s/o Anyone else fed up with doctors thinking everyone is a junkie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have gastroparesis so I have a similar experience at the ER. Opioids are the only thing that helps with the pain at the point, but I don't need them at home. I'm typically stable in a few hours or a day and can just follow up with my GI. The ER staff often don't know anything about Gastroparesis and if I'm in pain, I can't communicate well what is going on so I bring a companion or show them a letter from my doc. I still get treated like crap because they assume I am drug seeking. Never mind that I'm also asking for IV fluids, a scan with contrast to see how bad the blockage is, and anti-nausea meds. However, the letter does help. We also tend to call my doc/his service and warn them I am headed to the ER. That way, they will check in on me sooner.

Narcotics make gastroparesis worse in the long run as it slows down your bowel. The treatment for gastroparesis is non-narcotic medication/nausea meds/ and fluids. If you get a CT scan every time you have your typical gastroparesis flare, you are nuts. That is a crazy amount of radiation and the CT scans don't show anything for gastroparesis. Now if you have a history of bowel obstructions, then that is different. Amazingly, hospitals in this area are trying to majorly decrease narcotic use. I LOVE that most of the ERs in this area are now dilaudid free.

Narcotics can definitely make gastroparesis worse that way. However, on flares it can cause a lot of pain and opiods are given for that. But it does have to be occasional or it will worsen the GP. I gathered PP experiences this pain very rarely, but on those occasions she does need heavy duty pain relief.

I gather she needs a scan perhaps for fecal blockage, a not uncommon occurrence with GP and something that can cause the pain.

I thought dilaudid was still quite available in local ERs. How else are they dealing with people who have been in bad accidents, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have gastroparesis so I have a similar experience at the ER. Opioids are the only thing that helps with the pain at the point, but I don't need them at home. I'm typically stable in a few hours or a day and can just follow up with my GI. The ER staff often don't know anything about Gastroparesis and if I'm in pain, I can't communicate well what is going on so I bring a companion or show them a letter from my doc. I still get treated like crap because they assume I am drug seeking. Never mind that I'm also asking for IV fluids, a scan with contrast to see how bad the blockage is, and anti-nausea meds. However, the letter does help. We also tend to call my doc/his service and warn them I am headed to the ER. That way, they will check in on me sooner.

Narcotics make gastroparesis worse in the long run as it slows down your bowel. The treatment for gastroparesis is non-narcotic medication/nausea meds/ and fluids. If you get a CT scan every time you have your typical gastroparesis flare, you are nuts. That is a crazy amount of radiation and the CT scans don't show anything for gastroparesis. Now if you have a history of bowel obstructions, then that is different. Amazingly, hospitals in this area are trying to majorly decrease narcotic use. I LOVE that most of the ERs in this area are now dilaudid free.

Narcotics can definitely make gastroparesis worse that way. However, on flares it can cause a lot of pain and opiods are given for that. But it does have to be occasional or it will worsen the GP. I gathered PP experiences this pain very rarely, but on those occasions she does need heavy duty pain relief.

I gather she needs a scan perhaps for fecal blockage, a not uncommon occurrence with GP and something that can cause the pain.

I thought dilaudid was still quite available in local ERs. How else are they dealing with people who have been in bad accidents, etc.?

They are admitted, and given dilaudid intravenously.

[Anonymous]

I have Multiple Sclerosis and am in daily pain. I take a handful of pills each day that help with the nerve damage, but sometimes I need something stronger.

If I'm in an active flair I can go to the ER and they'll see a new lesion and give me drugs. But if I'm in a mini-flair, they don't do anything for me.