Emergency room

I spent a lovely nearly 8 hours in the ER today. I must say they were all pretty nice.

The triage nurse kinda had to ask a lot of questions to get me to say I was an alcoholic. I fully intended to tell the doctor. I struggled because I really am a mess of physical symptoms and wasn't sure how to fit that into the explanation. Honestly, she was very sweet about it and asked if I wanted detox. I went to a room and spent a while waiting on the nurse and doctor. The nurse came and took a bunch of blood and my vitals.

I saw the doctor and explained things. He asked about me wanting referrals for treatment or wanting to do outpatient. I declined the referrals. Shortly after the nurse came back with massive numbers of medicine. She asked if I was in pain and wanted morphine, which I declined (and then briefly wondered if I should have said yes just for fun.. but that's my addict thinking). I got an IV for fluids, zofran, folic acid, a thiamine shot, and I am not sure what else honestly. So most of the day was spent hooked up to the drip and watching the food network. I was originally going to update while waiting but having the iv in one arm a blood pressure cuff and pulsox on the other made using my phone tricky.

Apparently my liver enzymes were high and my sodium and potassium were low, which wasn't a surprise. The doctor asked again about referrals and then said he would give me a prescription for Librium. I agreed and then as soon as he left realized that was a terrible idea. I asked to speak to him again and agreed to seeing the psych assessment person. That meant more waiting. I did consider briefly going inpatient. I settled on agreeing to PHP and then if I need to stepping up to inpatient. I did learn that there is a hospital with a psych ward that is only for women and only 7 beds, which would probably be so much less of a nightmare for someone with social anxiety. Even if I am not going now, it's good to know.

I hated the psych assessment. I always get so mixed up when they ask about previous treatment because I have been so many times and I was pretty sick and had pretty screwed up memory for some of those times. I left honestly intending not to go to the php appointment Monday, but I am going to try. I already texted the manager to ask if I could possibly adjust my schedule to accommodate it because I probably can't get to work on time and do this. She said yes. I am taking tomorrow off to rest since today was exhausting. Monday I have php and then will go back to work. I see no point in taking more days off when free time is not my friend. I have prescriptions for Librium, potassium, and zofran. I still am covered in an itchy rash so may end up back at the doctor if that doesn't improve. But I am feeling better after the fluids and such. I am hoping the stomach problems improve with sobriety. If not I may end up having to get a referral to a specialist. The doctor said it was gastritis from the drinking, which is probably true. It's just a question of how much damage I have done.

Now I am home and looking forward to going to sleep.