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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To need help with sick DH

68 replies

Choufleuretbattenberg · 29/12/2022 23:44

I'm not unreasonable, well I don't think so.

DH been sick for a month now- he caught food poisoning at a work function. He has been taken into hospital twice and sent home, bloods taken, nothing showing up. He is up all night in the bathroom, and although it's not not every hour, it's still very often and not sustainable.

NhS 24 sent him to our local hospital twice, but not much happened other than rehydration. Multiple stool samples show nothing. Bloods so far show nothing.

I'm just here asking what we do next because he really hasn't slept for almost 4 weeks now and has losts so so much weight. I feel like nobody is helping him. Any advice or information would be amazing.

OP posts:
Baublesandtinsel · 30/12/2022 00:56

Acid reflux? Try some heartburn tablets before bed.

BadNomad · 30/12/2022 02:29

He could try taking codeine for a few days to see if that helps his diarrhoea. The waiting time for gastro referrals will likely be even longer than usual because of Covid.

ittakes2 · 30/12/2022 02:52

Try a strong friendly bacteria like VSL but start at a very low dose like 1/8 packet.
I agree with trying diarolyte. I suffered with food poisoning for 4 days thinking I needed to get it all out but salts became out of balance and only resolved with diarolyte.
Another idea is see a colon irrigation specialist - sounds counter intuitive but they can see what's coming out from experience and give some guidance. They spotted I had had food poisoning with what was being released and gave me something to support my liver. Also when you have colon irrigation you don't go for a few days - ring and talk to one of them to see if they can help but choose someone with a lot of experience.

ittakes2 · 30/12/2022 02:53

Sorry that should be VSL3 rather than just VSL.

Sunshineguy · 30/12/2022 04:53

Sorry to hear this. Could be a complication of Covid. Gastrointestinal issues are common post infection and don't show on standard tests.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-covid-and-the-digestive-system-mayo-clinic-expert-describes-common-symptoms/

Should definitely get a referral to a specialist to investigate the cause.

EYP2021 · 30/12/2022 05:18

Push for a referral to gastro but to warn you I was referred in summer 2022 and have a telephone appointment booked for February 2023. However, your DH’s case seems much more urgent than mine so he may be put on a faster referral pathway. Good luck and wish your DH a speedy recovery.

secretrugbyfan · 30/12/2022 05:48

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Londonnight · 30/12/2022 05:58

Push for an urgent referral to a gastroenterologist! Has he had a calprotectin stool test? This is a specific test which looks for inflammation.

It may be worth trying an a liquid only diet for now to give his bowel a rest. I would ask your GP or buy things like Boost plus, modulen, ensure plus. These will give all calories and nutrients required, but much kinder on the bowel.

MrsDoyle351 · 30/12/2022 06:03

If he hasn't had a stool test for clostridium difficile that also needs to be a specific one. Sometimes the obvious things are missed. Treatable with oral vancomycin.

JuneOsborne · 30/12/2022 06:17

Unless he had a stool sample taken within about 3-4 days of the start of symptoms, things like E. Coli won't show up, even though that could be the organism causing trouble. He may well have excreted the bacteria, but the damage has been done and continues to be damaging.

At this stage I'd pay for a private gp appointment.

What did he eat? Was he the only one that was sick? When did the symptoms start and what were they? Certain food poisoning bacteria have very specific symptoms. For example, camplyobacter can produce fizzy stools.

It could be the case that it's not food poisoning at all. So he needs a doctor prepared to listen and investigate thoroughly.

Whatever it is, he must feel dreadful, poor bloke. Hope he's on the mend soon.

Original poster
Choufleuretbattenberg · 30/12/2022 08:44

Thanks everyone. He has had the test for inflammation and waiting to hear the result. I will insist he calls for a gastro appointment this morning. He feels terrible and it's so unlike him.

Nobody else was taken ill after the function, but it was a BBQ, he ate chicken and he told me he had a feeling it was off almost straight after. He also ate some lamb at the BBQ and says now he can't imagine being able to eat lamb again.

@JuneOsborne yes, he said his stool is a bit fizzy, but has been tested for camplyobacter and its not shown up. We will mention the fizzyness to the doc.

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 30/12/2022 10:51

Ah, in that case, it sounds very much like Camplyobacter, BBQ'd chicken is a prime suspect. Again, his stool needed to be tested pretty soon after the onset of symptoms (ideally no later than 3 days). Campy can make you feel really ill and generally speaking, if you have ever had it, you will not forget it. In the main, it is self limiting and he should get better with rest and time, but it has been quite a long time now already.

