Waiting for a call back from 111, should I have called an ambulancd

[Worried1990x]

Just had to call 111 as my DH has had watery diarrhoea since yesterday morning (sorry tmi, but it literally sounds like it’s wee). He just woke and went to the toilet and passed out on the toilet for a short time, not sure how long as obviously door was closed.

I’ve put his legs in the air.

111 said a clinician will call back within 60 mins and if they don’t they will pass us to the ambulance service. Should I just have called an ambulance? He’s managed to get back into bed but is sheet white.

• white as a sheet that should have said

If he just fainted as a consequence of diarrhoea then I wouldn't think its an emergency...How long was in the bathroom for?

He's probably very dehydrated. Get him sipping water...Do you have any diarolyte in the house?

Any other symptoms?

Do you have a blood pressure machine to do his bp / pulse ?

Er no, it just sounds like he has a bug and is dehydrated.

Get some fluids into him, while you wait for a call back,

Thanks both. @AssassinsEyebrow thats why I called 111 and don’t want to use up an ambulance after 60 minutes as I don’t feel it’s an emergency but he’s never fainted before so it’s worried me.

no other symptoms other than the diarrhoea and stomach cramps. No we don’t have a machine

@theduchessofsporkthank you.

For a one off faint with a cause- no, I probably wouldn't- he'll most likely be offloaded to the waiting room and having loose stools in a public hospital is a miserable experience

@SD1978 thank you, agreed

Thanks everyone, will wait a call back and hopefully they will just see him out of hours tomorrow.

he has been drinking loads but obviously is still dehydrated.

I’d think k it was just dehydration too. Fainting is a horrible sensation though.

Keep sipping. Even something like Sprite will help.

Most likely just dehydrated. Keep encouraging him to sip fluids to avoid having to go to hospital for iv fluids.

Some dioraltye or something to replace salts too. It's not just water. Have a Google re dioralite and similar about essential things he is losing.

And no I can't spell it!

Thanks,

@JanglingJack we don’t have any and have 2 children here so will try and get some first think tomorrow. Thanks you

actually I would class this as an emergency. call 999, put him in a car and take him to a&e if they say they can't get an ambulance to you soon enough.... he could be going into hypovolemic shock. he sounds like he needs iv fluids

Get smart water into him if you have it - it has more electrolytes than dioralyte and is easier to tolerate

you can make it at home

https://rehydrate.org/faq/how-to-prepare-ors.htm

but I would take him to hospital

@therealcookiemonster thank you so much for the link. We’ve got 10 more minutes until the 60 minutes is up so will go and make it now!

Its quite common to faint while on the toilet (if you are already susceptible it can push you over the edge). I would try and get some electrolyte solution into him. If you dont have any then water with a splash of oj and a tiny pinch of salt will do. Keep a close eye on him and see if you can take his pulse for a minute and count how many breaths he takes in a minute (write it down) its helpful info for 111.

While waiting you can make your open rehydration solution with very basic ingredients
https://www.pricerunner.com/guide/how-to-make-your-own-oral-rehydration-solution

I doubt it's hypovolemic shock (!) but if you want to check the symptoms op then see this:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22795-hypovolemic-shock#symptoms-and-causes

Also - the nhs symptom checker is very good, so you use that to get a clearer idea of his condition.

People do tend to look very white after fainting but if he has no other concerning symptoms then I wouldn't panic

Get some electrolytes in him

Best care is to be assessed and always, if in doubt, call for help.
At least reassurance is better than other unknown issues.
Hope he gets better soon.
I had an ambulance called for a faint which I was hit on the chest for and told I may be bruised by the dentist in the following days.
It was apparently pretty full on fit.
I hope he recovers and get him ice to suck, sips and how is his head?
Fainting is such a horrible feeling.and sensation afterwards.

Thank you @Inspireme2

paramedic from the 111 service has just called and referred us to the OOH doctor.

she advised against making any form of hydration solution, but I appreciate the time everyone has taken to reply.

If you have any lemonade or coke in the house (full fat versions) he would be benefit from
sipping those. If the bubbles are too much then shaking it or stirring with a spoon get it to go flatter.

I am thinking the out of hours may want to see him to check blood pressure / sugar levels and do a urine dip if he doesn’t start to recover.

@Georgethecat1 no full fat versions unfortunately!

we may have to wait 2-4 hours for a callback (the service so far has been very good) so going to try and get some sleep. They advised if he needs to get up to sit on the side of the bed first and for me to help him in case he passes out again