Left DH at A&E - what can I expect?

[NotUpForBeingOuted]

DH had a very brief "funny turn" this morning - lost vision in one eye for a few seconds, felt weird in the head, and then (apart from a very mild headache - rated less than 1/10) has felt pretty much normal (apart from a "slightly strange feeling") ever since.

GP said straight to A&E, so I took him.

He's had very basic obs (BP and HR - normal) and was waiting for doctor.
Then I had to leave to pick up kids.

I know no one can tell me what this will be, if anything. But can anyone tell me what tests they're likely to run, and how long they're likely to take? Will he need CT head? ECG? Just a quick check-over??

TIA

TIA for thanks in advance.

But obviously that's one of the things I'm concerned about, too....

Oh, and he's a very fit and healthy 55. So not old, not young....

Someone I know had the same symptoms with type 2 diabetes but it could be anything.

No idea what to expect medically OP but I can predict a very long wait..Does he have a phone charger/battery bank with him? Might be an idea to drop one over unless he's confident he has many hours of charge left.

Have a look at this to see if it sounds similar.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia/

Timings wise it's impossible to know how long things will take in any particular A&E.

@NotUpForBeingOuted my so. Is going through same thing he's 26 high glucose blood tests going for more blood test next week I think it's diabetes or thyroid related he's had lumps on his groin amd neck aswell

Sorry your dh is unwell op. you must be worried. Can you call on anyone to look after the dc once you are all back at home?

I am not an HCP, just a first aider, so not really qualified to comment but it could be so many things; migraine, a vestibular issue, a mini stroke, diabetes, some sort of minor seizure, it’s impossible to tell. I hope they examine him thoroughly and get to the cause and he starts to feel better soon 💐

In the meantime, do feel free to keep chatting on here if you are stuck at home and anxious.
And have some tea with a bit of sugar in it.

Most likely when he is triaged he will get bloods and an ECG and I'd imagine once docs have seen him a CT scan. He could be in for a bit of a wait.

Timewise, he’s not critically ill and nobody will be wildly worried about him but has to have a load of tests - I would expect detailed face to face assessment, CT scan, ecg, various bloods. Unfortunately that leaves him in the “could be ages, especially if it’s busy, not sensible to leave” category.

My first thought is a Tia if no balance issues, rather than a stroke
Visual/ retinal issues can be associated with diabetes but he would likely be more unwell with symptoms.
May even be early vestibular migraine or menieries disease.
I would expect him there for a few hours at least while they do tests bp urine etc
Ask him to call when ready to be picked up or he can book a taxi
Hope he will feel better soon

If our A and E is anything to go by, he’ll be waiting hours before the doctor says, since he appears fine now, he can go home and contact the GP if it happens again.

my mum had this at 80+ and despite suspicions of TIA turned out to be migraine. I can go blind, can't think of any words or speak coherently at ALL in the aura phase.

They'll do one, if ok after a few hours may discharge with an appt for a CT rather than doing it now

Possibly optic neuritis? Hope he's ok and it's good that all symptoms were temporary

I had something similar to this recently and after being looked into at my GP I was told it was an Occular Migraine...

This is what I would expect tbh. The posters taking of loads of test, scans etc definitely do t have same experiences as I do of A&E. I do hope your DH gets all the tests, but I would t be at all surprised to find out her hasn't. Also, o hope he is ok

Thank you all so much.

I've just sent the kids out on their bikes and am feeling oddly weepy. Hopefully nothing too drastic, but this stuff is always such a shock anyway, isn't it?

Thanks again

I had similar when I had an optical migraine.

I did have bloods and an ECG, this was a very quick test done by a nurse and results read by a Dr. Hopefully he‘ll be seen quickly, stay off dr Google.

I have functional neurological disorder and have lost vision due to it a few times

Thanks again, all. You're calming me down!!

Not sure whether I'm hoping they won't think any tests needed or that they'll do the full gamut so we can be more confident in whatever they say.

I also don't know whether to find someone to have the kids and go to wait with him. He doesn't have a phone (that's a whole other thread...) so can't update me. Thanks all for chatting about it. Good to discuss with strangers in case anyone else gets worried

It could be many many things. But try to remember that if it is something serious he is exactly the right place.

Possibly what you want to hear or maybe not. I had similar. Total loss of vision in one. Came back and had a bit of a headache and a floater that lingered. GO said the same. I sat there for hours and was then sent home with the diagnosis of “migraine”.

Sounds like a migraine, but he will likely be there some time while they investigate.

Was it total loss of vision ie black? Or altered vision? I get blurry/bright yellow or blue patches in my vision in one eye and diagnosed with retinal migraine.