Going to the Hospital — Advice?

Granted that I woke up in the middle of the night with my vision blacking out briefly, feeling like I needed to puke every time I touched my head or standing up, terrible head and neck pains and stiffness, hearing going out all the time, heart palpitations, seizures, and just more nasty symptoms, it's time to go to the hospital.

My neuro-otologist has ditched me because my case is too complicated, and has referred me to neurology which is an 8 month wait (and they took a month to even process my request those birdbrains). Hell, they haven't even answered back for my desperate pleas to be put on steroids for hearing that just keeps quitting left and right. Haven't heard back from any other healthcare service because our state is overbooked for everything, too many people for too few doctors.

I don't care if I am not dying, I am going to the hospital to get the care and evaluation I need now, not wait and literally waste away on the burning sands for eons on end (go deaf, go lame from stiffness, kill myself one of these days from the anhedonia and being locked in the house every day). I'll put up a brutal fight with them if they claim me to be crazy female and demand to lock me up in the psychiatric ward (like they did the last time or two).
I'm not putting up with one iota of bullshit from American healthcare system anymore. *roars and beats chest*

Ok, enough of the patriotic speech, whatever that was. This is the first time I will ever have had to be admitted to the hospital in my life since I was a newborn, however. I am really concerned about what the experience will be like, what I should bring, etc (oh, how I will pay the bill). The whole thing actually feels very frightening, to be honest (just wait 'till I get food poisoning). I expect many tests (if and only if they don't denounce me as cr*zy first), many disturbances in my sleep in the middle of the night, etc.

Anyone here been in the hospital for a somewhat extended stay and can tell me what it is like, how I will be treated, etc? Any help will be appreciated!

 

I recommend going to an actual hospital and not urgent care because they have the appropriate materials. State your situation and have your insurance and all that personal stuff on hand. My grandma has problems with her heart and she still has to wait an hour or so for a room. They might give you a scan of your head to see what's going on. Maybe they'll dope you up with pain medication. I am sure they'll keep you overnight so bring a book or something. Good luck with your T in the hospital. Your food might be okay since you don't have any high blood pressure and stuff. They won't take away the salt like they did my grandma. I'm probably the worst person to answer this but I have a little knowledge from my grandmother's experience.

 

@Kazue

Don't worry, your advice isn't half bad and I appreciate it .
Oh yes I am going to an actual hospital, not an urgent care place. They will know nothing there and it will be a waste of time, body effort, and money.
I hope they will not do another MRI. I will likely refuse it because the noise is dangerous and there is no way to adequately protect anyone with certain machines. The last gadgillion came out normal anyway, no need to subject my ears to that senseless damage. I will opt for X-ray, CT scan because they can be just as helpful in some situations. The radiation isn't great, but better than a battlefield of noise.

 

Your condition sounds pretty serious. Do you know what could be causing this? (Stupid question since you're going to the hospital for it, you wouldn't know either) Are you anxious, sick, or stressed? It sounds like neurological stuff but your test came out clear. Maybe you have Menerie's Sydrome ( however you spell it) Because you're having dizzy spells, which causing you to feel sick when standing up. Don't know how to explain the seizures though. That has to do with electronical currents in the brain. I hope everything comes out great and the medicine doesn't make your T worse.

 

@Kazue

I really don't know. I have had severe depression that flared up terribly on Saturday, but I also had a bit of a (neck sprain?) from putting a tiny bit of pressure on my shoulders the other day while trying to recline the sofa. I think the real problem, however, is fibromyalgia or a chronic illness or autoimmune disease, because I have far too much muscle tension in my head and neck and that's probably what's doing the actual damage. Not normal for my age to have so much tension and seeming degeneration in the neck area.

I will be very careful with medication choices. As of now I will only accept prednisone, supplements, safe Meniere's drugs, or muscle relaxants. I was poisoned by topomax and that may also well be why I have gotten so sick to this day, so I've learned to not just take what they try to put down my throat.

 

Have you tried Valium? My father used it for his back muscle flare ups and it worked. He's a little over 200 pounds and it knocked him out for hours. I believe this will take away your neck sprain and pain. Dunno if it'll interact with your other medications though. I would also suggest a good ol' massage. It's nice to pamper yourself when you have depression and I feel like this will release tension around your neck and head area.

 

@Coyotesheaven Just wanted to chime in to offer support and tell you I'll be thinking about you and that I care.

 

@Kazue

Yes I have tried the valium and it has worked wonders for me before. I will ask for it tomorrow. I am so wired I need to be sedated anyway.
I also think I have seratonin poisoning from some of the other meds I have taken, so I will need to be careful with psychiatric meds for the time being.

 

No advice other than you need to be in a place of safety where you feel you are being cared for and therefore I believe you are making the right decision by going to emergency and request admission. You need answers or at least get on the path to get some resolution to your health which should lower your anxiety level.

Get well. We are here.

 

@Coyotesheaven

Unfortunately, you won't get care any faster in ER. They will just treat any urgent matters and then tell you to wait to see a specialist. Once they rule out anything serious they will send you home. Hope you find a way to get some care. 8 months is too long to have to wait.

 

America seriously needs to get better healthcare. The poor and lower middle class are really screwed when they get sick and often times they need more help than the rich. I hope you get better soon.

 

@JasonP

This healthcare system is messed up in so many ways to count aside from affordadbility. The pharmaceutical industry charging way to much $$ for drugs, the pharma. industry making drugs that make people sick or addicted, long wait times to see anyone (at least in my state, it was better in PA), doctors lying and miscommunication, and some having no concern for the suffering of patients (but of course not all), etc. etc.
And don't even get me started when it comes to hearing healthcare. It's so awful that insurance still does not cover hearing aids in most cases.

I feel very blessed to have health insurance and parents who are willing to take care of me to the end. I know a lot of people who do not have health insurance and who cannot afford to see someone despite urgent medical needs. Always took my good health for granted before everything spun out of control, and now I am being exposed to all the evils of our healthcare system bit by bit.
I wish Obamacare could have been more grandiose than it was and better serving the needs of the lower and middle classes, but thanks to a solid Republican senate at the time everything just got booed and negotiations with the conservatives turned the bill into an almost nothing :/.

 

In my state if you make below the poverty line you can't qualify for subsidies so basically if you are extremely poor you get no help but if you are slightly above the poverty level you can get help paying. Obamacare was handled terribly. I may email my state congressman about it. If you need to find lower prices of drugs check out goodrx.com. They can tell you what pharmacy to go to get the best deal.

 

@Coyotesheaven

Did you ever go to the hospital?

 

@Jkph75

I decided against it. For the condition I thought I had, 'serotonin poisoning', there would be a good chance that nobody in the ER would have known what to do for me. They aren't well equipped to deal with neurological or otological problems.
Saves our family money anyway to tackle the real causes of my illness.
I am now thinking I may just have a flu-like virus, or hopefully not the beginnings of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.