[divine1966]

Typically with severe anemia colonoscopy and endoscope are done immediately as it’s a typical reason for blood loss. That’s what happened to my mom, it was ordered immediately in ER, before even being admitted and was done that same day. My friend didn’t go to ER but called her GP, I drove her to GP because she couldn’t even walk, she was immediately referred for both tests and it was done just few days later and that’s when the healing started. That’s how they find GI cancers etc

It’s mind boggling that the person keeps going to medical professionals with severe blood loss, unable to stand and walk and nothing gets done all this time except pumping blood and sending you home. I’d be tempted to file a complaint l. I just don’t get it.

It’s law suit worthy

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

Oh crikey Rose, those levels of decreased red blood cells are enough to cause depression and anxiety alone. I’m shocked they took so long to refer you for endoscopy.

So sorry you’re going through this and hoping you get the treatment you need ASAP. Let us know how you’re doing please!

You know I never thought of anemia affecting my mood and state of mind. That's a good point.

I had to push for endoscopy. Seems insane to just send someone home, possibly to collapse from extreme weakness. The doctor wrote a note about discharge, saying I could just come back for repeat transfusions when needed. That's a plan?

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Rose76

You know I never thought of anemia affecting my mood and state of mind. That's a good point.

I had to push for endoscopy. Seems insane to just send someone home, possibly to collapse from extreme weakness. The doctor wrote a note about discharge, saying I could just come back for repeat transfusions when needed. That's a plan?

Oh yeah when all of this was happening with my friend, she was very depressed and her anxiety was crazy. When the issue was resolved, she is back to normal.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Typically with severe anemia colonoscopy and endoscope are done immediately as it’s a typical reason for blood loss. That’s what happened to my mom, it was ordered immediately in ER, before even being admitted and was done that same day. My friend didn’t go to ER but called her GP, I drove her to GP because she couldn’t even walk, she was immediately referred for both tests and it was done just few days later and that’s when the healing started. That’s how they find GI cancers etc

It’s mind boggling that the person keeps going to medical professionals with severe blood loss, unable to stand and walk and nothing gets done all this time except pumping blood and sending you home. I’d be tempted to file a complaint l. I just don’t get it.

It’s law suit worthy

They said the ER was there to provide "stop-gap" remedies, but that I could pursue other things through referrals on an out-patient basis. Seemed irresponsible to me. They said I should ask my provider to request diagnostic procedures. She's a phyician's assistant. They put too much on the shoulders of a P.A. - primary care provider. Last week they said they would send her an electronic message encouraging her to work on referrals.

Well, I go in 20 minutes to endoscopy.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Rose76

They said the ER was there to provide "stop-gap" remedies, but that I could pursue other things through referrals on an out-patient basis. Seemed irresponsible to me. They said I should ask my provider to request diagnostic procedures. She's a phyician's assistant. They put too much on the shoulders of a P.A. - primary care provider. Last week they said they would send her an electronic message encouraging her to work on referrals.

Well, I go in 20 minutes to endoscopy.

Good luck. Yeah you are right about ER, when my mom was in ER she contacted her GP (or they did) and the ball start rolling. PA should take care of business similar like the doctor would in a sense of referring patients. ER wouldn’t make that decision. I wasn’t thinking right when I said they would do it. Not on their own

Now when I think of it ER doesn’t always make the right decision, likely because they are short staffed and focused on extreme cases.

Last time my husband was in ER (abscess erc) they sent him home few hours later (said it doesn’t look that bad) but I had to drive him back two days later because he was so much worse and he was in the hospital for a week after and two weeks at home on IV.

Doctor kept saying so much time was lost because he was sent home from ER for no reason, it was a weekend too so GP wasn’t reachable. And it’s the same hospital my husband is RN at and they know him and it’s in general not a bad hospital. Still!

