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

Could you get someone to look after the children for an hour so you can take him some snacks and check for updates? He’s likely to be waiting some time to see a doctor (depending on the A&E). He’s definitely in the right place.

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Is your A&E a really busy big city one or a smaller one? That will affect wait time as well as everything else mentioned.

I wouldn't go and wait as it could be a very very long wait. If you can park nearby I would consider popping in with the kids, some snacks and a spare phone if you have one. The 'no phone' position is untenable once anything like this happens and I'd tell him that. Plus what if he's out, one of the kids has an accident and you can't get hold of him?

I had this with a sudden rise in eye pressure with glaucoma. Migration does sound the most likely though

My 80 year old father had exactly the same thing a couple of months back (while at the gym!) and while it was nothing, the hospital took it very seriously and after lots of tests over a couple of weeks that showed he was fine (he went back in as a day patient - they didn't keep him overnight), they put him on statins just to protect against stroke.

I think they gave him a CT scan? Or an MRI? I forget, but it was all very quick and efficient.

(posted twice)

My DH had something similar it was a visual migraine, lost vision in both eyes for a few minutes. It hasn't happened again, I think it was triggered going from bright light to dim light and back, very scary for a while.

This happened to me last year and I was in A&E for about 15 hours- they sent me to the eye clinic first before sending me back to wait for a CT scan and an ECG. I was then referred to the TIA clinic a few days later for an MRI- in the end they ruled out a TIA and put it down to migraine, so although it was long and quite scary it was nothing to worry about in the end. That was in London though at a notoriously chaotic A&E.

Maybe take him a book - every time I have been stuck in hospital lately the fucking wifi was shocking!

Could be an ocular migraine - they tend to be very brief and you can just have one and then no more (ever). When a family member had similar symptoms we took them to the Eye A&E who confirmed an ocular migraine, advised pain killers for the headache and said unfortunately there's nothing that can be done for them. (Hasn't had one since.)

I'm not sure the term TIA is appropriate here to be honest.

Tbf to the OP I had never heard of a TIA until the doctor explained they thought I was having one.

Can anyone look after the kids later so you can go back and advocate for him. If he has a really long wait in a packed AandE he may not be in the best condition to seek a full diagnosis, particularly if it is something like a TIA.

Ha, read my second post...

I would definitely go and see him. Take the children if you can’t leave them anywhere, but go and see him.

Thank you all x

DH had similar a few months ago, where he ‘lost’ about half an hour and kept repeating himself. He is 60 with history of brain haemorrhage. Three hrs in AnE in total and had triage, bloods, ecg, two muscle function tests and eye movements, CT scan and home.
They couldn’t account for it. He was fine later that day and touch wood has been fine since.

What a nuisance that he doesn't have a phone! I was in A&E with DH the other day and although it wasn't serious we didn't have to wait long (rural area) and they were very thorough and reassuring. Turned out to be hypotension (no eye symptoms, though). Anyway, I know what you mean about feeling weepy. Any medical emergency causes us to do an appraisal of all aspects of our lives.

He's unlikely to be seen as a priority as it could be a retinal migraine. So if you can find someone to have the kids I'd go and check up on him. If you can borrow a phone take one, if he normally wears glasses or has them for reading take them. Some food and a drink would be useful.

If you cant borrow a phone at least make sure he has your number, many people will send a text for you if he asks them when they release him.

I had this and it was just a migraine. Went to the optician, got new glasses. I've had it a couple of times since so no longer alarmed. These things become more common in middle age apparently.

I've had this several times, Including once when I was driving, my vision in both eyes just suddenly went to almost nothing but just for a few seconds. Phoned GP and 111, both said to get an eye test and it's probably migraine!

Do any of your children have a phone he could borrow - if you could drop one of with hi?

How will he contact you to say he is ready to come home? Or if he has to stay later etc?

Otherwise I'd look at being able to have someone care for the children so you can be with him.

If he had a way if contacting you it'd be different but as there is no other way to keep in touch I'd want to be there

Hoping he ok and home with you soon

Op of course get the kids looked after and go to wait with him. For practical reasons if nothing else as he doesn't have a phone. Good luck hopefully just a minor thing like a vasovagal or similar.

I didn't want to just send a laughing emoji in the circumstances, but I thought that was very witty.😀

Hope everything turns out for the best and that it's just something minor like a migraine. He's in the right place.