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Original poster

Please come and stroke me and say soothing things... just got home from spending 15 hours in hosptial with dh who has a pulmonary emoblism :(

29 replies

TigerFeet · 17/02/2009 23:51

He semi-collaped at work at 8 this morning. He rang me to take him to casualty but was in too much pain to get in the car so he went by ambulance. He has a severe, sharp pain in the right hand side of his chest wall which has a preliminary dx of PE - tbc in the morning with a dye test. He's had clexane and is on horse tablet sized painkillers and AB's.

I am 10 weeks pg with hyperemesis and have been feeling pretty shit myself for the past 6 weeks.

Both dh and I are at risk of redundancy - dh has been told on the quiet that his job is safe but we aren't sure yet about mine.

DH flies quite frequently for work so could well be screwed for a while. He's very worried about the effect this could have on his ability to do his job.

I'd just like it all to stop now please . Please come and say nice things to me.

OP posts:
Disenchanted3 · 17/02/2009 23:52

Oh gosh Tigerfeet,

so sorry to hear this

(((hugs)))

Original poster
TigerFeet · 17/02/2009 23:54

Thanks Disenchanted.

I'm just glad my Mum is here. She came over yesterday to help me look after dd over half term. I'd have been up shit creek today if it weren't for her.

OP posts:
Uriel · 17/02/2009 23:58

Gosh - how awful for you both.

CharCharGabor · 17/02/2009 23:58

Oh shit, so sorry TigerFeet Be kind to yourself. I hope everything works out ok.

Stretch · 17/02/2009 23:59

Oh god, I'm so sorry.

I am 10 weeks pg with hyperemesis too, so I know that's shit just on it's own.

Original poster
TigerFeet · 18/02/2009 00:03

Thanks everyone.

I can't wind down. I ought to be in bed really, I'm sure dd will be full of beans at 6.30

OP posts:
ThePinkWorldOfSeptimusSchmaltz · 18/02/2009 00:06

Oh I'm sorry to hear this TigerFeet

Don't really know what to say, but I just hope things start to improve for you both soon.

I've been up at the hospital a lot over the last few days with my SiL. It's a thoroughly depressing environment I hope your DH is able to go home safely and as soon as possible.

Original poster
TigerFeet · 18/02/2009 00:11

It was pretty horrible tbh. He is still on the assessment ward, in a pod of 6 beds. The lady in the bed next to him and the lady in a bed diagonal to him both died this afternoon . It was very upsetting, especially for poor dh. Horrible. One lady died very peacefully in between people visiting her. They tried and failed to rescusitate the other lady. There but by the grace of God...

Sorry to impose this on MN, everyone here is in bed and I think I need to offload before I can sleep.

OP posts:
PeachyHasABrokenKeyboardSorry · 18/02/2009 00:11

Tigerfeet I am sorry

I can say nice things about the hypremesis and give you tips if you want? Was on a helpline for awhile,have had 4 timesmyself.

I hope your poor dh is OK and wellsoon.

Oh the HG...

1 Dont get over tired,it makes things worse (hard atm I would imagine)

2 fluids are what count and they take many forms: I couldnt drink but lettuce was fab and melon also contains high fluid levels

3 if you fancy something,eat it or drink it- sod nutrition,soemthing better than noting atm

4 if you get meds and they dont work, get different ones.Ignore a GPwho says he cant give you meds,he can but some get the heebies. Avomine worked for me,but there areloads.

5 Extremes of temperature (within reason!) help somewomen- icepops or hot drinks.

^ and rest,as much as poss

wishing you well

overthehill · 18/02/2009 00:15

TigerFeet, I have a friend who collapsed with a pulmonary embolism just before Christmas and spent Christmas in hospital. He has had to go on to Warfarin and struggled with pains in his side for a few weeks, but he is just about back to normal now, although the Warfarin is admittedly a bit of a pain. To look on the positive side, PE's can be potentially be fatal, so the fact that your dh is Ok-ish and safe in hospital must be a blessing. My friend was back to driving after a few days and really doesn't seem to be restricted much now at all. If it's possible, maybe when the worst is over he can draw positives fromm having to slow down a bit and spend more time with you - although I'm not naive enough to think he won't be worried about his job. In the end, however, his health and your family are what matter most, and it's surely better that this has happened now rather than in 6 months' time (although obviously not at all would have been best). Hope that helps a little.

twentypence · 18/02/2009 00:18

What a dreadful day.

