I've only gone to the ER once for stitches. It wasn't a great experience, but I don't want to dissuade anyone else from getting medical attention if they need it. I probably didn't need it. I just figured that a few stitches would lessen the scarring. Afterwards, I felt pretty stupid for being so vain. I spent 10 hours in the ER and came very close to ending up in a 36 hour inpatient for observation kind of situation because the doctors didn't believe that I wasn't suicidal. It was scary and frustrating. That said, if I had a cut that was still bleeding days later, I'd bite the bullet and get it checked out.

The one thing I should have done differently was to call my therapist before going just to let her know that everything was under control, that I'd had a relapse, but I wasn't a danger to myself, etc.

When I got to the ER, they insisted on calling my psychiatrist instead of my therapist even though I told them that I only see my psychiatrist for 15 minutes every couple of months. I see my therapist every week for an hour so she's much more aware of what's going on with me. Also, take a friend or family member if you can. I have trouble speaking up for myself, so I really needed someone who could help to explain the situation. I was too scared and stressed to get my thoughts together enough to try to explain how self injury is different from a suicide attempt.

Also, it might be a good idea to print out the Bill of Rights for Self Injurers ( http://www.selfinjury.org/docs/brights.html ) and take that with you.

Good luck. I hope that you get the medical treatment that it seems like you need.