Medical question: DH's skin is cold (even goose bumpy) but he's really sweating ...

[Laiste]

• Last sat he started with D&V. Imodium didn't touch it.
• He rang GP on Tuesday and they said let it run it's course but prescribed an over the counter tablet to treat the cramping and wind.
• On Thursday the D&V stopped and Friday he began to eat again.
• Yesterday he was eating small portions.
• Today he is still eating small portions (appatite very low) - But he has this cold goose-bumpy skin, pale face and loads of sweating going on!

I've googled but all i can get is references to sepsis and heart attacks. He's otherwise physically fit (builder) He's meant to be going back to work tomorrow but i'm a bit concerned tbh.

Can anyone shed any light? TIA

If critical, he shouldn't be feeling fine? Cold clammy pale is the sign of serious illness/shock, but I don't expect him to be feeling totally fine.
But then, if you are worried, better get checked out.

In the absence of any other symptoms,

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12418-gastroenteritis

Since starting this thread two hours ago, what did 111 say when you rang them?

I am so grateful for everyone's answers.

I've answered these kind of threads myself so i know some of you will be wondering.

I went through SeaToSki's checklist with him and he's all normal. No pain. No fast breathing. No fast pulse. His temp is now 36.5. He feels he is less sweaty. I keep feeling him and staring at him and i'm inclined to agree, he's less 'clammy' now. I went through the online symptom checker - the outcome was monitor your symptoms and review tomorrow.

He's told me he's hungry. He's told me he's tired and he thinks he neds a good nights sleep. I'm cooking for him. He's flatly refusing to let me ring 111. He's glaring at me.

You don’t need his permission to ring 111!

I had this OP. Started on Sunday morning and didn't stop til Thursday night. all day Friday and sat morning I had the exact same thing... cold skin, sweats and feeling like I was going to throw up/ pass out. Today I'm ok and actually eating something other than a dry cracker.

Every sympathy for your DH... dear gods I wished for death several times last week!

He's showing signs of an infection.
Someone medically trained needs to assess him thoroughly.
Don't delay.

@Tippexy
You do unless he lacks capacity.

I get this when my blood sugars low. Can you get a sugary drink down him and see if it helps?

My DP had those symptoms with Covid but didn't have the typical cough etc. Might be worth speaking to 111 before going to hospital in case it is Covid.

Tbh, if my dh was seriously ill, I can tell. Depends on how long you have been with him, but if my dh said he was hungry, I don't think he was that ill.
But then. I don't know your dh, so, I wouldn't say he is ok. You know him. We don't.
If you are seriously worried that he won't wake up tomorrow, I would get medical help.

Ring 111 however i get pale sweaty and cold with the shivers when i have had food posioning a few occasions.

But definately ring 111

We've been together 15 years. I know what you mean about knowing him. And the hunger ect.

I know i can ring 111 but he wouldn't go to A&E even if they offered him cash to go!

He's had a steak. And a few oven chips. Some peas. He's looking perkier ...

I worry about him when he doesn't seem to worry about himself. Jesus.

I'm surgical nurse for general surgery and I would prefer to triage him so would advise calling. It is most likely a bad gastroenteritis however so difficult to assess without knowing his vital signs. Is he peeing much?
I had a patient the other week who was very poorly and was absolutely septic with no temperature. It's rarer but can happen. I had to step in with my own stubborn husband who was hospitalised with pneumonia but refused to see the doctor, I realised he hadn't peed in 8 hours and not drinking overnight had injured his kidneys.
You wont regret calling (even if it means a fallout) but you could regret not calling.

We think it was food poisoning last weekend. He ate a takeaway crispy duck and only after he threw it up at 3am did he admit ''it did taste a bit like POND''

Why did you carry on eating it?
'' ..... i was really hungry''

@picklemewalnuts

So you've googled 'sweating with cold skin' and got 'heart attack or sepsis'.

Why wouldn't you get medical help ASAP? 111 or A&E?

To be fair, you can google almost any symptoms and get a very serious suggestion from the Internet. If googling always worked, it would mean I have MS and AIDS and all sorts of other illnesses.

However, I agree that OP should see medical help here.

Is is peeing ok.
He has poo'd a half normal poo today.

@Needanotherholiday

My DP had those symptoms with Covid but didn't have the typical cough etc. Might be worth speaking to 111 before going to hospital in case it is Covid.

I've heard of a few people getting diarrhoea as their main Covid symptom.

I so genuinely appreciate all the time people have spent answering me here

My temp went down to 35.2 and my GP wasn't too bothered. He diagnosed it as Covid. Said it was sign of a temperature and my body was fighting it. I was sweating buckets - skin got all pruney like I'd laid in the bath for hours. 2 days later my sense of smell and taste went. I felt weak for about 9 days.

See how he is tomorrow. Also GP said to take paracetamol even if temp was low, which didn't sound quite right to me... so i didn't!

ps I'd Googled myself in to sepsis too!

@Laiste It is very common to be sweaty after having had a severe viral or bacterial infection because you're so weak. I've had'real flu' and also food poisoning about 3 times in my life and even though the worst had passed, and I was up and about, I'd break out in a cold sweat just through weakness when doing anything.

Also, body temps are not always as high as the 'average'. You'd need to know what his normal temp was day to day to know if 36 or 36.5 etc was low for him.

When someone has had severe D&V they don't go back to feeling normal straight away. He'd be sensible not to go to work for a few days and you do also need to think it could be Covid. There have been some examples of people starting with severe D&V and being very ill. If it carries on for another day arrange a test at a drive in Covid test centre.

Hope you’re okay @Laiste, are you still unsure that he’s fully well?

Infection springs to mind 111 hugs all the best.

Op, how is your husband doing?? Is he feeling better or did he get help?