DH has just called to say he is on his way to A&E

[MephistophelesSister]

I am 4 hrs drive away with DD, 5, and DS, 3.

DH had a massive operation 5 yrs back, and over the last couple of days has had pain along the operation scar. Tonight it got so bad that over-the-counter painkillers did nothing, and he is in so much pain he is heading to A&E at 3am.

I am really scared for him. I have to bully him to see the GP in the normal run of things. It must be BAD

At least he's going to the right place and hopefully it won't be too busy at 3am!

Am in Australia so can hold your hand for as long as you need.

I'm awake here to so will be about to listen and hold a hand. I hope you get some news soon.

Thank you. I don't think news will be very quick. He is on his own, so phoning news through is going to be tricky.

I was wondering whether to call/ text one of his friends who lives nearer - just not sure if he would be happy with me doing that in the middle of the night. (We are UK)

Just wish I could be with him. Before the kids, I would have jumped in the car right now, no question - but DD has school tomorrow, and we are in the middle of a heatwave here ( for which the UK is simply not designed)!

Hope it gets sorted OP. A&E on your own isn't too bad, plus once he gets pain relief he will likely sleep. Your poor DH though 5 years on and wound site still affecting him.

They're not quite so arsey about having mobile phones on in some areas of hospitals now, so he might be ok - but yes, it will still take time to get seen by people who can assess him appropriately. Everything crossed for you that he's ok, anyway.

Where is the scar?

The scar is right across his torso, just below the ribs. He had an infamous operation called the 'modified Whipple'.

He had cancer of the ampulla of vater ( related to but not identical to pancreatic cancer)

I just really, really hope it IS the scar giving the trouble. 5 years ago was not a happy time for us, and I really don't want to go back there.

I will hope the same for you too Meph. Has he been over-exerting himself physically in an unusual way? He might have just pulled muscles and inflamed the scar.

He can't remember doing anything out of the ordinary, and because he is working away from home at the moment, I haven't seen him in person for the last couple of days.
Over-eating can sometimes make him uncomfortable after the op [hopeful]

virtual hand holding OP, what a worry

Hope he is seen quickly and that it is nothing too serious wrong with him.

a guy I know had a whipple procedure after an accident - modified whipple is the stomach sparing one, right?

I don't know very much but would think that if not accompanied by other symptoms, and if he has been well since, then that to me sounds like good news, vs. a deteriorating condition etc. perhaps there is a leak somewhere or something like a fistula, which may need repair but all should be very minor compared to original surgery.

All crossed for you! Hope you hear soon and that all is resolvable and curable.
Faith! You seem to have gotten through a hard time and I am sure that's it sorted and over.
If it is of any help - major surgery on any part of the torso takes very long to heal completely as its core muscle groups and organs that are involved. 4 years on my aunt still has trouble with stairs and lifting heavy objects. (And she is not old)..just saying..if it helps in any way to know..
Take care and keep us posted. Hope the Dcs are managing to get some sleep in this heat!!

am a lowly medical student but special interest is GI/hep - I hope he is on the mend and back home with you asap.

Thank you all for being so kind. My DCs sleep through anything, and are happily snoozing away. Still no news - I think I will try for an hour or two's sleep and then call the hospital 1st thing. No reply on his mobile - which I hope just means he made it there and can't use his phone, rather than anything sinister.

I have a feeling that tomorrow could be a long day.

sleep! ha. Some chance.

I phoned A&E, and got put through to inpatients. DH made it there, has been seen and now has co-codamol to help with the pain. They think the pain may be related to adhesions, but are going to get a surgeon to take a look.

I don't think I will hear any more for a while, but for now he is safe and a bit more comfortable.

Hope it's all nothing. Poor thing

Spoke to Dh again, he has been admitted to a ward and is in for obs for the day. There is some talk about potential operations for adhesions, but nothing concrete as yet.

I have phoned his brother, who works vaguely nearby. He is going to take a 1/2 day and drop by this afternoon to check on Dh. DH may be a bit grumpy about me calling him - but I think he needs a friendly face.

DH just sounds really, really tired - but definitely in less pain.

Oh good news ish, at least they're taking him seriously and scans etc happen so much faster as an in patient.

Raised white blood cell count, and some swelling of the colon is the latest news. With an ultrasound and possible CT scan to follow later today.

I think I am going to have a long drive later today, as I don't think he will be out anytime soon .

Hope he recovers soon

So does tha mean infection?

Infection possibly, but more likely a reaction to inflammation, I think. But until they do further tests it is all a bit of a guessing game. Something is definitely amiss, and they have added tramadol into the painkilling mix - which I don't take as a very good sign.

I just want a diagnosis so that we can plan what we are doing. I started a new job 2 wks ago, and am due in Fri/Sat/Sun. Obviously DH comes first, but I need to let work know what is happening, and right now I just don't know.

I haven't mentioned anything to the kids yet.

What a worry for you all I hope he recovers and its something minor. X

Just caught up with this - hope that you get a diagnosis very soon, but glad to hear that they are managing his pain a little better. Very worrying for you - but also glad that you managed to get in contact with his brother to go and see him.

Well, we have a diagnosis. He has mild acute pancreatitis. Still in the dark in many ways though. DH is too high on opiates to make much sense, and when I queried with the ward staff whether that was very serious, given his history, the only answer I can get is that 'the doctors are happy with him'. They are keeping him in for 24-48hrs and reviewing it on a day by day basis. Dr Google suggests that several days if high dose opiates are necessary to recover from this, but there is no magic cure

I have cancelled work, am dropping the kids with the MIL and will drive down tomorrow am. I would go tonight, but he doesn't want me there, and visiting hours are restricted to 2-8pm in any case.