Should You Go To The Hospital?
I cannot even count how many conversations I have had online that went a little like, “I will never EVER go to the E.R. no matter how bad it gets” or “The emergency room makes it worse”.
Avoiding emergency services is something that the chronic illness community is pretty in alignment with. We only go WHEN WE HAVE to go.
Sadly, the majority of chronic conditions do not get addressed in this acute setting which causes us to leave worse off than when we went in.
I mean aside from the fancy decor and five star meals… please hear my sarcasm… the question remains, WHY GO?
When I worked as a nurse I had a much different perspective on this. The safe thing to do is when in doubt, go to the ER. As a patient though, my thoughts changed.
So how do you know when you need to go AND if you do end up going, what can you do to make it an effective experience?
Glad you asked, let’s talk about it …
WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL?
3AM and you are sitting in your bed in agonizing pain. You reach for your phone and type in google, “When do I need to go to the ER”?
Yep, been there… several times actually…
And I DO understand what comes with going into the hospital.
On the latest VODCAST I tell the story of my very first two hospital trips… they were not fun.
You can watch/listen to that story here:
THE FLARE ROOM VODCAST
Where I share my chronic illness journey from 2012 - present.
Some of the ways I can BE SURE that I need to go to the hospital are:
New Or Worsening Symptoms
Anything out of your “normal” should be addressed. If this is something very severe, your “normal” worsens, you have completely new symptoms you have never had before, or you cannot even exist with the pain you are in, it is a good idea to go. Sometimes medications or treatments can have effects that need to be addressed immediately and they can come on all of a sudden.
Uncontrollable Bleeding
If you are bleeding and cannot stop it, there is a good chance you need to go… now… quickly!
Specialist Has Told You To Go When _____ Happens
If you have a specialist then they are more than likely overseeing you care for a specific condition. Ask them at your next visit or through the health portal if they would mind filling our or typing their own instruction for emergency care. (I included a template in the Hospital Package - a FREE download that you can type on, print, or use as a reference). Some physicians prefer to use their own letterhead and way of formatting this and others just want to fill in the blanks due to time restraints. I have found it helpful to ASK which they prefer and have the option ready. Shout out to my geneticist who suggested this and provided me with a form.
The Problem Is Acute
If you have suffered from an injury, gotten into a car accident, or even experienced a bad fall, these are all times to go and get checked out. A quick scan and bloodwork may rule out anything serious and give you some peace of mind if nothing else. Just remember, that peace of mind may cost a lot of pennies.
All Head Injuries
I go. You cannot physically see brain trauma and for this reason, I just go.
Difficulty Breathing
No questions here. I go as fast as I can. I don’t care if it is anxiety… I was told this for years and it was actually my diaphragm, so not going could have been deadly. If you are having trouble breathing, I would go if it were me.
And remember this is not medical advice and we are on the internet. Trust yourself and your judgement. You know when something is very wrong or “off”.
No matter what you find on the google, it will not explain your entire situation (like medications, treatments, multiple conditions, etc) and as much as we like to put it off for as long as possible… well… just please consider this.
Yeah, I am the pot calling the kettle black here…
TIPS FOR WHEN I DO GO TO THE HOSPITAL
I couldn’t tell you just how many times I have ended up admitted from a trip to the emergency room… over 50 at minimum.
And then the procedures, testing, surgeries…
For whatever reason you find yourself actually going to the emergency room, here are some things that have helped me in the past that I still use to this day:
-Hospital Bag
I have this ready to go for all emergencies or stays. See below for what is in it. The bag.
-Take Controlled Medication Bottle
Because of the drug-seeker allegations from previous visits, I take the whole bottle so that the physician and nurses can see that I have enough pills left, my RX is in date, and there is NO question that I am there for this medication… because clearly I have some.
-Do NOT Wear Metal
You may get scanned. No metal in an MRI so I just practice (and have outfits for this now) not wearing metal to any appointments at all.
-Know Your Insurance Policy
One of the worst things is being in agonizing pain and hearing you owe an amount to be seen for the first time. Checking your insurance policy for copays and coverage prior to the visit can be helpful.
-Medical Errors Happen
This was on a nursing exam for recertification. The numbers would shock you. Medication errors (wrong medication all together, wrong dosage, wrong patient, etc) are pretty common in this setting. As a nurse I NEVER took offense to someone wanting to know what and why they are taking. If someone gives you a hard time, oh well. It is much easier to stop the medication error at this point (from a nursing perspective) then have to deal with an adverse reaction… so just double, triple check. This is one form of advocating that you have to remember is YOUR LIFE. No negotiations. And yes, I do it every single time. And also yes, I have had medications given to me in the wrong dose, the wrong medication all together, and some were potentially fatal. CHECK YOUR MEDS.
