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Original poster

Husband is yellow and in hospital and I'm scared

38 replies

Busybrain2020 · 28/09/2020 00:36

Name changed as lots of people know. Just looking for a handhold and any personal experience.

Husband has had a 'tender' tummy for a couple of months. He's also had 3 vomiting episodes in the last 5 months, but we thought they were food poisoning the first 2 times. Then at the end of the week he turned yellow, including his eyes and peeing very dark. Took him to the GP on Friday who sent him to hospital.

He's had blood tests but no scan and not seen a gastro specialist yet because they don't work weekends. GP thought gallbladder (possibly caused as he lost a lot of weight last year and gained most back) but the ward doctor thinks it's a problem with his liver not gallbladder because of his bloods. One (can't remember what) is meant to be under 50 and it's in the 900s (up from 800s when he was admitted). One is meant to be below 130 and it's 230. Bilirubin is 85, not sure what it's meant to be. He hasn't vomited since Monday night and is eating a bit and pooing (pale, chalky). Sorry for all the medical details I just thought someone might ask. He's 50 and his BMI is over 50.

The main thing really is that I'm just petrified. I can't visit due to Covid and equally can't have family or friends come round to hug me and I just feel so alone. He's my best friend and I am so scared. We have two youngish children. I'm scared they won't be able to diagnose properly because of his size and I'm beyond frightened that it's something like pancreatic cancer and that we're going to lose him. I'm trying to hold myself together for the kids but can't stop crying when I'm alone in the evening. Taking him in on Friday and then having no diagnosis all weekend has been so awful.

OP posts:
BugCatcher879 · 28/09/2020 00:38

Thinking of you. Flowers

Original poster
Busybrain2020 · 28/09/2020 01:10

Thanks.

OP posts:
KoalaandRabbit · 28/09/2020 02:04

So sorry to hear that. Is he able to phone you at least? I was in hospital recently and they had phones and internet - just had to give card details, sillily expensive but worth it when you are that ill.

I'm no medical expert but would be fairly certain they will be able to diagnose despite his size - there's lots of blood tests, scans etc they can do and he's in the best place. Sounds like jaundice and liver issues at a guess but see what doctors say.

I'ld have people round if you need support - its an emergency situation so think its fine.

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General health
EmanResu7 · 28/09/2020 02:38

You must be so scared. Im not sure how helpful this is, but this is exactly how I was before needing my gallbladder removed. Dark pee, jaundice, chalky white poo. Vomiting for the months beforehand. I just suddenly got extremely ill with it and woke up yellow. I have a friend who had a very similar experience.

CourtsControversy · 28/09/2020 02:47

Sorry you're going through this. It's a long wait from Friday to Monday. Your husband is in the right place though so hopefully that's some comfort. My Uncle had liver problems and was the same colour, but he had a host of other complex issues so can't offer any insight beyond that. Sending a handhold Flowers

Mykidsapurpleminion · 28/09/2020 02:49

I was the same with my gall bladder. Gall stones had blocked some part of my liver causing the yellow & dodgy bloods. Had it removed 5 years ago & no problems since.
Hope your husband is ok.

Cantchooseaname · 28/09/2020 02:52

Long nights are always the worst- can you distract yourself with tea and trash tv? Wrap up in a blanket and snooze infront of tv? It sucks being the one stuck at home with children, worrying about what is going on.
In terms of visitors, I’m sure thee is exemption for childcare purposes- so needing some help in that respect would be perfectly reasonable- even if it is to share the responsibility for a bit to get some rest.

akerman · 28/09/2020 03:10

Oh sweetheart. I’m so sorry. What a terrifying weekend you’ve had. I hope you get some answers tomorrow and that they get your husband on the road to recovery xxx

Dancingwithdaftness · 28/09/2020 03:25

I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it soon. He should ask for referral to weight management clinic or something if the doctors don't suggest something similar.

JennyMcLenny · 28/09/2020 03:34

You'll be so worried. Hopefully you've dozed off by now but plenty of nightshift MNers here if you need to talk.

CJsGoldfish · 28/09/2020 03:37

My teenage son turned yellow one day after months of 'tummy aches' I rushed him to A & E terrified. His bloods were dodgy and he was transferred to another hospital promptly. It was really frightening. It was his gall bladder and it was removed and no issues since. Unusual for his age as well.
It is very very possible, even likely, that it is something completely treatable, especially if he is a large man.

