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Original poster

Waiting for an ambulance

91 replies

waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 05:43

Dh is in severe agony, has been the last 3 hours. He has gallstones and we think it's an attack, he cannot function , being sick, tightening pain.
Have two babies to deal with whilst dh like this. I'm upstairs whilst dh is with the paramedics downstairs I'm looking after the babies. Wish I could be down there with him !! Never seen him in so much pain before, this is definitely the worst he's ever been.

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 21/10/2024 08:14

waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 07:27

@InfoSecInTheCity thank you that's so helpful. And sounds horrible for you ! But I bet you're glad it's out now?
I did check his temp but it was fine at the time. He was actually cold and clammy

Really glad it's out, and while I wouldn't recommend a hospital stay for funsies it was actually ok and once the painkillers were in board it was mainly just boring, hot and noisy.

One word of caution, if he does end up in morphine and/or codeine and eating hospital food then prepare for constipation.

Once the gallbladder was out it was being blocked up and the gas they use during the surgery that left me feeling more uncomfortable than anything.

So if you end up having to take him a bag into hospital add some grapes and satsumas to the snack selection.

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/10/2024 08:15

waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 08:09

I've messaged dh but haven't heard anything back. Do I ring the hospital yet to find out how he is/what's going on? Will they even tell me ?

It will take him a while to make it through all the layers of triage, just wait for him to contact you? Does he have a charger for his phone?

butterfly0404 · 21/10/2024 08:15

What time was he taken to hospital OP ?

If only in the last couple if hours he'll still be in ED undergoing assessment. Maybe leave it a couple of hours then call to find out, they will tell you as your probably his next of kin and likely he's given permission to share info xx

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General health
InfoSecInTheCity · 21/10/2024 08:22

My advice to you would be to go about your day with the kids as usual. Get a bag packed and in the boot of the car ready then just keep busy.

Even if they decide he can go home it won't be quick to get out of the hospital because he'll have to wait for a prescription to be written then probably find the hospital pharmacy and wait for them to make up the prescription.

My experience has always been that once someone says 'you can go' you still have about an hours worth of waiting ahead of you before you can walk out the door.

Motherofdragons20 · 21/10/2024 08:29

I work in ICU in the national pancreatic and Gi hospital and you wouldn’t believe the complications that can occur from gallstones that go on and on and on before they are operated on due to the long waiting list. What tends to happen is patient have gallstones, have flare ups over and over again, they are put on the waiting list which is ridiculously long, meanwhile they continue to get flare ups and complications, in many cases they then get infections which force the hospital to intervene and do a much more complicated surgery on a “hot” gallbladder instead of just bloody removing the thing before this all happens. And that’s the lucky ones who don’t end up with acute pancreatitis. Honestly if it was me and it was possible I would go private and get the bloody thing dealt with. If that isn’t possible, present every single time you get a flare up so it’s on record how often it is happening and plead your case for removal.

Motherofdragons20 · 21/10/2024 08:32

Motherofdragons20 · 21/10/2024 08:29

I work in ICU in the national pancreatic and Gi hospital and you wouldn’t believe the complications that can occur from gallstones that go on and on and on before they are operated on due to the long waiting list. What tends to happen is patient have gallstones, have flare ups over and over again, they are put on the waiting list which is ridiculously long, meanwhile they continue to get flare ups and complications, in many cases they then get infections which force the hospital to intervene and do a much more complicated surgery on a “hot” gallbladder instead of just bloody removing the thing before this all happens. And that’s the lucky ones who don’t end up with acute pancreatitis. Honestly if it was me and it was possible I would go private and get the bloody thing dealt with. If that isn’t possible, present every single time you get a flare up so it’s on record how often it is happening and plead your case for removal.

Just to add that I appreciate I have a somewhat warped view given the very very serious cases I see coming through ICU, I don’t see the many people who have uncomplicated cholecyctitis. But just to highlight gallstones can be very serious and should be treated as such.

