Not telling DH when I feel ill.

[Gard21]

Last week I suffered from chest pains which also went in my back. I've had an ECG and blood tests these came back clear, the advice given by a&e is to take antiacids if they come back and to see my GP. I have an appointment booked for Friday 3rd August first one I could get as this is not in there eyes an emergency. Which I agree with.
These pains have been getting worse in the last few days. Tonight DH has seen me take 4 tablets which doesn't ease the pain. I am now taking up to 16 a day. He is now upset that I'm not telling him when I feel ill. I don't like fuss and hate it when he keeps asking if I'm alright.
I know he cares and he does get worried about me. But am I right to not say anything or should I keep telling him.

I think you should tell him - no harm in telling him.

My dh and I would hate it if either of us kept health issues secret from the other. It would feel like a betrayal of trust.

We may not want them to make a fuss, either the ill one or the other, but we would want to be able to ask for or give support.

If you don't t want a fuss made, why not tell him that? Tell him exactly how you want to be treated.

Which tablets are you taking 16 of a day?

Erm, I'd be going to see someone sooner...

Gaviscon. Even taking this amount it's not helping. I have asked him in the past to stop asking every few minutes if I feel alright even if it's just a cold. He knows I don't like fuss. We've been married for a long time and he's always done this. Maybe it's because I'm a little worried that this time I'm finding it annoying.

Hi, sorry but being in that much pain and taking that many antacids means you should be seeing your Dr sooner. Please make an appointment tomorrow, tell them it is an emergency.

I've been in exactly your situation (chest pain, A&E, reflux, Gaviscon, go see your GP, plus further investigations). IME too much Gaviscon can cause digestive upset that may feel similar to reflux. Try to stick to no more than 3-4 doses per day. I find the liquid far more soothing than the tablets.

Try taking Ranitidine once a day, increasing to twice daily if necessary. But you can't take ranitidine and antacids within 2h of each other, as the antacid would affect the ranitidine.

Try Rennies as well. I find that I can eat huge numbers of Rennies without causing any upset to my stomach.

Have a look at what you're eating. I find that wheat makes my reflux worse. If I have irritation from ongoing reflux, then hot drinks, chilli and alcohol cause the pain to flare up and worsen. I also need to eat less at a time, ie not to fullness, and to drink before meals and between meals, rather than after meals.

Hope some of this is useful for you.

I think you should tell him. I'd be quite upset if my partner was in serious amounts of pain and didn't tell me.

In case it is something serious: keep your DH in the know.

If something were to happen and you need medical assistance but cannot explain what the issues are or what medication you have taken, it’s good and practical to have someone know and convey that info.

Sounds a bit like when I had gallstones. ... pains in chest and through to the back.

You should keep your dh informed just in case anything happens.

Other week I fell and bumped my head on the floor. I text dh and told him just in case anything happened and he couldn't get hold of me then he should come home and check on me lol. Luckily I was fine.

I echo that it sounds like gallstones. Stay away from codeine and try buscopan instead.

Maybe the gaviscon in the quantities you're taking it, is causing problems itself?

You may have an ulcer, get back to the doctor and ask for an endoscopy.Antacids don't solve anything.

3rd vote for possible gallstones. Mine was constantly misdiagnosed as reflux, then an ulcer and finally a scan revealed a massive gallstone.

I always tell Dh/teen Ds if I have taken pain meds just in case I collapse and am incoherent, they can tell the paramedics what I have had and when.

Sounds over the top but it is the same reason I wear a medic alert bracelet because if I can't verbally tell someone at least they can read my medical condition (obviously more serious to warrant the bracelet.)

@justabrokendoll that happened to me too. Had an ultrasound that was clear, then over the course of 18 months the pain worsened and more trips to hospital who refused to scan because I had had one in the last 2 years. A junior Dr decided to override a consultant and I got a scan which showed numerous large stones and severely inflamed gallbladder. Admitted and had it removed the following morning.

Back in September I was taken to hospital because heartburn turned into chest pains, which also went to my back and had abdominal pain. All test were cle@r. They prescribed me some medicine I had to take for a month as well as taking paracetamols. I had gastrisis

Sounds like gallstones. Buscopan used to help when I had attacks. It didn't stop them but reduced the length and severity of the attacks.

I imagine when they told you to go to your GP, that they didn't expect you to have to wait till 3rd August.
Call the GP again, tell them that your condition is worsening and you can't wait until 3rd.
DH can see you are ill and taking medication, so there is no reason not to tell him.

I had this recently OP - terrible chest pains, so bad I could barely breathe. 3 trips to hospital, one to A & E, I was admitted and eventually was sent for tests. ECGs were clear, as were bloods. I had costochondritis which is inflammation of the sternum. I honestly thought I was dying, never felt anything like it. I had a 3 week course of Naproxen and co-codamol.

Pain is an indication that something is wrong. As antacids aren't working, you really need to be seen sooner. Ring in the morning and request an emergency appointment. Hope you're soon on the mend.

I have sympathy with you because my DH has anxiety and so telling him things that like would set him off and make things more difficult for both of us. That said if you keep things like that from each other it makes the other person uneasy - always wondering if something's up and you're just not saying. In the long run I do think it's better to be open.

Minor Injury clinics are good option, if you want to be seen but not an emergency.

If, at any point, you get a feeling of impending doom, go to A & E.

I got an appointment this morning and the doctor has given me a course of naproxen. I have to go back on the 3rd August and if no better he will refer me for investigations.
He doesn't think it's gallstones.
Thank you for your messages. DH came with me and is up to date on my symptoms. I have promised to tell him if I'm in pain and he has said he won't keep asking if I'm ok every 5 minutes which drives me crazy.

Naproxen caused me awful acid problems so just watch that...

Naproxen gives brilliant pain relief, but it is a known stomach irritant. I'm astonished that you were prescribed it when the hospital suggested antacids, which imply reflux/gastritis/oesophagitis.

Were you not prescribed Omeprazole to take at the same time?

Naproxen caused my oesophagitis, even in combination with Omeprazole.

Yes I was given omeprazole as well. The doctor read the information from the hospital and said in his opinion it's not gallstones and not to take gaviscon. I will see how I go on with this medication.