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Original poster

Handhold please, Husband been admitted to A&E

124 replies

Buffy81 · 02/01/2024 21:19

Hi all you lovely ladies

Never thought I would do one on these post.

The past couple of months my DH has been getting headaches and a couple of weeks ago he had a bit of a funny turn at work where his vision went. He went to the GP and they advised that he booked an Optitions appointment.

He went on Sunday and saw that he had some burst caperillies so they said that it could be down to stress from his new role as he is a team lead in IT, high blood pressure or diabetes as both run in his family. They said that they will refer him for a blood test at our local hospital.

He had a phone call from them this morning asking him to come into the eye clinic this afternoon and I had to take him as they might have to dilatate his eyes

He got seen after waiting ages were they did blood pressure, blood tests, put the dye in his eyes and then did a scan. They said that his blood pressure was high so repeated the blood pressure and then sent him to A&E where they gave him some medication. They have now admitted him, hopefully just over night, so that they can do a CT scan and X-ray and possibly put him on a drip.

He said his blood pressure was over 200! Apart from the recent headaches he has had no other signs that it was high. I have just had to take some stuff up for him like phone charger clean pants and socks for the morning and take our two DS one age 9 and 4as well as had no one to look after them for the 30mins. Our eldest suffers with anxiety so this has not helped him as i know that he is going to be worrying about it.

Am sat downstairs trying to worry about it myself as I know that if I show signs of worry our DS's will also pick up on it. I have put them both to bed as it was past their bedtime by time we got back

OP posts:
Naillig222 · 03/01/2024 12:38

Buffy do you have a carbon monoxide alarm?

Original poster
Buffy81 · 03/01/2024 12:42

@Naillig222 I think we do?? Why do you ask?

OP posts:
Naillig222 · 03/01/2024 12:45

Headaches/blurred vision/hypertension can be related to carbon monoxide poisoning. When you said you had breathing issues pain too I thought it might be worth checking out.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/01/2024 12:55

Do you have home blood pressure monitor? I have an upper arm one. It's years old and been invaluable to monitor my bp which can get high (I'm on medication).

I said this the other day on a thread but I really do think they're as essential as having eg a packet of plasters or paracetamol at home as regards home health care. If I'm feeling unwell, particularly with a headache, the first thing I do is take my blood pressure. I have digital ear thermometer too from when the kids were little. And during COVID I bought an O2 finger monitor thingy. Worth the financial outlay, I think I used some Amazon vouchers I was given for my birthday on the O2 monitor.

It takes very little effort or skill to use those things and often it's the first things that paramedics or HCP at A&E would check, so while the NHS is the shitshow that it is I think we have to take some responsibility for own health and carry out some checks ourselves.

Original poster
Buffy81 · 03/01/2024 13:02

@Naillig222 I will have to have a look when I get the chance

@CurlyhairedAssassin we dont have one at home, might be worth looking into

OP posts:
DyslexicPoster · 03/01/2024 13:07

If you buy a bp monitor for home, make sure its recommended by the British heart foundation. If his BP has been high for a while he will feel alfwul when it comes down but that passes quickly so prepair for that possibility.

DocOck · 03/01/2024 13:14

I was admitted with super high blood pressure (came out of nowhere and now i am stuck with it) and it took a good 3-4 days in hospital to get it stabilised with medication, but once they did everything has been fine. I've been told I'll be on the meds for life though, losing weight did nothing to help it.

Original poster
Buffy81 · 03/01/2024 13:25

Looks like he wont be out today. Has had the Consultant round and they want to do an Abdo scan to make sure there is nothing serious going on. He thinks it might be another CT, but I said might also be an Ultrasound or MRI depending on what they are looking for

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffy81 · 03/01/2024 13:36

@DocOck Thats good to know on how long you were in for. Gives me a rough idea on how much clothing to take up for him and anything else that he needs

OP posts:
DocOck · 03/01/2024 13:38

Yeah it's unlikely they'll let him out until it's controlled @Buffy81 Like I say, there was no explanation for mine (though I had given birth a few weeks before) and it's now just attributed as 'Chronic Hypertension'.

Naillig222 · 03/01/2024 13:41

Do have a check. Symptoms are very similar to a friend's and it turns out his was CO poisoning. He is fine now.
Might be worth asking if they've checked his bloods for it.

Sorry to hear he won't be home today. Hopefully scans will all be clear and you'll have him home soon.

DyslexicPoster · 03/01/2024 15:46

It's good we're not I covid times and you can visit. Sounds like they are being really proactive.

Do look after yourself too. Download some movies to watch in bed as soon as the boys are asleep. Hopefully you can get some sleep - don't sit up worrying. Go and do that in bed. Hopefully your brain will switch off that way.

If you find yourself worrying try to argue with your inner worry. What if they find some? What if they don't? What if he's in for another night? What if he isn't? Kind of thing. Works for me. I'm a bit like "shut up brain, I will deal with that tomorrow. Hopefully you will tierd anyway

loudbatperson · 03/01/2024 17:04

Take extra stuff, it can always come home clean.

I have spent the last 5 weeks in and out of hospital, and it's awful wanting/needing something and not having access to it.

