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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Discharged from emergency room with no diagnosis...

22 replies

sparklins · 30/04/2023 15:34

Hi I am hoping for a bit of traffic - apologies it's a bit of a long one.

My DF (50) collapsed this morning, lost consciousness for about a minute and when awoke could not say anything coherent apart from asking for water. He could not feel his arms or legs or move his head. He fell onto his front and it was very hard to give him the drink he was desperate for as he was face down and could not move, he is tall and quite well built so my DM who was alone with him at the time could not turn him herself.
It took around 50mins to an hour (Ambulance arrived about 40 mins in) to get him to turn onto his back and then sit up.
He also said at times he could hear the EMTs speaking to him but it was not making sense (or translating) in his head. He can't remember the fall.

In the emergency room they ran his bloods which came back within the normal range, did a ECG and said it all looked fine and he was discharged to make his way home.

Obviously as his daughter I am quite worried, my DM also confided in me that this is not the first time this happened however last time he came back round a lot quicker and forbade her from calling an ambulance - this information was passed on to the Drs.
As he's been discharged with no recommendations, advice or a potential diagnosis we are not sure what caused this or what we should do next. Not even sure what to suspect, stress? mild stroke?

I wondered if someone on here perhaps had a similar experience or maybe someone who works in the medical field could recommend a course of action or perhaps what to ask if he sees a GP? - he's hard headed so I know getting him there will be a battle.
I know this is a little strange but I am at a bit of a loss.

OP posts:

HungryandIknowit · 30/04/2023 15:39

Really sorry I don't know but hopefully someone with more knowledge will see this. Can you afford a private GP? They may be more willing to spend time thinking about what it could be and suggesting a course of action.

SwitchDiver · 30/04/2023 15:41

He should really be going to his GP to look into his fainting.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 30/04/2023 15:41

I am not a medic. Are you in the uk? If so I would certainly expect him to see the gp asap. Are you hearing all this second hand from your mum?

DemonicCaveMaggot · 30/04/2023 15:41

I would worry he has been having mini-strokes. I am surprised they didn't do some kind of head scan.

Original poster

sparklins · 30/04/2023 15:44

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime I got to them before the ambulance came a and accompanied them to the emergency room. English is not their first language so I thought it best I help with a bit of translation.

OP posts:

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 15:46

he needs to see his GP - if you are UK based?

Erex · 30/04/2023 15:46

It sounds similar to what happened to a friend's dad (similar age), and he had a mini stroke. They did admit him to hospital for tests after it happened though, and kept him in for monitoring for a few days - he was happy to be taken in though, so I understand it may be more difficult with someone who doesn't want any medical attention.

Original poster

sparklins · 30/04/2023 15:49

@Erex thank you, I am suspecting this too. He made a big point of laughing and joking with the attending staff and initially refused to come to the hospital as well as lied that his head doesn't hurt anymore. I had to persuade him to tell the truth which he eventually did.

Yes we are UK based, however getting him to a GP will be a hard task, he's an ex sportsman who'd still like to be able to perform like he use to and would prefer to never step foot in a doctors office if he can help it.

OP posts:

Curtains70 · 30/04/2023 15:52

I had a period of fainting and went to A&E once because I fainted in the shower and had a pretty nasty head injury. They did all the usual, bloods ecg etc. Found nothing so referred me to GP.

The only thing they came up with was low blood pressure. This was a few years back now and it just stopped by itself.

I would get Dad to the GP ASAP and push it a bit with them.

I8toys · 30/04/2023 15:52

For yours and your mum's sake he needs to see a GP. I understand the whole male going to the doctors thing but its not doing anyone any good especially if these episodes continue.

electriclight · 30/04/2023 15:53

Something similar happened to my dad. They did a brain scan and found an aneurysm, and he had since had an operation to prevent rupture. However, this was apparently not the cause and they attributed that to low blood pressure after eating, leading to a faint. I would not be satisfied with your current situation but your dad would need to go to the gp. Do you think they gave him more info than he has shared?

electriclight · 30/04/2023 15:55

I am surprised he won't go to the gp. Surely less difficult and embarrassing than fainting in the street, and less dangerous than fainting while driving.

AgnesX · 30/04/2023 16:03

Similar happened with DH. Got admitted as they thought it was a mini stroke. The CAT scan at the time showed nothing and he got discharged to await a MRI.

The result showed scarring (?) And he's now on stations and a blood thinner. This was a year ago and he appears to be OK.

DisquietintheRanks · 30/04/2023 16:07

My step mother had similar, was eventually diagnosed with a type of epilepsy (started in her 80s). Your dad should go see his gp.

KatieB55 · 30/04/2023 16:22

They are so busy in A&E that if you are not about to die and don't need admission then they will send you home. They aren't there to diagnose if no immediate risk. Get appointment with GP asap and he can refer for scans/tests.

DoAWheelie · 30/04/2023 16:42

The job of A&E is to stabilise you and get you back on your feet during acute illness or after an accident. Not diagnosis and treatment. He needs to see his GP now for anything further.

Original poster

sparklins · 30/04/2023 16:59

@electriclight I was there throughout so definitely not missed any information.
I also think he needs to see the GP, unfortunately I cannot physically make a grown man go and I do not live with them, I see them a couple of times a month and he can tell me one thing and do something else.
I will try to push it onward but I am also concerned he will go to the appointment and not tell the GP the full story ...
What a mess.

OP posts:

shellyleppard · 30/04/2023 17:20

Sparklins/,op...... could you write a letter to his GP with your concerns??? It could be a lot of things but he needs a thorough check up to find out exactly what. I know its difficult with stubborn parents. Good luck 🍀❤️🙏

Sapphire387 · 30/04/2023 17:22

I would have expected them to do a brain scan tbh.

SleepyRich · 30/04/2023 17:51

I work in healthcare, it's pretty common for patients not to be diagnosed in A&E, even in cases where people think they've been given a diagnosis it's actually just the most common differential and there's a few othdr possibilities it could still be. They should be ruling out anything that needs immediate treatment and in some cases just not sure but normal results and seem well so send them on there way to come back as needed.

GP would likely order some follow up tests or refer to another speciality if this is an ongoing problem. But he will have to make the appointment and actually go like you say.

TheLadyofShalott1 · 11/09/2023 03:38

I'm sorry to unzombiefy this thread @sparklins but how is your DF now? Did you get any further in a diagnosis for him? I am only asking this as they sound very much like they may be mini-stroke - transient ischaemic - attacks to me, which can lead on to a full one.

I wondered if you have thought of writing to, or emailing his GP, as you can take your time to write down all the details of what has happened and what you might think it is. If your dad has a good GP they will ask him to come in for some blood tests, or even send a nurse out to his home to take them - if he agrees. They obviously can't force him to go in to see them, but maybe if asked by his GP to go in, rather than by family telling him he should, he might actually agree?

Anyway, I hope he has been fine since April, and that you are doing well as well.

Oblomov23 · 11/09/2023 07:10

What sort of GP surgery booking system do they have? Is it only a phone up for an appointment? At ours you can also ask for test results, or make an appointment online? and it gives a box, 300 words that you can write the details. If you submitted this. Then just ring your dad to tell him that you have, that they'll be ringing him, so he needs to expect their call. Be strong and tell him you expect him to tell them the truth. Why have you not had such conversations with him before? " I know you are proud dad, but if you don't tell them the truth this isn't going to be resolved"?

Discharged from emergency room with no diagnosis...

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