Use this tool to check for medication interactions, make sure you are taking the right pill, and more!
-Parking
Some hospitals have a parking garage and some have spaces. They may only take cash.
-Medical Records
Sometimes you can ask for your records or test results when the nurse comes in to tell you about being discharged. This can make it easier for both them and you. In other cases it is not easier and you may be able to get them as you are leaving. Always worth asking so you don’t have to make the extra trip days later if possible.
Aside from those, a lot of people have asked me about AMA (Against Medical Advice) form.
This is simply leaving the hospital before the physician decides to discharge you.
Now, there are a lot of reasons that this situation may occur, but regardless, it is one of your rights to leave the facility (unless you are there with legal restrictions of course).
Usually a medical staff professional will have you sign a form that will explain you are leaving against the judgement of the medical physician that is overseeing your care.
There is some debate on whether or not insurance will pay when you leave in this manner. I know for me it has been covered, but I also know for others it has not been.
I would check with your insurance policy and specifically ask a representative (before this happens) if your care would be covered in the event of you signing an AMA form.
WHAT I PUT IN MY HOSPITAL BAG
First, the bag itself is probably the most important.
I say this because medical facilities are not in charge of making sure your stuff stays safe AKA no one steals it.
Hospitals are for sick people… think about that… your bag will end up on a chair or a floor… you never know what the person has in the other room… yeah…
I finally found a bag that I can wipe down and disinfect the best I can. I have one for myself and one for the husband that we keep on the top shelf of our closet ready to go.
When I didn’t have enough money for this, I used an old grocery store bag that I could throw away.
Yes, I also like aesthetically pleasing things, but when it comes to my health, staying safe and as healthy as possible is my number one concern here.
If you have every heard of the hospital acquired infection (MRSA) you may agree with me here… or not and that is fine too…
IN THE BAG:
Chargers & A Long Cord
Cell phones, tablets, laptops … and a 10ft plus cord for my phone charger cable
Cash
Some vending machines have been cash, so this is more for the waiting room and for whoever is taking you… yes, they may get hungry. Also, parking. I only had a cash option a few times.
Toilettres
Déodorant, travel size bottles of shampoo or body soap, body cleansing wipes, denture glue, hair ties (with no metal bands in them), cocoa butter or lotion, etc. Pretend you are going on a small mini-vacay and think of what you could take on an airplane.
Equipment They Won’t Have
This could be something like my NIF meter (used for measuring breathing). When we live with these rare diseases some facilities do not always carry the equipment we need. Special setting Bipap machines, certain G-Tube tubing, etc.
Face Sheet & Medication List
This is so helpful when checking into the hospital. You will probably still be asked some questions, but it does save you from having to remember information when you are in no position to do so. It also ensures accuracy with your medications. I write down the last time I took a medication (even if the day before) or if it hasn’t been taken in over 2 weeks on the box on the side of the template (included in Medical Chart FREE download).
Neck Pillow & Throw Blanket
Maybe for the quick trip to the emergency room this won’t make sense, but when I am admitted it surely does! I actually had the husband go and find me a small mirror (I couldn’t get out of bed and needed to see to put in my dentures) with a neck pillow. Because of the positioning I was in (neck catheter) I couldn’t lay comfortably and this pillow gave me some comfort. Also, it can be really cold to really hot, so I take a throw (they have a sale around the holidays for $5 throws at Walmart and then drop to $2.50 if you are wanting one to toss or don’t have the money)
Something To Do
Make sure this is a non-electronic something to do. I like to try and sleep while in the hospital but the reality is that this isn’t always possible. A good book, a puzzle, a coloring book… something that doesn’t plug into the wall can be good to bring.
Extra Underwear
You just never know… and it makes you feel a whole lot cleaner to put on some new underwear, even if you haven’t bathed in a week.
This is pretty much what is in my bag.
I do have an instant coffee packet that includes cream and sugar for the husband (he always stays the night) and some candies in case his blood sugar drops.
You know what makes you comfortable, I only hope to give you some ideas here… and remember… those hospital outlets are weird prongs and sometimes not allowed to be used when in a room.
Proof I’ve been… lol
Conclusion
I know that going to the hospital is not the best of times at all.
It messes with our routines, changes our medication schedules, is uncomfortable, and even stressful.
Unfortunately, there is not one google search that can answer the question if you should go or not, but I hope this information was helpful.
But I would hate for someone to not go to the hospital because of what they read online versus having their life saved… ya know?
If there are any other tricks and hacks you have learned along the way, please share them either here or in the YouTube comments under the VODCAST to help others!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read to this point as I know our non-flaring times are priceless!
And if you are in the hospital right now or have a surgery/procedure upcoming, I wish you the very best stay possible.
You know your body, don’t forget that!
I hope that you are having a better kind of day today!