Hope you get some answers soon and he can start on the road to recovery

Yummymummy2020 · 28/09/2020 03:48

My friend was like this with her gall bladder, I believe she had blockages from stones which impacted her liver then. She got hers operated on and all is well now. She was very yellow with bad pain prior to it and elevated liver enzymes. It’s very scary and I know all cases are different but I was amazed at the difference once they fixed her. Try not to worry about his size, they are well used to it and can examine him regardless.

Lifeisabeach09 · 28/09/2020 03:59

OP, sending hugs and positive vibes your way.
Thinking of you!

oakleaffy · 28/09/2020 04:05

Sounds like hepatitis B from what you are saying...

{I am not a HCP} but do know what hep looks like. {a vaccine exists now..a good idea to get it}

sproutsandparsnips · 28/09/2020 04:25

Hope you are ok OP.
From what you've said it sounds like the liver enzymes are more raised than the Alkaline phosphatase which is raised but not as much as the liver enzymes. This could indicate a problem at a cellular level in the liver rather than a blockage in the bile duct or gallbladder. I'm not an expert but if he is very overweight he could have some kind of steatohepatitis which is fatty liver to put it simply.
I'm sure they will sort it once he is reviewed by gastroenterology today.

Michellebops · 28/09/2020 05:36

If it's not gallbladder the other thing could be hemachromatosis.
My colleague is currently going through treatment.
They had originally diagnosed Gerd due to the sick episodes, but after liver function tests due to turning yellow

SandysMam · 28/09/2020 05:48

Has he had Covid? There is talk that people can develop a type of auto immune hepatitis even if the main symptoms were mild. Worth suggesting to the doctor. He is in the best place, look after yourself as well, try to sleep and eat Flowers

Original poster
Busybrain2020 · 28/09/2020 07:21

@KoalaandRabbit Yes luckily he can phone. And a bit of patchy FaceTime even. Wish we could visit but glad they’re keeping the Covid risk down.

@EmanResu7 and all the people who’ve mentioned gallbladder thank you. I actually hope it’s gallbladder as then the treatment pathway could potentially be straightforward.

Thank you for all your kindness. I’m so weepy and low. I just want to know what’s wrong with him now.

He is actually under weight management services and has been for years but unfortunately they’ve been terrible - about one appointment a year, and even less since Covid.

They’ve mentioned fatty liver but that really scares me as if it was at the stage of turning him yellow then his liver would be in a pretty bad way.

I don’t think he’s had Covid. I actually did initially think he’d had it in Feb but an antibody test in July (maybe too late) was negative.

OP posts:
Original poster
Busybrain2020 · 28/09/2020 07:23

Thank you again for replying to me. It’s the worst bit when the kids are asleep and he’s asleep (at hospital) and I feel so alone!

OP posts:
SandysMam · 28/09/2020 10:03

Bless you OP, sending you strength and love from a stranger on the internet!x

CakeGirl2020 · 28/09/2020 10:07

How awful for you. Hopefully all will be ok 💐

My Grandma was like this and it turned out she needed a gallbladder operation, so it wasn’t anything too serious.

princessTiasmum · 28/09/2020 12:39

Agree it could be haemorcomromatosis

princessTiasmum · 28/09/2020 12:42

Sorry pressed too soon .haemochomatodid
Ferritin could be too high.I have it.solved by venesection.(bloodletting) hope he gets better soon .if not then g I all bladder

RefreshingMrsBeetle · 28/09/2020 14:07

Another handhold from me. He is in the best place. So awful you had to wait over the weekend though. I trained and worked as a nurse for 30 odd years and I am still truly amazed by the advances in medicine. All the best to you and your husband.

YoBeaches · 28/09/2020 14:44

I'm not medical but was recently in hospital and had surgery with a similar start.

From what you've said he is Jaundice and his liver is having work really hard. As his bilirubin levels are high and likely one of the other results being over 800, that suggests acute pancreatitis. With tummy pain and weight changes the first point of call is gallstones, billions colitis, where at least one may have passed through a bile duct and into his pancreas. This causes the high bilirubin. He will need an ultrasound to confirm, and if so he will need surgery for gall bladder removal.

Does he drink much alcohol at all? That would also aggravate the liver and causes the same systems if it's not gallstones.

Obviously other things could be going on, gastro infections, to the worst case of pancreatic cancers BUT you have an awful lot more of less serious conditions to work through before you get here so please try not to worry as best you can.

They might do an ecg too just because if wheee the pain is they have to rule out heart issues.

I presume he is likely now on IV fluids and nil by mouth. If it is gallbladder they might prefer the pancreatitis to settle down a little before they do surgery so he'd be home then go back in. I was in hospital for 4 days then out for 2 weeks then in overnight for surgery.