to worry about DH?

[ShowOfHands]

I'm committing the MN cardinal sin of posting in AIBU for traffic.

DH suffers from migraines and seemed to go down with one last Thursday, a really bad one. It hasn't followed the normal pattern and he has remained at a high level of pain since Friday. He cannot tolerate moving, talking, any light. I phoned NHS Direct at 3am on Monday when he was incoherent with pain and they told me about NICE fever guidelines (he hasn't got a fever) and we saw the emergency GP later that day who prescribed Tramadol which just made him itch.

Nothing has worked. The tramadol, aspirin, codeine, ibuprofen, migril, paracetamol (not all at the same time, tried different things according to advice). Not even taken off the edge.

Today he's started vomiting violently.

We have another appointment at 11am.

What is it? This is not a migraine. It's just not fitting his lifelong pattern. 20 years together and he's actually called in sick for the very first time.

Raised inter-cranial pressure causes headaches that are worse lying down. This is a worrying symptom. Hopefully your GP is able to admit direct to medics/acute admissions unit as soon as possible.

Good luck at the GP, you are doing the right thing to get the first medical help you can. I also had a friend with severe headaches that turned out to be an aneurysm - he went to the GP, who rang an ambulance. It saved his life. Hopefully your husband won't have anything of the sort, and will feel better soon.

He needs a CT or an MRI ASAP, tbh. This is not normal.
Last time I felt like this I had encephalitis.

When my son was suffering like this the GP came out and called the ambulnce himself, torned out not to be serious, but our Dr was concerned enough to send him to A&e

I think Op's explained enough that the quickest route for him is via his GP.

And Op, I don't want to worry you, but a friend of mine had a similar thing (he never had migraines). He laid on his living room floor from Wednesday through to Monday morning - we'd called to see him on Sunday and he hadn't moved, so we took him to the Drs first thing Monday (we weren't aware of the potential seriousness at the time and thought it was a bad virus). It turned out to be a brain haemorrhage and he had 4 aneurysms removed. Recovery took some time and he was in intensive care for a while but he came out of it ok, albeit with a slightly changed personality.

What I learned from that is that head pain isn't something to treat lightly and faced with this again, I would act immediately. Having migraines could well be a red herring...

If he gets worse before appointment, then call an ambulance. If you're going to the GP, I'd think I'd tell the receptionist he really isn't well enough to leave the car (to save keep moving him). If you get nowhere with GP, then yes an ambulance. These things take time, but at least he'll be in the system and right place.

Keep us updated. I hope he's much better soon.

He cant lie down when he has a migraine I meant. Never does. In response to a pp who also said lying down doesn't necessarily help.

He is lying down right now in fact. It hurts the same amount in every position.

I'm with you on the triptans - all kinds of extra pain with those here too.

Offering a hand hold while you get DH seen to - I'm in the same area as you (big city but though) so I know exactly what you mean re a&e

In case it's an immediate referral, grab a few things that would be handy for the hospital.

Leaving in 5 minutes but I will update later.

Thank you for the company.

Yes, pack a bag for hospital so you're prepared for that. Do some thinking through of arrangements you need to make if he's kept in while you wait for the 11am appointment. Hope you get somewhere today.

Hope they can help him become more comfortable, and find out what's causing this, to rectify it ASAP.

Hope all goes okay

Our GP refers us to a unit called AEC (ambulatory emergency care) which is a ward with beds etc and you bypass A & E to get all your tests etc done in one place and a Dr sees you on admission. You're sent straight in from the surgery and they are expecting you.

I'd say thats a better bet than A & E to be honest if your hospital has similar. I hope your DH gets some relief, poor sod. Can't imagine anything worse

I hope he will be ok and gets sorted quickly op

Good luck. FWIW I think you're doing the right thing. Hopefully your GP will help get him seen sooner. Hope he's ok.

You sound sensible OP, I hope the GP can help or fast track you to someone who can. I get awful migraines but luckily I've only had 3 or 4 in my life time that have left me in hospital, the pain is nothing I can describe.

Good luck.

I have had similar - I get migraines but this was totally different. Felt like someone was squeezing my brain! I ended up being admitted and having a CT head and lumbar puncture because they thought it could be meningitis. I would definitely push for hospital. I agree you’re right though - you’ll wait longer in A&E even to be triaged than you’ve waited for this GP appointment and he should be able to do a direct admission. I hope he’s diagnosed and improving soon.

Hope GP referred him into hospital OP. Let us know hw he is.

Hope he's been referred to hospital now.

Fingers crossed for you both.

I really hope that he is getting the help that he obviously needs

I've been assessed for stroke four times because of migraines. So little understood. Hideous things to suffer with. Really hope he's ok op. Genuinely concerned for you.

I hope he's ok. I would have waited for GP app too as like you say it was quicker than waiting in A&E

Google cluster headaches, they are absolutely horrendous.