Need a virtual hand hold , husband vomiting blood

[Justmeeeindie]

Still frazzled so sorry if this is all over the place husband has been constipated for around 10 days doing usual things laxative tons of water lots of fibre , he went to a&e at my insistence on Tuesday early hours as he was awake all night crying in pain, I’ve never seen him in as much pain and vomiting profusely
he went to a&e waited 4 hours to be basically fobbed off , they felt his stomach said it was just constipation told him to continue laxatives at home .

today he woke up around 11 in agony he vomited it was dark like coffee which in retrospect should have been warning sign anyways he tried to get back to sleep then shouted me not much later from bathroom , he was vomiting loads of bright red blood (no exaggeration there was a lot) and passing in and out of consciousness eyes rolling the lot , he passed out atleast 8 times whilst I was on phone to the ambulance , he peed himself at one point .

I was terrified I’m still shaking ambulance came pretty fast(20mins ) but he’s been waiting in ambulances at a&e for over 2 hours now .

I'm stuck at home with the kids , there off school (hand foot and mouth ) thanks to the two year old .
I don’t know what to do right now , I genuinely though he was dying , he kept saying he was and I had to calm him down telling him he will be fine all the while thinking he was actually dying .

no idea yet what’s actually wrong but I’m thinking bowel blockage (which I suspected on Tuesday hence making him go to a&e) or ulcer .

don’t know purpose of this post just need to let it out , the waiting on update is torture .

DH committed blood once every 15/20 minutes for around 2 hours - called an ambulance and admitted to hospital early Sat morning. Lots of test before discharge Monday with from memory anti reflux meds and an ultrasound appointment

The cause was never found and never repeated

My Dad had a perforated ulcer and was vomiting black blood everywhere, all over bed, floor and wardrobes, it was very scary. I can’t remember how long he was in hospital for, but I didn’t go and see him, so presume not long and not overnight, he was late 70’s. He never experienced this again and he never knew he had an ulcer. Hoping your DH gets his diagnosis soon and an action plan.

Coffee grounds is usually bile, I don't know if he can refuse to be discharged if his condition has not improved, but if he has the strength or if you're with him, be quietly insistent. Good that he's stopped vomiting but any internal bleeding is a concern. Don't let them fob you and your husband off again.
I'm so sorry you're both going through this.

Ever such a worry, you must be frantic. We are so used to saying "he's in the best place" but it doesn't always feel so simple these days.

Do you have any friends who could drop in on your eldest for a bit? She's got quite a lot on her plate this evening - however skilled a big sister she is, multiple poorly kids, including a 2 year old, after a long day at college is a lot. I know people are busy but a couple of hours this time of night is not a big ask, especially in families with older children.

He's not still constipated is he?

Coffee grinds aren't usually bile, they're indicative of blood .

Yes very he hasn’t had any movements at all in days

So sorry to read this. I could hear the worry in your posts, and I can well believe how concerned you are.

What exactly is the point of A+E if they are not sorting out his constipation, or checking for a bowel blockage, do they expect patient and family to be medical experts and nurses now and do it themselves? I am not trying to make you any more worried than you already are, but internal bleeding like that can be very serious.

I had the same a number of years ago. A+E kept me in, did endoscopy two days later, discovered ruptured ulcer and H Pylori infection. Treatment started for that, then I had to have blood transfusions, and after discharge an iron infusion. It was NOT a good experience at all! But I'm ok again now.

I think I'd be just as concerned about the constipation for two weeks as I would about the coffee ground vomiting.

I hope you get some answers, and that he will be OK.

Could it be volvulus? I guess they'd know if they do a scan. If so then it needs untwisting manually. I hope he's better soon x

You had the same - a number of years ago - probably when beds weren't at a premium as they are now -

You may have needed a blood transfusion - the OP husband may not
You may have needed iron transfusion - the OP husband may not

IF he isn't actively bleeding then they may want things to settle down before doing an OGD

@Justmeeeindie op dh will be too ill to feel assertive . You have to speak up for him .
Tell them he absolutely will NOT be leaving without scans and further investigation.
Use the word negligence
Do what you need to for your dh to have the medical care he needs .

Are you with him yet?

I would have thought that that would be an emergency by now!

Something similar happened to my DH a while back. Fainting was caused by low blood pressure and low iron due to bleeding somewhere in his stomach. He was admitted and spent several days there. Had several blood transfusions and investigations including scans, endoscopy and colonoscopy. They never really found a cause and it hasn’t repeated itself since.
I can’t believe they just want to send him home! You need to get there and advocate for him.

Hi OP I am sorry to hear about your husband. My daughter is currently very unwell with Faecal Impaction, she only got diagnosed yesterday after 4 weeks of severe pain etc etc
It only got found after me insisting on a stomach x-ray (previous ultrasound a few weeks ago was clear). She has vomitted because of it but not had any blood coming up.
I would insist on further tests including an x-ray to be done. It is absolutely disgusting having to fight for medical assistance for our loved ones.

I hope he is feeling better soon it is extremely worrying x

But how will they know if they’re not running any tests?

But then again he MAY need them, how would anyone know if he's kicked out with no diagnostics to speak of?

I can assure you, they will have done bloods which will have checked if they needed to transfuse him!

Yes, he would have had bloods taken to check various things and hopefully iv drugs to help stop the bleeding, sickness and acid.

Sending you a handhold OP. That sounds very scary.

You poor thing ( and your husband! ). Retired surgical nurse here, do not let them discharge him without ruling out a bowel obstruction. The symptoms present as constipation, followed by vomiting, pain etc. It happened to my dad, as well as experiencing it as a nurse

This country has taking a nose dive.

When a country stops investing in its own people, everything stops there and then.

What a leap from someone being constipated to the country taking a nose dive

OK, OK doc. I take it that you are medically qualified and can tell me off. I submit to your superior knowledge, and Cross Match please!.