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

[digerd]

He doesn't want you to see him in this state and worry you, but of course you must go and visit him. If he is on a high dose of Morphine, you must expect him to be a bit 'out of it', but the main thing is that his pain is lessened.
Wish him a speedy recovery. I have read that pancreatitis is extremely painful.

[Thumbwitch]

I hope all will be well, Meph. xx

[digerd]

Hope you got some sleep last night for the long drive today?

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Oh bless you, I hope he's OK and your drive isn't too awful.

[MephistophelesSister]

He is home! Apparrently it was mild acute pancreatitis, but not a very bad case. They seem to have ignored his surgical history and assumed that alcoholism was the cause (DH is definitely not an alcoholic).

Means that the underlying cause is a bit of a worry - but most importantly he is home again, and though very tired quite chipper, all considered.

[shrinkingnora]

They assumed I was a heavy drinker when I had it. It was in fact a codeine allergy. It is more painful than anything I have ever gone through. Sympathies to your dp.

[Thumbwitch]

I wonder why they assumed that then? There are blood markers that could suggest alcohol overuse, so if he has any of those, further investigation would be warranted to see what's causing it! I hope you can get him to his own doctor/GP as back up, to find out what is going on.

Glad he's home again though!

[MephistophelesSister]

I think the main reason that they are assuming that alcohol is a problem is that it is one of very few known causes for pancreatitis. In women the main cause is gall stones, in men alcoholism. If they don't find any evidence of gall stones they make the assumption that the patient is an alcoholic, it seems.

Reading discussion groups online, though, he is not the only one to have had the Whipple procedure and then suffer with pancreatitis. The trouble is, both the operation and pancreatitis are pretty rare. There are no in depth studies or properly organised data available. DH is in a very rare sub group who have experienced both, and all we have to go on are anecdote/hearsay and guesswork.

My next battle is to persuade him that he needs some follow-up. He isn't keen at all. I may give our GP a ring on Monday and see what they can tell me/advise. I realise they probably can't deal with me directly about his treatment - but perhaps they can tell me what they would recommend in more general terms re. the condition.

[Thumbwitch]

Oh Lord, I hope you can persuade him to get some follow-up! He does need more information on what's going on. Good luck!

[LIZS]

Can he/you call the consultant who did the op for advice or ask gp to refer for follow up?