Re: treatment in the ER / Re: Anemia

[Guest guest]

To Jean,

Unfortunately, many ER's don't take abnormal uterine bleeding very

seriously. I have experienced this myself as well as many other women here.

If you are admitted they may not take you seriously unless you make it very

clear how severe your hemorrhaging is. You have to enter the ER with a

little ammunition so that they don't leave you waiting.

The nurses need to know you are anemic, have specific levels of hemoglobin

and hematocrit, and that you have been hemorrhaging for a specific period of

time. As a patient with fibroids and a bleeding problem it is important

that you keep track of your own blood reports. You need to understand what

they mean so you can tell other health care providers how serious your

condition really is. Ask for them to call your doctor no matter what time of

day it is. Be mentally prepared that you will probably need to be admitted

to a hospital room. If you are hemorrhaging so much that your hemoglobin

drops below 9.0, they may need to give you a blood transfusion. This can

only be decided by a qualified doctor, and sometimes it takes a while for

your doctor or the one on-call to arrive. And YOU also have to agree to it

by signing your approval.

Be sure to insist that you are placed in a bed. You cannot sit upright in a

chair because you may faint. You also need someone to check on you every

fifteen minutes to help you change your pads or give you information about

when the doctor will arrive. Ask lots of questions, you want to be sure

they know " who " and " what " they are treating.

They may also start an IV so that you do not dehydrate. If you came in

hemorrhaging you are most likely dehydrated. When the doctor arrives he/she

may suggest IV estrogen hormones to slow the bleeding rate. This usually

works, but it depends on the severity of your fibroid size and the reason

why they are bleeding. Are you on your period, did you just have a

myomectomy, did you start a new hormone therapy? These are things you need

to tell your doctor.

I know this sounds scary and barbaric, but take it from me who had a

horrific ER hemorrhage experience, you need to know what to expect. Those

folks hear the words, " menstrual or uterine bleeding " and they are likely to

put you in a back room where you can wait several hours for the doctor.

If you go in knowing the right things to tell them (i.e.. I have severe

symptoms from uterine fibroids, I have an irregular hemoglobin of ?, and I

am severely anemic) then they are quicker to help you and take you

seriously. Even though you are scared and feel terrible, you still have to

be assertive. And by all means, if you are able, take someone with you. I

had my husband with me, he made sure I was treated and that the ER staff was

clued-in about how serious my condition was.

I hope this helps. And I sure hope you never have to experience an ER trip.

Best wishes,

:)Sonja

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Re: Anemia

Symptoms of anemia can vary drastically depending on how long you have been

anemic, how your body has adjusted to it, and how severe it is. Anemia can

make other health disorders worse as well. Here is a list of signs to watch

for if you suspect you are an iron-deficient anemic.

1. Chronically tired and weak

2. Yawning (when inactive such as in the car or when sitting)

3. Elevated heart rate

4. Insomnia

5. Difficulty regulating body core temperature (either too cold or too

warm)

6. Craving for crunchy things such as ice cubes, popcorn, nuts, etc.

7. Pale skin, lack of pinkness in extremities

8. Immediate fatigue following any exercise (i.e.. walking up stairs,

running after little children, or walking to the mailbox)

9. Light headedness when rising to feet from a seated position

10. Weak legs and rapid pulse after climbing stairs

11. Headaches

12. Achy joints and muscles

13. Dizziness that may be unexplained

14. Irritability and mood swings

15. Chronically thirsty

16. Difficulty concentrating

17. GI tract disruptions

18. Shortness of breath

19. Irregular eating patterns

20. Difficulty focusing vision

Some people have only a few of these signs while others suffer from a

majority of them. And there are more that other women can add to this list.

If you know or suspect you are iron-deficient anemic, it is very important

to start a daily dose of iron supplements. Be sure to ask your doctor or

your pharmacist which type would be best for you and how much to take each

day.

My best,

:)Sonja