I know I'm dehydrated and have been since day 1. I don't get enough Fluid in.

How do I know when it's at the point that I should go to the hospital. Given that I'm asking, that says a lot about how bad it probably is. But I just want to be sure because unless I'm admitted, and my copay is waived, I can't afford to just go for nothing.

Thanks!

Laura' date=' you a regularly rude and difficult to deal with. I have never commented as it hasn't been my business. Why you come to a support forum to treat others poorly will remain a mystery to me.

As I said, this is an issue that is meaningful to me for personal reasons. The fact that you have no consideration or respect for that should not surprise me given your responses in other threads. I certainly acknowledged that my response was somewhat of a party-pooper response compared to those who wanted to gab about the Super Bowl.

You continuously work to goad people into arguments rather than striving to get along, compromise, and work towards a greater good. It is truly unfortunate.[/quote']

I'm not quite sure what your talking about,

but I'm Sorry you feel that way....

Good day ma'am.

Seriouslychange, have you tried hot herbal (decaf) tea? For me it's WAY easier to get hot/warm tea down than cold Water. cold water gives me gas in there too and I burp alot. I drink tea all day now and it's very soothing, especially for a cold. I hope things get better for you soon.

PS. there's so many flavours too. I'm sipping ginger right now but we wake up with a dacaf earl grey-like or mint tea. Afternoon is cinnamon or deaf green tea, after dinner one of the Puka teas with ginger/cinnamon/cardamom, licorish (warming spices).

I think regardless 32 oz is a good amount. How long do IVs take? Maybe I'll get one before wrk tomorrow

32 oz is not good. Just because it's more than usual, it's still half the minimum. You should go. If you're afraid of an ER, go to local urgent care clinic. They are used to dealing with people who have no insurance or minimal insurance. They will work with you...but you need to make this a more urgent matter. Not urinating is a huge sympton of dehydration. But just the fact that you're drinking so little is the biggest sign, you don't need to poke, pinch or sniff anything. Just go get a professional opinion.

Maybe I'll try that. I tend to stay away from warm things because they make me hot lol

My opinion is that if you cannot drink without nausea or throwing up' date=' it is time to go get an IV. Almost been there and done that. I know a few others had to do this so do not worry, you are not alone on this. Try the old person finger test. Pinch your index finger at the end closest to the tip. If your skin molds and does not bounce back, you should check for dehydration. By the way, made that test up so do get urgent care if you need it or perhaps others have good advise.[/quote']

I'm laughing that you made that up and called it the old people way...I'm a nurse and we actually do still use that to check skin turgor but you pinch the skin on the back of the hand. Good job fiddleman!

I have insurance, it's just that my copay is $50 for an ER visit unless I'm admitted. I'm in a big financial bind at the moment so I can't even really buy anything right now until Friday when I get paid. So $50 is not an option. And yes, my health should be worth more than $50 to me. But I'd rather be unhealthy with a roof over my head than a healthy homeless person.

I had an appointment with my doctor scheduled for tomorrow which I still may go to. Which is why I'm wondering how long an IV takes. If I can plan it just right, I can go to work and get an IV.

I have insurance' date=' it's just that my copay is 50 for an ER visit unless I'm admitted. I'm in a big financial bind at the moment so I can't even really buy anything right now until Friday when I get paid. So 50 is not an option. And yes, my health should be worth more than 50 to me. But I'd rather be unhealthy with a roof over my head than a healthy homeless person.

I had an appointment with my doctor scheduled for tomorrow which I still may go to. Which is why I'm wondering how long an IV takes. If I can plan it just right, I can go to work and get an IV.[/quote']

I am sure they can bill you for that $50 but I'm not sure that they can make you pay at the time in order the receive treatment. In fact, I don't think that they can - maybe someone else could speak from their experience but I don't think they can insist on collecting at the time you receive treatment.

It's hard to say about the timing - at the ER they may admit you, they may keep you for 8 hours of IV's, maybe only 4 hours - more, less... it's just impossible to say. Small town ER's seem to move faster than big city ER's in my experience. They may contact your doc, want to do some sort of scan or test, I would think they would do bloodwork. It all takes time.

This thread has me on pins and needles. On Wednesday it was discovered while I was in the OR for an upper GI that I was dehydrated, it took forever to find my veins to get the IV going. They gave me two bags of IV fluids then sent me home...ever since then I've been able to manage 16.9 ounces of water a day at most(i have a stricture which makes it difficult to drink the necessary amount). Should I be concerned?

They ask for payment but if you explain they will bill you they wont turn you away if you need medical treatment also once your dehydrated its hard to catch up by just sipping get a IV get hydrated and you will probably find its easier to drink afterwards

A hospital can't turn you down because you have no money. When my husband and I first got married and we were dirt poor with no insurance, they still took me. Got billed a nice hefty $500, but I was treated lol.

I'm in about 50 oz. I may just wait until I'm off work. I'm sure if I talk to my parents, they'll help me but I'm sure to get a lecture about letting myself get to this point. Not that I don't deserve it.

Thanks for all the responses guys. I really appreciate it

Keep us updated on how you feel! We care

Sitting in the ER. Waiting for fluids. I'm even worse today than yesterday

Sitting in the ER. Waiting for fluids. I'm even worse today than yesterday

I hope you get hydrated well there. Let us know how you feel afterwards.

Pedia lite always helps me