Need your advice....especially ER nurses

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

Assuming for the moment, with the help of my trusty crystal ball, that you do indeed have gallstones ...

Cholecystolithiasis is most often not a surgical emergency. I see abdominal pain patients dx with gallstones almost daily -- 90% are discharged home to follow up with their PCP and then possibly a surgeon.

By all means, if you feel you are having a potentially life-threatening emergency then go to the closest ER. :wink2:

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

Don't abuse the ER, go see your PCP :nurse:

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

I went to the ER with pain back in July, typical gall bladder pain. They checked my liver enzymes and CBC, and U/S showed gall stones. I was sent home with orders to follow up with PCP and see general surgery and eat a low fat diet.

I say only go to the ER if you are in severe pain. (I felt like I was at that time). But if it is better now then go see your PCP.

feebebe23 · Aug 12, 2008

I here what ya'll are saying. However, I have talked to some med-surge and ER nurses at this hospital (I work in L&D) They seem to think that if I do have gallstones that they will take my gallbladder out same day/next day(because I have insurance)

This is a smaller hospital and if you were the gernal surgon on call and could take out a gallbladder from an insured/willing patient. Would you send her away???

The PCP vs ER route would cost me about $800-$1000. That is why I hesitate to do it that way. That's why I posted....I don't want to abuse the ER. I would hope my fellow nurses whould undersand. I am just trying to make the most of my insurace benefits.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

Sounds like you already know that the ER is not the appropriate way to go...

nessajune21 · Aug 12, 2008

What symptoms do you have that made you reach this "diagnosis?"

I've heard that gall stone pain is almost as severe as childbirth! So, if you've not reached that point, I'd say no ER for you!

Get well soon though, feebebe.

Katnip, RN · Aug 12, 2008

The key here is IF you have gallstones. See your PCP.

MeLindakay21 · Aug 12, 2008

For me it was 10 times worse than any of my childbirths lol..but I walked into ER, was also 12 weeks pregnant, but was sent home because the pain comes and goes and by the time I got to ER I felt fine again. Then had to go see my DR, then surg, and then set up surgery...ended up being I think 3 or 4 days out

Ima Nurse · Aug 12, 2008

I was rushed to emergency surgery when my gallstones were finally found. The surgeon said I had a stone the size of a half dollar coin obstructing my common bile duct. My gallbladder was full of stones, enlarged, and very infected. I do realize though that I was an extreme case, and in my ER experience, I never saw a pt rushed to emergency surgery. They were always d/c'd home to see their PCP.

Edited to add: I wasn't seen in the ER. I was diagnosed in an MD's office then sent immediately to the surgeon's office. From there I was admitted to the hospital for the emergency surgery. I was diagnosed in the afternoon, and I was in the OR within 2 hrs.

mommy#1nurse#2 · Aug 12, 2008

The ER I worked at we referred chole patients to a surgeon, but like was mentioned before, its not considered a surgical emergency, and doesn't merit admission. Generally speaking we gave pain meds, a referral and out the door. Id say your best bet would be to see the doc instead of waiting for hours in the ER

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

YES!!

Another I-have-insurance-so-the-ER-is-the-giant-one-stop-shop-high-tech-clinic-open-for-my-convenience patient.

I can't WAIT to go to work tonight!!