they gave him pain relief and muscle relaxant injections to relieve the blockage. Mum and Dad paid a yearly subscription/donation to the ambulance service which entitled them to as many trips as they needed for free.

Fury I'm going to add my voice to the others and say get thee to the doctors.....from what you posted it could have been anything and especially if you passed out and can't remember stuff

 

[graceanne]

The last time I was sick my uncle (nurse practitioner and at the time he was my primary) wanted K to call an ambulance cause I wasn't very responsive, (I say very responsive cause I'd respond but my responses didn't make sense.) but K was worried about the cost and drove me anyway. That was the time I was so dehydrated I was having chest pains. EKG things itch, btw.

 

[myinnerslut]

EKG things itch, btw.

hahaha. yeah, they do. i had to be on one when i passed out from the intense migraine i had last year. my roomate, who drove me, said i wasnt even aware, and didnt really remembr afterwards, that i had stickers all over my chest, but i kept trying to scratch them off.

 

[graceanne]

hahaha. yeah, they do. i had to be on one when i passed out from the intense migraine i had last year. my roomate, who drove me, said i wasnt even aware, and didnt really remembr afterwards, that i had stickers all over my chest, but i kept trying to scratch them off.

I believe that. I don't know what's in that stuff they use, but it's as bad as hives.

 

[myinnerslut]

I believe that. I don't know what's in that stuff they use, but it's as bad as hives.

to make matters worse, im allergic to the adhesive in most tapes. not bad allergic, but it makes my skin all red and itchy in no time flat. the sorry excuse for a hospital up at school didt ask if i had any allergies to anything other then medications. they figured that it would be more trouble to get a response from me then to just risk it and go. idiots.

 

[graceanne]

to make matters worse, im allergic to the adhesive in most tapes. not bad allergic, but it makes my skin all red and itchy in no time flat. the sorry excuse for a hospital up at school didt ask if i had any allergies. they figured that it would be more trouble to get a response from me then to just risk it and go. idiots.

Yeah, me too. The last time I had a bandaid I had a red spot for three days, and brown spot for two weeks.

 

[myinnerslut]

Yeah, me too. The last time I had a bandaid I had a red spot for three days, and brown spot for two weeks.

im not that bad and i can use paper tape with no problem, and even low sticky stuff like athletic tape, which is a cloth tape. but high adhesive plasticy tapes are bad.

 

[Bandit58]

to make matters worse, im allergic to the adhesive in most tapes. not bad allergic, but it makes my skin all red and itchy in no time flat. the sorry excuse for a hospital up at school didt ask if i had any allergies to anything other then medications. they figured that it would be more trouble to get a response from me then to just risk it and go. idiots.

Sir is allergic to most tapes as well, there's only one that doesn't make Him itch and it would have to be one of the most expensive ones Luckily we get it for free with the dialysis supplies every 3 months - apparently they have to order it in especially for Him! We looked up the price and it's about $50 for a 10metre roll *10metres=10.9361 yards*

 

[graceanne]

im not that bad and i can use paper tape with no problem, and even low sticky stuff like athletic tape, which is a cloth tape. but high adhesive plasticy tapes are bad.

I get worse as I get older. As a child I wasn't allergic to any tapes. Then it was only plastic tape. The other morning I had to get my blood taken pretty early and I was half asleep and they put paper tape on the spot - instant itching. Normally I remind them not to put tape on me BEFORE they use it.

 

[fieryjen]

There were only two times when I've had an ambulance take me to the hospital. The first time, I was fourteen and still on my parents' insurance. I passed out in class, turned out to be hyperventilation brought on by an anxiety attack.

The second time was when I was in a car accident and I had a slight concussion. The only reason I let them take me was because I certainly wouldn't have had to pay for it - I wasn't driving, and I was in the car that wasn't at fault, so it was on someone else's insurance. I wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise.

I didn't go to the doctor for my bronchitis either. I just plain didn't have the money for it.

But this does sound serious, and I'd probably get it checked out.

 

[FurryFury]

If the crown fits ......

We all know about your bedside manner Miss Rose.

You didn't take out Miss MostLikelyToSlipYouTheTongue 2007 for nothing.

*chuckles*

 

[FurryFury]

Take care

I'm trying, truly.

 

[FurryFury]

A herniated disk. *nod*

Wow, that sounds ouch!

 

[FurryFury]

What she said. Listen to the nurse!


As for your poll: the only ambulance ride I've ever had came with a truly nasty broken shoulder. Broken bones alone aren't enough as I've walked to the hospital with a broken wrist.

Tough guy!

I've had some broken bones too. Took me a while to agree to see the doc on that one. I think I was in 5th grade that year. Took three days before the pain was bad enough.

 

[EmpressFi]

Ive never ridden in an ambulance *knocks on wood*. However passing out, chest pain, shortness of breath would all be things that would take me there..

wait a minute.. what am I saying. I've never passed out, but those others.. I've brushed off, so I'd probably do that and try and treat myself first.