Ex Husband in hospital, no idea why

[ThereIsAlwaysWine]

He just text our 16 year old son that he’s in hospital, not the local one, a large London hospital. But he didn’t say why, just that he’d let him know later. So I messaged to ask if he’s ok, and he just replied with a fingers crossed emoji and said he’s about to run out of battery! Even adult DD text to ask and he just said the same to her. What sort of behaviour is this? I’m angry that he’s left our children worrying about him with no way of getting in touch. What a knob!

If they ring through to the ward they'll probably be able to speak to him on the landline.

But yes, why tell them he's in but not tell them what for. Although there is always the possibility that he doesn't know himself and is waiting for test results. Some things present very similarly to others and only a blood test/scan/etc can tell.

Anyway, thats for your kids to tell him. They're old enough to deal with that now.

We don’t even know if he’s on a ward, just that he’s in the hospital

Did the m3ssagd say which hospital and which ward. I wouldn't respond, he said he'd let them know later.

Sounds like he is worried.

Why not just call the hospital?

It wouldn’t have taken any more effort to type a few more words. He could be in for a minor cosmetic thing. It feels like he’s purposely creating drama and it’s really unfair to do that to your DC

If it helps, you can phone the hospital and they will usually give you info about what ward they are in.

Maybe he doesn't know yet and doesn't want to worry them, if it turns out to be nothing?

Why can’t your kids phone the hospital and ask to speak to him?

Maybe cut him some slack and leave your feelings/experience of him out of it?
He might be in A&E, he might not have a clue what's going on, he might not even know why he's in there.
Or he could just be a bit of a knob, as you say.
Yes, he could have given more details, but has said he's not got much battery left. In such a situation, I'd try to give the benefit of the doubt, personally.

The hospital will tell you which ward he is i.

To be fair though OP, his kids should do that because his private medical business is just that, private. It's one thing his kids asking, it's another thing entirely his ex wife demanding to know.

Yeah I’d be bouncing if my ex was ringing the hospital next week when I’m in for surgery demanding my medical info.

They don't know where he is in the hospital, do they even know which hospital?

From the op I took it that they were told what hospital. They just ring and say they’re looking to speak to <his name> can they please be put through to the ward he is on.

Then why not say that? A normal person would say ‘had a few pains etc. hopefully nothing, but in for tests. Will let you know more soon’. It’s not fair being ambiguous. He doesn’t owe the OP but he does the kids. He would have been better saying nothing.

Yabu. He probably doesn't know what's wrong himself. He said he'd let them know later.

what would you text your kids in a similar situation?

I know when I’ve been rushed in to hospital I haven’t reacted “sensibly”. Cut him some slack.

If this was a man posting about his ex-wife in hospital, the replies would be very different.

Perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt for now. It’s possible he’s in so much pain or had so many drugs that he’s not really capable or putting together a coherent sentence.

Get the kids to phone. They will need his d of b.

Not a clue what I'd do when I'm potentially panicking and scared. Way we think when we are calm and rational and way we think when we panic can be very different. I know what I'd like to think I'd do but that can sometimes not match up with what I'd actually do.

Personally would not text my children unless i was ready to divulge more. He could be on pain meds I suppose.

I don’t think this is about the adults. It’s about texting the kids and worrying them.

No I'd be annoyed about this too OP.
This is the sort of drama llama thing my xH would do - no thought about the worry caused to others. Whereas as mothers our first instinct would be to reassure our children we're ok