But something with ERs is just not situated. He was sent to ER from the urgent care to just be sent home virtually with no treatment. Seems like the case in many hospitals

[Discombobulated]

Hope all goes okay Rose and yes anaemia really can cause or exacerbate depression and anxiety.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by divine1966

But something with ERs is just not situated. He was sent to ER from the urgent care to just be sent home virtually with no treatment. Seems like the case in many hospitals

My insurance (BCBS) and my former GP have a phone number to call to talk to a nurse to help you decide what to do, instead of just showing up somewhere. I think the dr on call (also thru my ins) would be helpful too, we are just not used to going to these avenues first.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by unaluna

My insurance (BCBS) and my former GP have a phone number to call to talk to a nurse to help you decide what to do, instead of just showing up somewhere. I think the dr on call (also thru my ins) would be helpful too, we are just not used to going to these avenues first.

True. Good suggestions.

We have a couple of good urgent cares by us. It’s a good place to go to if it’s weekend and you don’t want want to wait till your GP is available. It’s usually a good plan…until it isn’t.

My husband has an issue with “bothering” people as bd making phone calls. His anxiety gets on the way. He finds showing up places easier.

My eye doctor once told me to never go to urgent care with anything eye related as they don’t have proper equipment and don’t have the training. I stupidly went twice.

Both I and my my husband hate taking days off work so urgent care is our friend and they are open when doctors are closed. As about ER I think I’ve been to ER only once in my life as a patient. ER scares me

Sorry for hijacking.

[Rose76]

Divine - what happened to your husband is *exactly* what I mean. At ERs, they often minimize things.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Rose76

Divine - what happened to your husband is *exactly* what I mean. At ERs, they often minimize things.

They do miss things if it’s not life or death although most of the time they just want you to follow up with your GP. It fell on the weekend and he got worse over the weekend while his GP was still not available. When I brought him in second time, he was immediately admitted as there’s no doubt that he was real sick.

ER never has enough staff to do anything really so they just sent you to your GP to follow up, which kind of makes sense. ER isn’t there to provide long term treatment. It’s not good though if they let you instead of admitting you over the weekend when there’s no GP available

[Rose76]

I'll catch up later. Still in the hospital.

[divine1966]

Hope they get the right course of action this time. Feel better

[Rose76]

The gastroenterologist told me I need surgery to remove part of my large intestine.

My boyfriend died 2 years ago. I was doing ok adjusting to being alone. But this is too much to go through alone. For what? To come home to an empty apartment? It's not worth it to me.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

Hope all goes okay Rose and yes anaemia really can cause or exacerbate depression and anxiety.

Now the thought of surgery . . . all that pain.

This is more than I can face.

[divine1966]

I am so sorry. Surgery is never easy. Could one of your sisters come help you out for a bit?

[Discombobulated]

I’m sorry to hear you’re facing surgery Rose, you’ve been through a lot recently. Have you discussed your concerns about how you’ll cope post surgery with your medical team?

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I’m sorry to hear you’re facing surgery Rose, you’ve been through a lot recently. Have you discussed your concerns about how you’ll cope post surgery with your medical team?

No. I think all they would do is have a home health agency check in on me. City Senior Affairs would provide some homemaker hours to do a bit of housework.

It is hard for someone living alone with nearest family 2000 miles away. For years my life revolved around caring for my boyfriend who needed total nursing care. I was unable to pursue social connections or try to find and nurture friendships. I don't really matter to anyone. My sisters are caring, but they both are dealing with a lot themselves.

I always knew that, if I lost good health, I'ld have pretty much nothing left. I'm 69, living on a small income. I don't mind the lack of material riches. Materially, I felt I had everything I really needed and then some. I could budget to travel to visit my relatives. I enjoy reading for hours every day. My car is reliable. I could get up and go where I liked. I thought of getting a dog. Now I can't fully care for myself, nevermind a dog.

I'm being very honest about the reality of what I have been living and what I face. It's a lot of emptiness - mainly not being a real member of a family. My boyfriend had 3 adult children. They're far away and never took any interest in me . . . not much more in him either.

My primary wants me to go to a nursing home for 10 days. I wouldn't qualify for that and it wouldn't solve anything. I can sit in a chair at home just as good. At age 17, I started working in nursing homes and continued for decades, eventually as a nurse. I saw how awful it is to not be fully independent. I saw how awful sickness is . . . especially for loners. I saw my boyfriend go thru major surgeries. He was a trooper, but he had me every step of the way. I don't want to be cut up and hobble around afterwards in pain. I don't want needles and I/Vs and a hunk of my insides cut out.

