DH just been taken to french hospital

[AirbnbhostAWOL]

On holiday in France. DH woke me up at 12.30 with intense pain in his left shoulder. Couldn't get comfortable. I put some voltarol on it and we propped him up on the bed, and turned the light out. Next thing I know he's fainted/lost consciousness, and is making a terrible groaning noise and his eyes have rolled back in his head. I can't rouse him, and obviously called emergency services.
He then woke up but was very confused and sweaty. We spent a long time using a combination of my long ago a level french and the operators broken English, but they sent an ambulance.
By the time the ambulance arrived he was better, although in a lot of pain and very pale and clammy. They had an amazing interpreter on board, they took his vitals, and seems convinced it is not his heart, but have taken him to hospital anyway.
I am in the apartment with two DC who slept through almost the whole thing (DD appeared right at the end but half asleep and has gone back to bed). He seemed ok and is obviously in the right place, but now the adrenaline has left my system I feel very shaky and tearful. It was fucking terrifying when he lost consciousness, I genuinely thought he was dying.
If anyone is up to keep me company it would be appreciated

It must be so scary for you, how far into the holiday are you?

He is getting a taxi home. The shoulder pain seems to be entirely muscular. The fainting/loss of consciousness episode is again unexplained. Pp's explanation upthread about it being a pain reaction is interesting.

He has a prescription for codamol, and says he is very embarrassed which is nonsense of course but I would be the same. I think he might be in a sling which is going to mean me doing the driving which I don't usually in France! We leave this seaside resort tomorrow to head inland to the Loire valley and the Dordogne.

Thanks to everyone for posting, it has been very reassuring and helpful.

When I was in France recently, a member of our drippy fell down the stairs and had a trip to hospital. We were a bit surprised that we had to go and get her medication and a boot, from the pharmacy. It was a good job we could go for her. I'm
Not sure how she'd have fit them if she was alone.

Sorry you’ve experienced this op- we live in France and I can tell you the healthcare is excellent. I would go as far to say he is in a better system here than in the uk. I’m sure many of the staff will speak English aswell. Best of luck hope he has a speedy recovery xox

Good update op! Glad he is ok!

And good luck with the driving!

Yes, it's been absolutely incredible. From the operator finding me someone who could speak some English, and then speaking to the doctor, and the paramedic plus interpreter, to him returning within 7 hours, I cannot praise them enough.

Stopping at the cash point to pay for the ride just adds a lovely bit of french flavour to the experience and turns it into a fun anecdote, non? As pp have said, I'm sure if it has been an actual heart attack that would not have happened.

I can hear DS stirring (it's 7.15 here) so I will go and speak to him.

Thanks again.

Sounds like quite a night OP - glad he's returned to you safely. What a worry.

Have they ruled out seizures? XH had terrible muscle aches / pains following a number of petit mal + then one grand mal epileptic seizures years ago, from what you say about the eye rolling / groaning / clamminess / passing out and confusion upon coming to it does sound v similar. He tore several ligaments in his shoulders and tendons in the tops of his arms as he seized hence the terrible pain.

Sorry for offering this up as a suggestion but it might be worth investigating.

That's interesting. I mean awful for you, I'm sorry.
DH says the pain started earlier in the evening yesterday, but was just a usual ache, which was then agonising when he woke up.
I will definitely strongly push him to get further investigation re the seizures back in the UK. I might demand to accompany him seeing as he cannot describe them and has a tendency to downplay things.
And as I type this, I think I should do all the driving.

Glad things are fine for now and you can enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Glad he s out of hospital already. Definitely do all the driving - you don't want him having a fit at the wheel!

As a general thing, make sure you all stay really hydrated with water. Its hot in France (I live here).

The cash point is a bit weird but I always have to pay upfront for medical appointments and get some of it reimbursed from the social security and some from my private medical insurance (paid directly through my monthly wage with my company). Depending on the Dr, sometimes I don't get 100% reimbursed. French healthcare is amazing but costly.

Enjoy the Loire and Dourdogne. They are beautiful. Be warned if you have travel sick kids though that the roads in the Dourdogne are really twisty! (My poor kids suffered a lot there)

Will this is a holiday and a half to remember, makes the Air B&B disaster pale into insignificance.

Wow what a night you've had. So glad he's been declared "out of the woods" medically and is on his way home 💖

Glad he's ok. Take it easy with the driving, I tend to stick to the N or D roads myself as I'm a bit freaked out by 82mph on the autoroute (if I'm honest I'm not keen on 70mph here). Just look at the routes before you set off driving because men I find are rubbish at directions and satnavs whilst good just don't give the overview which is handy if there's diversions etc

It's very common to faint due to pain esp when you have been sleeping.
I am very prone to fainting and all you have described happens to me. Sometimes I faint very heavy and other times I don't. I have made a lot of life style changes which had really helped.
There is always a pre curser to me fainting, normally pain related, certainly if I wake up in pain.
Make sure he keeps on top of the pain relief and drinks plenty of water.
Look it up on line vascular vagle Syncopy (probably spelt very wrong)

How scary for you, glad to hear he is on his way back. A relative had some episodes of pain and fainting, turns out it was gall stones.

He just got home in the taxi. He has his arm in a sling but then they put his t shirt on over the top so he looked like he had a massive comedy pantomime dame bosom, which fortunately made the children laugh.

Two phone calls: one to someone who can come and be with you; two, your travel insurance. I hope your husband is ok.

Oh no, I've just noticed your username, this is turning into quite the trip! I hope things improve and DH is ok!

She's already done both?

@AirbnbhostAWOL Another here with experience of fainting and seizure type symptoms related to pain /shock etc.
Friend has this ,unfortunately sometimes she then ,on coming round,starts vomiting ,can't stop and has to be admitted to hospital for rehydration .

I think it would be sensible for you to do the driving certainly for the next few days at least - bear in mind French pharmacies (and their pharmacists) are absolutely brilliant in terms of a first port of call for any further issues down the road if anything crops up during daylight hours.

Yes, it's been quite the trip 😂

Fun update. DH didn't get a receipt from the ambulance drivers for the 260 euros. We know the name of the ambulance company and it's location, so I think we will need to track this down. The insurance company rep I spoke to just know was remarkably less helpful than the delightful woman I spoke to last night, and said they would not be able to help unless we have an invoice, so I will need to spend some time on Google translate to figure out how to ask for a receipt! Fun times.

But first DH is positively insisting I go for my massage which is booked for 9.15. I do worry I will just sleep through the whole thing

oh i read your other thread, you are having a rough time @AirbnbhostAWOL

Ridiculous that they could t take a credit card payment. Not difficult to have a sum up machine these days.