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

My hemiplegic migraines can be like that sometimes (or a lot worse) they'll look into migraines for sure

@NotUpForBeingOuted Any updates ?

Could be something like f n d . A functional stroke that only shows up on specific scans .

where the neurones in your brain flip
out and cut communication from areas of the body .

look at neuro symptoms web site .

I hope you've got some good news about how he's doing, OP. It's horrible waiting to know what's up

Hope he’s ok OP.

Any news OP? Hope he’s ok

Just checking in to say I hope he's ok, and you too ofc Its always worrying when you have no idea what it is. Something limb related is obvious

Hello all.

Thank you so much for the support yesterday, and for checking up about DH.

So, he was in till quite late, and during that time had CT scan, ECG, bloods etc.

The CT scan didn't show anything up, but apparently they're still going to treat it as if he had a TIA for now, because it had some symptomatic features of one. So he's being seen in a TIA clinic next week, and has been put on various meds (aspirin, statins, etc) in the meantime.

He's still not feeling great (strange feeling not quite like a headache, he says), and definitely seems a bit off-colour to me, but is home and doing some work this afternoon.

I'm still hoping for something like migraine. It seems positive that there was nothing obvious on CT?

Thanks again to all of you X

If he is still feeling a bit off it's just as well he is having all the tests - and probably shouldnt be driving at present. However it's also not unusual to feel a bit off after a retinal migraine. Some people call it a migraine hangover, the technical term is postdrome. So there is still a possibility it's that.

Yes, it's very much a positive that nothing was seen on CT
A TIA is a Transient ischemic attack, which literally meaning brief lack of oxygen to the brain, mostly caused by a tiny blood clot hence why he's now on preventative medicine.
Try not to worry, it's good he has a follow up appointment now.

Glad he is being well looked after.

Don't try to pretend you're posting to reassure the OP rather than because you're ignorant.

My experience of migraines is certainly that they can leave you with a "wierdness" that is really hard to define for a few days afterwards. I only get aura migraines now (and rarely thanks to meds) with no prewarning and no headache so I'm lucky, but my first migraine's only symptom was scarily aphasia*; cue 3 days in hospital but nothing was found except a diagnosis of "migraine". Hoping it will prove similar for you, OP.

*Of course, in the mind of some MN posters inability to speak, blindness, lopping off a limb are all minor events that only wimps dare to waste NHS resources with.

It can be concerning but catching a TIA early means he can get the appropriate treatment and change lifestyle/diet to prevent a future stroke. It’s helpful to see it as the body giving a warning ☺️

i've always described the 'post-drome' phase of a migraine as feeling like i have a hangover. my brain is fuzzy/foggy, i feel slow, i struggle to form sentences without having to really concentrate, its not a headache as such but i definitely feel fragile.. and tired.

My healthy dh had a funny turn 5 years ago at 65.
He came to me looking strange and saying he couldn't remember what had happened in the last few minutes since he took a grocery delivery.
He was seen quickly at a&e and I think in the end they said it wasn't a tia as it didn't show in the brain scan although I still think it probably was.
Good luck op.

It could of course be any of the things others have mentioned but I had exactly the same symptoms 15 years ago (approx same age as OP's DH) and it was a TIA. A TIA is a medical emergency cos untreated it can quickly develop into a full-blown stroke which in turn can lead to serious disability. A suspected TIA is initially treated with aspirin (300 mg) which no-one tends to use nowadays but I happened to have some for another condition. It thins the blood rapidly.

You did the right thing getting him to A&E.

The good news is 15 years on and I've never had another attack. The consultant later told me six months later that the medication I was taking meant I was at no higher risk of having another TIA than someone who had never had one.

Anyone who smokes should stop NOW.

I hope he is fine, OP.

You can look online how long waiting is estimated at our A&E dept. Presume that’s a nationwide thing? Get on Google!

@NotUpForBeingOuted - how is he now? Hopefully home and well

You’re a bit late … you realise OP started this thread nearly a week ago?? 🤔🙄😂