Is he showing any signs of improvement at all?

Original poster
Choufleuretbattenberg · 30/12/2022 11:53

@JuneOsborne he did have a few days when he thought he was doing better - down to 5 trips to the loo a day, but it soon crept back up. He is getting more sleep at night I would say, but still not decent. Wish I could just buy him the medicine he needs! Waiting on 1000 tests is very frustrating

OP posts:
kateandme · 31/12/2022 02:17

Keeo going back.dont stop.hes still sick.hew getting sicker.they need to act.this isn't like your being a nuisance for no reason.stand your ground and refuse to stop returning until they find the problem.si scans.colonoscopy.mri.ct. if he needs these things because he's still ill and they haven't found it yet then so be it.but be the pain their ads.
They don't do shit until they no they can't not op.escpecially at the moment.i hate the fact we have to fight for treatment or serious investigations.but that is the way it is.and family is key for pushing onwards.

QueenSmartypants · 31/12/2022 02:30

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

This is actually potentially dangerous advice for someone with diarrhoea and dehydration.

Fizzy drinks suck as cola are not isotonic. They do not contain the salts and minerals you need to replace in your body. Because of the way fluid and minerals are absorbed by the bowel, treating dehydration with hypertonic or hypotonic fluids will only cause further dehydration. Anyone with gcse science should know this.

The sugar in a fizzy drink might be sufficient in someone with a 24hr stomach bug, but for someone with genuine gastric problems - particularly ones this severe - its an appalling option.

Not to mention how the gas is fizzy drinks will aggravate the bowel!

FGS - to anyone reading, don't take this dreadful advice. Rehydration sachets might not be pleasant tasting - but they are medically necessary.

octoberfarm · 31/12/2022 02:36

Not sure if it's been mentioned but some tests for parasites can have low yields even if they're present, so it may not get picked up - I had the parasite giardia and the doctor commented that it was so unlikely you'd get a positive result show up even if you had it he rarely bothered to test. That being said, I was ill for literal months with similar symptoms and what was the saving of me in the end was probiotic tablets - I'm not in the UK any more but the ones I used over here are called Digestive Advantage. Literally an overnight improvement as I think it helped build back up the good bacteria after so much damage had been done by the parasite. Maybe worth a try if you can find something similar? I'd also definitely insist on a gastroenterologist referral. So sorry he's feeling so poorly Flowers

fallfallfall · 31/12/2022 02:37

he might need a fecal transplant to get this gut bacteria balanced out.
you can trigger all sorts of long term autoimmune conditions following food poisoning.
stay firm and push for a specialist appointment.

DPotter · 31/12/2022 02:39

I was thinking giardia as well. Nasty illness. Took 2 rounds of metronidazole to sort DP out.

Trinidading3 · 31/12/2022 03:17

Take him to a & e , tell them something serious is wrong, ask for scans of stomach , be very firm, do not be fobbed off, he is loosing lots of weight and not keeping anything down, he will need saline drip for rehydration...don't mess about with GP or 111 go to a & e....they will check everything, it will be a long wait perhaps but you will be in the right place....he needs to be checked by the experts with a scan ...all the best to you both.....i was messed about with my husband by the GP....the hospital has the equipment to see what's up....that being x-ray,scans etc.....

Flowersinspringgrowwild · 31/12/2022 03:31

Seek a private second opinion, now. I work as a clinical negligence lawyer. Don’t fuck around with being fobbed off.

Hairyfairy01 · 31/12/2022 07:59

As well as pushing for a gastro referral also ask for a dietician referral.

Untitledsquatboulder · 31/12/2022 08:18

LittleBlueBrioTrain · 29/12/2022 23:48

Surely a referral to gastroenterology? Probably a colonoscopy next step?

This. Ds2's food poisoning turned out to be (or turned into) crohns disease .

Untitledsquatboulder · 31/12/2022 08:20

And yes, we accessed hospital treatment via a&e when waiting for referrals was taking too long (he got very sick very quickly).

Original poster
Choufleuretbattenberg · 01/01/2023 09:07

Thanks so much everyone. I'm going to insist he goes to a and e, but also ordered the good probiotics.

OP posts:
Kpcs · 01/01/2023 09:32

Have they checked for giardia?