ER is so awful, I'ld rather risk not going.

They better get to the bottom of it. Not being able to stand or walk is just not normal.

Are you on any medication that could cause permanent or temporary issues like that? Is the dose of frequency too high? Or is it possible medications interact with each other or you take supplements that interact with meds? Or you recently stopped any meds?

If it’s not medication insist on seeing blood specialist

Nothing to do with meds. I'm bleeding in my GI tract, probably the colon. Going for upper and lower endoscopy today.

That’s what I originally thought and said couple of times. If you know it’s GI then likely doctors suspect too and yet nothing was done? All this time

I just couldn’t understand why your GP or the hospitals you keep going to aren't referring you to colonoscopy and endoscopy which is normally the first step. I am just completely puzzled that you are so sick for so long and instead of finding out what’s wrong (which is very likely GI) they just pumping blood in you. That’s just bizarre. Out of desperation I thought maybe weakness is caused. by something else that’s harder to figure out like meds

The whole situation is just insane

The weakness has been caused by the severe anemia. On the night I came in, the resident doctor said I was walking around with one third the red blood cells I should have.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

This is more than I can face.

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