DH is in A&E, incommunicado

[Donatella]

He went to the GP this morning as a follow up to a visit last week when she found that he had high BP, and started him on tablets. Today his BP was a bit lower but still high (diastolic more of a concern than the systolic) but he was also tachycardic (pulse 120) and she is concerned about that plus a persistent headache. She tried to get hold of the medical team at the hospital but couldn't so sent him to A&E/Urgent Care (it's all one system at our hospital - you go to Urgent Care and then they either treat you there, send you to A&E, or to another short stay assessment unit). I dropped him off there at 11.30 and haven't heard from him since (phone going straight to voicemail so presumably no signal). I'm not excessively worried, just concerned, but frustrated that I don't know what's going on. In normal times I would be there with him (and have some medical knowledge so would be able to help him better understand what's going on) but I'm stuck at home, in the (metaphorical) dark. Anyone around to chat with me while I wait to hear from him?

Is he otherwise relatively fit and well?

Fairly. He is 50, normal BMI, cycles 3 miles each way to work every day, eats relatively healthily. But he also suffers from anxiety and depression, is currently off work with a prolapsed disc in his back (long term issue which has flared up recently) and recently started iron tablets for anaemia (had unexplained anaemia 18 months ago which needed a transfusion to treat)

And it may or may not be relevant but he had his Covid jab on Sat, was unwell for a couple of days but has been feeling OK since Tuesday

Possibly lack of phone reception.
I was at our local A+E yesterday.
The reception is abysmal.
Have you tried phoning the department

I don't want to bother them by phoning just yet, if I haven't heard anything by tea time I will.

My dad has been in and out of A&E recently. Get the number of the nurses station and they will be able to tell you how he is.

Hopefully he’s not in for too long a wait

They will be doing a number of tests, which, unfortunately take time in A&E, with scans etc these can take a few hours. Like you I would phone tea time. Have you tried texting, sometimes these get through.

My DH had similar - the high BP was diagnosed by the optician in a routine eye test and he was referred to his GP, who referred to the hospital. DH came home that evening but was in hospital all day waiting to see if they could get his BP down. He's now on daily statins although otherwise in good health.

My dsis had high blood pressure which coincided with her Covid jab.
She had to monitor it for a week and it’s a lot better now.
She was also quite dizzy.
Hope your dp is ok.

He rang about 3 for a lift home. Had bloods, ECG, CT, nothing concerning thankfully.

Good news.