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Original poster

Dh is in hospital but noone knows what is wrong with him, I'm worried.

44 replies

cupofteaplease · 12/12/2010 00:08

Dh had a chest infection 3 weeks ago. He had antibiotics but they didn't work. Last weekend he woke up unable to breathe without pain and coughing constantly. The emergency gp suspected pnuemonia and sent him to a&e, but the chest xray and bloods came back clear so they sent him home with stronger antibiotics and an inhaler.

During the week, he has been in more pain, sweating buckets one minute then chilly the next, painful coughing etc. He has no energy or appitite and weight is just falling off him.

This morning he collapsed with exhaustion after climbing the stairs so I called out of hours gp again. He suspected blood clot in lung after his blood oxygen was low and his pulse was high, so sent him to a&e. This time at a&e they were much more concerned as he is getting worse despite 2 courses of antibiotics. However, today's xray also came back clear. As yet, the blood results are not back, but doctor there didn't suspect clot as his temp was too high. He has been on a drip to try and reduce his fever, but that was still sky high when I left him.

What on earth is wrong with my dh, I have never seen him so ill Sad

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 12/12/2010 00:13

Oh that sounds awful, your poor DH :(

I have no idea, I'm sorry.. didn't want this to go unanswered though.

Don't let them discharge him til they figure out what's going on though...

giraffesCantDanceOnAllThisSnow · 12/12/2010 00:14

How scary. Have they mentioned d-dimer results?

Tikkabillajive · 12/12/2010 00:16

Oh gosh, how frightening for you Sad. I'm sorry, I have no medical knowledge at all but I didn't want your post to go unanswered. Do you have someone with you? If at all possible, can you get some rest so that you aren't feeling too worn out tomorrow? I really hope you get some positive news tomorrow and that he starts to get better asap.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 12/12/2010 00:43

I have no ideas either but thinking of you, his in good hands :)

tomhardyismydh · 12/12/2010 01:05

have no idea either but just to reasure you the same thing happened to a work friend they suspected pneumonia or pleuresy but all showed up clear, then they worried she had a blood clot. not responding to anti biotics obviously her and family thought the worst.

they could ot find any infection from bloods, but they treated her with different antibiotics and a drip and she recovered after 10 days in hospital, it was all very puzzling even for drs but the dr on the ward suspect a UTI only after she recovered as it can affect chest and breathing if gone untreated.

Original poster
cupofteaplease · 12/12/2010 07:41

Thank you for your responses. Tomhardy, that sounds very similar. I'm glad your friend made a full recovery. I wonder what today will bring...

OP posts:
wingandprayer · 12/12/2010 07:59

What about viral pneumonia? That wouldn't respond to antibiotics, and doesn't show on X-rays as I found out last year. I just had to wait for it to runs it's course, which was very frustrating.

Tikkabillajive · 12/12/2010 12:09

Thinking of you and your dh today cupofteaplease, hope today brings an improvement.

ItalianLady · 12/12/2010 14:59

Hope you have had some good news by now.

pippop1 · 12/12/2010 16:02

Has he been abroad recently? Malaria perhaps?

Original poster
cupofteaplease · 12/12/2010 19:57

Evening.

No they haven't mentioned d-dimer results (don't know what they are? Blush)

No he hasn't been abroad this year.

He seemed a little better earlier today. They took a blood sample from the artery in his wrist which came back showing that his O2 levels have dropped again so they were thinking clot again. He is being scanned and seen by respitory consultant tomorrow.

However, as I was leaving this evening, his temp shot up again and his O2 levels dropped further. I left (against my better judgement, only because visiting hours were over) and since coming home he has text me to say he has got o2 mask on, they've paged doc and the nurse has helpfully(!) mentioned a collapsed lung. However, I'm guessing this would have shown on Xray and also, doubt dh would be able to text as I imagine he'd be very ill?

I actually feel sick with worry. My dc are with my sister for a second night, so I am home alone and feeling quite upset. I know he'll be fine, but I wish I hadn't left the hospital now. It's a half hour drive away too Sad

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Go · 12/12/2010 20:00

You poor thing, what a huge worry. At least you know he's in the best possible place, being looked after. hope you get some better news tomorrow.