AutumnLeaves24 · 21/10/2024 08:42

I hope he's much better now. X

hiwhy · 21/10/2024 08:43

I had my gallbladder removed 3 years ago, every single one of my attacks were indigestion type pain but absolutely excruciating. The first time I had an attack I thought I was having a heart attack, I did present to hospital a few times whilst having attacks as was told after my first one that if it doesn't stop after 2 hours I should go in incase I stone had got lodged in one of the ducts. My attacks would come on so suddenly and end just as sudden and the consultant said a stone was probably trying to leave but then popping back in to the gallbladder hence the sudden stop. Luckily, I was seen to pretty fast and really didn't have to wait long for my surgery, my mum end up being admitted and she had a real nasty infection, where they really tried to sort out over 7 days but they just couldn't get on top of it and end up operating anyway, they said her gallbladder was an absolute mess and she'd never actually had any symptoms or pain before that attack that landed her in the time she had the surgery. Hope your husband is out of pain now and gets this sorted Flowers

Original poster
waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 09:31

He had messaged me back saying he's okay but still in pain. Heard nothing since so I hope that means he's being treated, not that he's in too much pain to reply. It's so worrying !! I'm autistic too so just need to know what's happening which I know isn't that straight forward

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 21/10/2024 09:45

waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 09:31

He had messaged me back saying he's okay but still in pain. Heard nothing since so I hope that means he's being treated, not that he's in too much pain to reply. It's so worrying !! I'm autistic too so just need to know what's happening which I know isn't that straight forward

Ok to give you an approximate idea of what they'll be doing and why it will take time:

  • triage him, anyone more serious will be treated first so there will be some waiting involved here
  • basic obs - blood pressure, maybe an ECG as they like to check the heart while they're there, temperature
  • take a blood sample and send it for processing - this takes a couple of hours so there will be waiting.
  • set him up somewhere to wait with painkillers
  • they may also look to do a CT scan and/or ultrasound to take a look at the gallbladder. There will be a wait for this and for transport to wheel him from one place to the other.

Realistically, if they are reasonably quiet and working to minimum wait times you're looking at about 6 - 8 hours just to decide if he needs to be admitted.

He will only have visiting hours if he is admitted to a ward, until then he'll be shuffling between departments and waiting rooms.

butterfly0404 · 21/10/2024 15:39

How is he doing OP ? Hope you're OK too xx

Original poster
waitingandwaitinggg · 21/10/2024 16:54

Thank you. Well what a joke our nhs has become.
Dh spent 6 hours in an ambulance, then was finally let in bloods done, given morphine which didn't touch the pain, sent to SAU and eventually sent home with a packet of cocodamol which he is already prescribed for these attacks and didn't do anything for the pain.
I am actually shocked more than anything he was sent home with such shit pain relief.
We're definitely going to go down the private route as this is just ridiculous.
He is still in so much pain, feels really sick and can barely move for pain, why on earth was he sent home like that ?

OP posts:
butterfly0404 · 21/10/2024 17:03

That's horrific, I'm so sorry, nobody should be left to suffer like that. If he doesn't improve overnight I'm afraid I'd be taking him back in.

JenniferBooth · 21/10/2024 17:09

Motherofdragons20 · 21/10/2024 08:29

I work in ICU in the national pancreatic and Gi hospital and you wouldn’t believe the complications that can occur from gallstones that go on and on and on before they are operated on due to the long waiting list. What tends to happen is patient have gallstones, have flare ups over and over again, they are put on the waiting list which is ridiculously long, meanwhile they continue to get flare ups and complications, in many cases they then get infections which force the hospital to intervene and do a much more complicated surgery on a “hot” gallbladder instead of just bloody removing the thing before this all happens. And that’s the lucky ones who don’t end up with acute pancreatitis. Honestly if it was me and it was possible I would go private and get the bloody thing dealt with. If that isn’t possible, present every single time you get a flare up so it’s on record how often it is happening and plead your case for removal.

Yes i was back and forth to A&E from beginning of July 2002 to end of April 2003 when my gallbladder was removed. The pain had me screaming and wishing i was dead

Original poster
waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 07:34

Hi everyone. Dh is still in considerable pain, I'm not sure if he should be seen again ? It's not an attack type pain but enough pain to be bothersome and affecting his daily activities. He is also constantly urinating, whenever he drinks it just comes straight back out and his urine is really dark ?