Make sure he has a toothbrush, deodorant, shower gel and shampoo..... nothing worse than feeling grubby, and the hospital supplied stuff is awful.

Temps will be really high in some wards but freezing in others. A dressing gown or at least a fleece and a couple of pairs of lightweight pjs (short sleeves for cannula and blood access).

Boredom relievers.... I was too I'll to read or watch anything for most of the time but when I was well enough I was thankful for books and air pods so I could pass the time, without sleeping too much in the day.

Any juice or drinks he likes...... the water they give you gets warm and bleugh very quickly, and tea/coffee can be sporadic. The poor staff are so stretched right now so cannot give as much "comfort" care as they would like.

Headphones also help block out the general noise, wards are chaotic places.

Good will be awful, try to take him up a selection of stuff he can eat that doesn't need refrigeration or warming.

I hope he is out soon, it's such a strain on the whole household xx

Original poster
Buffy81 · 03/01/2024 19:32

Been up to see him with the Boys as needed to take some more clothes and toothbrush up etc.
He is on a drip with medication that gives him a headache so has tablets to take to stop them. Needs to have a scan on his abdo to check for any internal bleeding as the Consultant said it rare for someone of his age to have high blood pressure like he has. They did he bp while we were there and it was 164. which is where it has been hovering most of the time He said that due to the stress of last night it peaked a 240! It was normally around the 170-202 mark.
He said that he spent most of the day sleeping.

I treated them to MacDonalds for after as we only stayed for about 30 mins so left just after 6 when they were serving dinner. I a going to take the res of the week of work as it felt to much in the end being at work and knowing that I had to get the boys from afterschool club, take up bits and bobs for and find the time to eat

Both the boys schools have been understanding and will support as all as best they can during these uncertain time

Will update when I hear anything else. Just want to thank you all for the support that you have given me so far as not sure if I will be back on tonight as I think I will try and get a decent night sleep if I can once I know the boys are asleep.

OP posts:
Lucy377 · 03/01/2024 20:01

Best of luck and hope you get a night's sleep.

lesdeluges · 03/01/2024 20:06

I hope all will be well soon OP. It's very unsettling while they are trying to establish what's going on..

Just to mention, I had internal bleeding from a perforated ulcer, and my BP was very LOW as a result.

WhatAFoolishFool · 03/01/2024 20:33

Hope all is ok OP. My husband has had similar, we are awaiting further investigation. It’s so scary xx

2chocolateoranges · 03/01/2024 20:38

It’s good that the school is being supportive as is your workplace,

take time to yourself tomorrow to relax and hopefully doctors will know more after the scan.

Vergeofbreakdown23 · 03/01/2024 21:37

@Buffy81 I hope you manage to get a good sleep, not easy I know, but hopefully you can relax a little knowing he's in the best place.
Have you anyone (family/friends) who can help with the boys and give you a supportive hug and cup of tea/coffee?
Sending you a virtual one from me anyway xx 💐🫂☕

Original poster
Buffy81 · 04/01/2024 08:15

@Vergeofbreakdown23 I managed to get more than the night before but it was very fitful Found it very hard to stop the brain from thinking. I tried silence, doing some reading and having the radio on.

I need to get a gp appt for today as looks like I have an infection in my finger.

Had an update over night where his bp was done around 20:30 and it went to below 160. This morning he said one went down to 138/85. dropped his drip but went up to 150 something.

OP posts:
Weenurse · 04/01/2024 11:26

Has he ad his abdomen scan?

Original poster
Buffy81 · 04/01/2024 20:49

@Weenurse They want to do that as an outpatient as bp has been getting lower. I was there when the dr was doing the rounds this afternoon.
They also did a urine dip test this afternoon along with more bloods and blood cultures so they want to rule out an infection as his temp spiked a bit last night. They also want to do a echo but undecided if it will be done as an inpatient or outpatient and another chest x-ray to make sure that is still clear.

They have took him off the drip while I was there as BP was 150 which is borderline so the nurse had to double check with the dr first. He now has it in tablet form.

He also has another opticians appt but not until feb as they want to repeat the tests they were doing

All being well, hoping to discharge tomorrow afternoon.

OP posts:
2chocolateoranges · 04/01/2024 21:05

Glad to hear his blood pressure coming down, hopefully they can manage it with tablets and he can get discharged soon,

Original poster
Buffy81 · 04/01/2024 21:49

@2chocolateoranges That is what we are aiming for. He is hoping for tomorrow at some point as long as bloods are good with no sign of infection as urine was clear this afternoon. He had the repeat chest x-ray done about an 1hr go so fingers crossed that will be clear.

he is waiting for more obs to be repeated which he has chased as they did them right after dinner and the bp went back up to 160 so he has chased them again

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffy81 · 04/01/2024 21:53

When I was up there his afternoon, were saying that this the wake up call that we need to make some life style and diet changes. He is sure the Bp has been caused by his new team lead as he doing more that what he should be as another team are short staffed so he has been doing that job as well as his own. He said he will have to put a stop to that as we don't want to go through this again. He looked at a new gym that has opened near us but its £30 a month which if we both want to do is £60 and with the Cost of Living crisis, that's money we don't have to spend.

OP posts:
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