If I do nothing, maybe this sickness will just take me and release my soul.

[Discombobulated]

(((Rose))) I hear you, but 69 is not very old, I hope you can get through this awful health issue. You are a smart and wise woman and I have appreciated many of your posts here - I think you have much to give.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by divine1966

I am so sorry. Surgery is never easy. Could one of your sisters come help you out for a bit?

One wanted to come out in May when I was hospitalized with a gut infection. I said no. I'm so glad I did because then she got diagnosed with cancer and is in treatment. My other sister has heavy family responsibilities.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

(((Rose))) I hear you, but 69 is not very old, I hope you can get through this awful health issue. You are a smart and wise woman and I have appreciated many of your posts here - I think you have much to give.

Thank you.

[Rose76]

Like I've said, my relatives are way far away. In May I was in the hospital awfully sick with infection and sepsis. My 2 adult nieces never sent me a get well message on Facebook. One of them I was really surprised at. I helped her out in the past. I paid a big fine for her one day, so she wouldn't have to go to jail on that very day. I wired her the money. When I was working I sent nice gifts. She had surgery last year, and I sent lots of caring messages through Face book. She's on her laptop constantly, always checking facebook. I would often exchange messages with her. Then, when I'm in the hospital, not even one: "Hope u feel better, Auntie." It would have taken her 5 seconds.

When you don't have a spouse and children of your own, you're very alone in this world. Sometimes, a person like that, if they have some wealth, will receive attention from nieces and nephews. If I owned a nice home - with no child of my own to leave it to - those nieces would stay in touch. That's just how human nature is. It's just a fact of life. I didn't take the risk of having children and doing all the hard work of raising them, so I don't get the returns of having made that investment. I didn't help care for grandchildren. Having a family is a very great deal of work. I escaped all of that. You reap what you sow. If I'ld stayed back there where I'm from, I could have been more involved with my relatives. I always knew moving far away would exact a price.

Well, I guess that's enough lamentation out of me.

[Deejay14]

Rose when do you think you could go home. Is there a bleed somewhere?? Do they have PACE (program of all inclusive care for elders). A case manager at the hospital told me about the program and I was able to qualify. It pays for just about everything, you have 24 hour access to doctors or nurse practioners. The program has been a godsend to my husband and me.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Deejay14

Rose when do you think you could go home. Is there a bleed somewhere?? Do they have PACE (program of all inclusive care for elders). A case manager at the hospital told me about the program and I was able to qualify. It pays for just about everything, you have 24 hour access to doctors or nurse practioners. The program has been a godsend to my husband and me.

Yes. There's a GI bleed going on that keeps starting and stopping. If that keeps up, they'll want to do surgery. So this scenario is a bit beyond what P.A.C.E. can handle right now. But there is a PACE outfit in my city. I always wondered what it was about.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Deejay14

Rose when do you think you could go home. Is there a bleed somewhere?? Do they have PACE (program of all inclusive care for elders). A case manager at the hospital told me about the program and I was able to qualify. It pays for just about everything, you have 24 hour access to doctors or nurse practioners. The program has been a godsend to my husband and me.

Excellent idea. In my state if you have or qualify for Medicaid you enroll free of charge. Otherwise there’s a fee. It’s a good program. Hope Rose has one in her state

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Excellent idea. In my state if you have or qualify for Medicaid you enroll free of charge. Otherwise there’s a fee. It’s a good program. Hope Rose has one in her state

I read up on the PACE programs. You have to qualify for permanent placement in a nursing home.

I may have overdone it in making myself sound helpless. Right now I am acutely ill with a condition that has me very weak. If this anemia can be turned around, I'm a perfectly capable woman, with nothing else much wrong with me.

As recently as April, I could have hired myself out as a caregiver to an elder incapable of self-care. Just 2 years ago, I was completely caring for my invalid boyfriend who was dying of cancer and had dementia. He couldn't shower or shave himself. He couldn't get himself in and out of bed. I did all that. My capabilities hadn't changed much, until I got this anemia that got worse at an accelerating pace. For a good while, iron infusions were effective. Now, even bags of red blood cells can't keep up with it. Nursing homes can't care for this condition.