KnowNothing · 12/12/2010 20:02

What a worry, I really feel for you, and your husband of course. I hope they figure it out soon and that he makes a speedy recovery. I know it is horrible leaving a husband in hospital. Thinking of you.

woolymindy · 12/12/2010 20:03

Sorry I have absolutely no advice or experience to offer you but would like to send my support to you and your family. You must be dreadfully worried, please make sure you look after yourself too eh?

NorthernLurker · 12/12/2010 20:09

Collapsed lung would show on x-ray I think - but only if it collapsed before the x-ray. It might have just happened. It's fixable - happened to a work colleague of mine when she had pneumonia and it happens a lot spontaneously to tall thin young(ish) men.

Obviously this is all very scary for you but your dh is being taken care of, just sometimes we don't get the answers as quickly as we would really like to have them. Why don't you go back to the hospital and ask what's happening? It is your right to be there with him and it's better than fretting alone. Then on the way home again you could get a takeaway or macdonalds or smothing - you need some calories and I bet you're not eating much are you?

ChippingIn · 12/12/2010 20:09

I know it's a cliche - but he's in the best place he could be x

ChippingIn · 12/12/2010 20:10

It's only 8pm, why not go back if you want to be with him?

IAmReallyFabNow · 12/12/2010 20:11

Go back to the hospital!

Monkeytoo · 12/12/2010 20:13

I agree, if you feel like you need to be there then go, don't let them tell you no.

nellieisstilltired · 12/12/2010 20:18

poor you and him.
However, for every degree your temp goes up you oxygen requirements increase by 10%. So the drop in oxygen may be more to do with his infection rather than his lungs.

Of course where the infection is is another matter. Hopefully they are doing a full screen and they will find out soon.

Seeing a respiratory consultant tomorrow should get things moving though.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 12/12/2010 20:19

Sod visiting times and go back up. If you are a source of comfort to your dh and you are quiet and discreet the nurses won't mind you being there.

Also, you need to be your dh's advocat at the moment. He isn't well enough to do it himself so you will probably have to push and prod for answers and to make sure tests/drugs/results etc are taken/given in a timely fashion.

It doesn't mean you have to be pushy and bolshy, but make it clear you are keeping any eye on his care and that you expect everything possible to be done. Also make sure you get a care plan put in place, if you are not happy with the answers you are given by the nurses, SHO's or Reg's speak to the Consultant on call (if they are not on the ward they are contactable by phone).

If a plan is in place it is good for your dh and it seems less scary and it can help you feel better about the situation.

Remember to take care of yourself too. I hope your dh gets better soon Smile

Original poster
cupofteaplease · 12/12/2010 20:20

I came home because visiting finished at 7pm, I thought I had to leave then.

NorthernLurker: dh is 33, tall and thin anyway but was weighed in hospital today and has lost over half a stone in the last 3 weeks, poor sod.

I've just got off the phone to him. He doesn't sound short of breath, Doctor is happy to wait until the scan tomorrow. Dh doesn't want me to go back in (cheers!) so he's just going to try and relax on the oxygen and get some sleep.

Another restless night ahead then...

OP posts:
Original poster
cupofteaplease · 12/12/2010 20:22

Thanks so much for the support, it's very much appreciated.

Thanks also for the advice, I'm pretty useless at this sort of thing!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 12/12/2010 20:26

Hope you get some answers soon

NorthernLurker · 12/12/2010 20:34

Hospital visiting is regulated because sick people need rest more than nearly anything. That doesn't mean that very worried relatives seeing unwell and/or frightened patients should feel they must leave. In this as in everything there should be some flexibility. If your dh is in a room say with people who needed to sleep then clearly you can't stop long but tomorrow if you want to sit quietly with him a little longer you should put that request to the nurse in charge, bearing in mind his condition. If dh is able to get up he could sit with you in the day room for a while longer. Hope you get good news very soon.