OP posts:
x2boys · 23/10/2024 07:51

Motherofdragons20 · 21/10/2024 08:29

I work in ICU in the national pancreatic and Gi hospital and you wouldn’t believe the complications that can occur from gallstones that go on and on and on before they are operated on due to the long waiting list. What tends to happen is patient have gallstones, have flare ups over and over again, they are put on the waiting list which is ridiculously long, meanwhile they continue to get flare ups and complications, in many cases they then get infections which force the hospital to intervene and do a much more complicated surgery on a “hot” gallbladder instead of just bloody removing the thing before this all happens. And that’s the lucky ones who don’t end up with acute pancreatitis. Honestly if it was me and it was possible I would go private and get the bloody thing dealt with. If that isn’t possible, present every single time you get a flare up so it’s on record how often it is happening and plead your case for removal.

My son ended up in icu last year with acute necrotizing pancreititis, they thought it was gall stones, but it wasn't, he was only 16 and he now has virtually no pancreas tissue left, so he has type 3c diabetes
They still haven't got to the bottom of whst caused, it ,he. Thankfully very well now.

InfoSecInTheCity · 23/10/2024 08:09

waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 07:34

Hi everyone. Dh is still in considerable pain, I'm not sure if he should be seen again ? It's not an attack type pain but enough pain to be bothersome and affecting his daily activities. He is also constantly urinating, whenever he drinks it just comes straight back out and his urine is really dark ?

He needs to be seen again, the dark urine is a sign things aren't all well. I'd call 111 and ask for their guidance on whether it's a GP or hospital job at this point.

Starlight7080 · 23/10/2024 08:29

waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 07:34

Hi everyone. Dh is still in considerable pain, I'm not sure if he should be seen again ? It's not an attack type pain but enough pain to be bothersome and affecting his daily activities. He is also constantly urinating, whenever he drinks it just comes straight back out and his urine is really dark ?

Is he taking buscopan? That works really well for gallstone attacks.

Motherofdragons20 · 23/10/2024 08:33

x2boys · 23/10/2024 07:51

My son ended up in icu last year with acute necrotizing pancreititis, they thought it was gall stones, but it wasn't, he was only 16 and he now has virtually no pancreas tissue left, so he has type 3c diabetes
They still haven't got to the bottom of whst caused, it ,he. Thankfully very well now.

Show quote history

very glad to hear your son is doing well now. Yes it’s a horrid disease, some of the worst things I have seen in my career are from acute necrotising pancreatitis.

butterfly0404 · 23/10/2024 08:39

waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 07:34

Hi everyone. Dh is still in considerable pain, I'm not sure if he should be seen again ? It's not an attack type pain but enough pain to be bothersome and affecting his daily activities. He is also constantly urinating, whenever he drinks it just comes straight back out and his urine is really dark ?

Get him back in, that's a worrying symptom x

Original poster
waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 08:41

He's got a temp now ! Waiting for the gp to call back, 111 have sent them a referral but that could be any bloody time !!

OP posts:
Victoriancat · 23/10/2024 08:44

Gallbladder pain is awful, they finally took mine out after saying it was an emergency, they said it was rammed with stones and no wonder I was in so much pain! Honestly excruciating, never know anything like it

Original poster
waitingandwaitinggg · 23/10/2024 08:46

I don't know if we should just go to a different hospital this time ? Honestly they were awful at our local one, the doctor who discharged dh was vile, said her hand had told her there's nothing wrong with him!!

OP posts:
LoafofSellotape · 23/10/2024 08:46

I'd ring an ambulance again now he has a temperature or can he get to hospital by taxi or a lift from family/ friends? Might be quicker.

OrlandointheWilderness · 23/10/2024 09:05

With an elevated temp and the urinary issues I'd want him seeing again. Go to a different hospital if it would make you feel happier - I can understand why you would want too.