When should I go to the hospital?

I have ulcerative colitis and currently am suffering from what I believe to be a severe flare. I just had a colonoscopy this past Monday and was placed on uceris 9mg. Since the colonoscopy I have been going back and forth between a normal temp and an elevated temp as high as 101.5. My pulse has been steadily above 100. And I have been having between 10-15 BMs daily. I am not bleeding very much, so I do not believe I am perforated. I was bleeding prior to my colonoscopy as well. I have sharp pains in my lower abdomen randomly. When I feel the urge to go to the bathroom, it is often accompanied by nausea. I am currently 95 lbs and 5'2". I have lost 5 lbs since Monday. My question is, when should I accept defeat and go to the hospital?

Post Edited (Alpowell17) : 4/10/2016 3:58:32 PM (GMT-6)

I would go. There is a very good chance you are dehydrated and that is nothing to mess around with. You probably need some IV fluids. Especially since you've been running fevers.

At the moment I am only on Uceris. My doctor decided to put my on Humira but I am unable to start that treatment until my blood work comes back and am able to make an appointment.

When you go to the hospital they may give you IV steroids. Request that they switch you to Uceris and not pred when you get off (if possible)

Bring pjs, moisturizer, Chapstick, eye mask, slippers, long charger for devices.

Good luck

I usually only went if I was in agony (9/10 pain), but the first time I went I wasn't in such horrendous pain. I was running increasingly high fevers each night; the last one I had reached 105F and I felt deathly ill. I was used to having fevers for years as part of my disease, but something about this felt different. Plus being on Remicade and having such high fevers spooked me as well. My sense of unease turned out to be well-founded: eventually (the hospital fumbled the ball at first) an abdominal x-ray showed evidence of toxic megacolon.

I think you ought to go. The fevers and high pulse rate suggest potential toxic colitis and you don't want to mess around with that - it can turn into toxic megacolon.

You're, your own best judge of when hospitalization is necessary. Mostly it depends on how bad it is, especially when talking about pain, heart rate, and fever temperature. It can be something and could be nothing, it all depends on severity. I'd say err on the side of caution, if you're worried. I'm sure there's some uc veterans who've been at this for years, and are tough as nails and look at hospitalization as an absolute last resort. Certainly everyone has their own tolerances for pain ...

Generally, you're describing uc flare symptoms, increased heart rate, temperature, abdominal pain, and frequent bms. Dehydration is a common problem when you're having frequent bms, it'll make your heart work harder and faster when there's less fluid to push around. If you're badly dehydrated then it can be dangerous and warrant an IV to quickly get you hydrated in a hospital. Uc can cause sharp pains in the abdomen. It mostly depends on how bad it is, extreme pains can be pancreatitis, and other non uc things that warrant further diagnosis and need treatment. Uc can slightly increase your body temperature and so can infections, it's all a matter of how much.

I would get tested for CDiff. After that is ruled out. I would insist your GI dr. put you on more UC meds. Like maybe, mesalamine enemas, suppositories, even prednisone taper to get it under control. Best of Luck!!

Just wondering if you went. Hope so and hope all is okay.

Fast heart rate and elevated temp mean you are in a severe flare. I have read this repeatedly in GI medical journals.

Good to get it under control before it escalates.

Hope you get the hospital.