I hope you get a result in the morning.

Please try not to think so much about the future at the moment. You have full permission to live in the moment at times like this. Like you say - it's all whispers in the wind about work. Think "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." rather than "What if...?"

Original poster
TigerFeet · 18/02/2009 00:22

Peachy, thanks for that . My HG is fairly well controlled atm with stemetil (sp?). I had avomine to start with but it knocked me out so it was changed. I'm still being sick but I can keep enough down to stay hydrated and function. Agree about the tiredness - I have been signed off work by v sympathetic GP. I can keep liquids down now - I couldn't for a while. I have to eat what I fancy when I fancy it.. usually toast, crispy chips, that kind of thing, washed down with a vitamin pill. In fact, the final straw tonight was when I stopped at McD's () for some chips on the way home and it was shut! I drove home repeating a mantra "I will not cry because McDOnalds was shut... I will not cry because McDonalds was shut...". I find hot water or hot chocolate is best, or cold sparkling drinks.

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 18/02/2009 00:22

for you Tigerfeet - poor DH, but at least they are treating it and if he is otherwise generally healthy he should recover fine.

My MIL had her "knees done" a couple of years ago and she ended up with several PEs on her lungs, but they were successfully treated. She can still fly but has to have a shot of Clexane before she flies, to be on the safe side. Travel insurance is a bit of a bastard though! (whoops, not cheering, sorry)

He should probably be tested for Factor V Leiden thrombophilia - it is a genetic condition that affects 5% of the population and makes them more likely to form clots. It is worse for females because high hormone levels (such as being on the OC pill or being pg) can increase the risk of a clot massively. I have this - it involves daily clexane injections from week 16 onwards .

Your DH is likely to have to go onto Warfarin for a while afterwards and will have to modify his diet for a while to avoid antagonising the warfarin, and he may be advised not to fly for a while too. He will be under a consultant haematologist - they will be able to answer most questions you throw at them.

And while this might be a bit of a backhanded positive, look at it like this: we only discovered that we had factor V Leiden in the family when my uncle dropped dead of a PE - your DH has been given a warning (whether or not he has it) and can take precautions against it happening again.

Hope he gets well really soon!

Original poster
TigerFeet · 18/02/2009 00:30

THanks all

I do feel lucky really, I've been googling (BAD idea, but I already knew that) and I know it can be sudden and fatal. At least he is being treated and he will no doubt be fine in no time.

I think I'll go to bed now. I'm sure I'll feel more positive and less self absorbed in the morning.

OP posts:
Babieseverywhere · 18/02/2009 09:35

So sorry DH is in hospital What a terrible thing to happen, thank goodness he is in the hospital now.

You mum does have good timing mind. Fingers crossed DH recovers quickly and if we can help in the mean time we are only a call away.

MmeLindt · 18/02/2009 09:39

How is your DH today?

Sending you best wishes and lots of Swiss chocolate (can you eat choc?)

BecauseImWorthIt · 18/02/2009 09:42

Sorry to hear this, TF. Hope your DH recovers well.

Original poster
TigerFeet · 18/02/2009 09:42

I've rung the hospital and he's in less pain this morning, sitting up. I;ve not been up long myself so I will have a shower and go and see him.

Mme Lindt, chocolate is a bit hit and miss but I'm sure I can manage some Swiss choc! Are you in Switzerland? My aunt lives with her partner near Fribourg

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 18/02/2009 09:43

We are near Geneva.

I am sure some proper yummy Swiss chocolate would be fine.

Good to hear that he is a bit better today.

Babieseverywhere · 18/02/2009 09:44

Glad to hear he is sitting up and in less pain.

LilRedWG · 18/02/2009 09:46

Just seen this Tigerfeet. My thoughts are with you and your DH.

AitchTwoOh · 18/02/2009 09:48

good to hear he's sitting up, sorry you're in the wars tigerfeet. x x

lulalullabye · 18/02/2009 09:49

Tigerfeet, when you visit, reassure your Dh that as he is still on the assesement unit there are people of all ages on there, what I mean to say is that everybody dies from their hearts stopping and some elderly people do this inthe peace of their own home, sometimes when asleep . If their time is up, it is whether in hospital or not .

ScummyMummy · 18/02/2009 09:49

So sorry to hear this. Hope things move onwards and upwards asap, TigerFeet.

Dropdeadfred · 18/02/2009 09:53

Wishing him a swift recovery....hope you're both feeling better soon.

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