Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

PLEASE come and tell me i am being over concerned about dp.

26 replies

Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 20:48

He is an alchoholic but is recovering. He only admitted to a problem just before christmas but is doing very well and i am proud of him.

He has had what we originally thought was a tummy bug for two weeks now. No vomitting but had tummy ache and some diorhhea (sp). NO temperature.

He had not eaten since this saturday just gone, keeps complaining of his stomach hurting but he feels really full up.
He said he wanted something to eat last night so i did him some plain toast.
He vomitted straight away and was complaining of feeling full still. His tummy looks swollen as well.

I've taken him to the NHS walk in centre this evening and the gp there has told him he has IBS and given him a script for buscopan.
I don't think it's IBS, i think it sounds like he has some sort of blockage.

I'm really upsetting myself as my uncle has terminal bowel cancer, he is in the final stages. He was only diagnosed at a very late stage after he had the same symptoms as dp but the doctor also dismissed it first as IBS and then later a stomach ulcer.

I know i'm probably being irrational but i don't think partners symptoms are like IBS either.

What do you reckon? Am i being a plonker?

OP posts:
Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 20:53
OP posts:
AreyouDancing · 05/03/2009 20:54

Don't know but bump for you x

Ewe · 05/03/2009 20:57

How long has he been drinking heavily for?

Personally, I would push for further investigative tests - but I am like that anyway (a pain in the arse!) - as it's not really worth taking a risk IMO, especially as he is likely to be higher risk than most.

Is the Buscopan making any difference? Any other symptoms?

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 20:57

thank you. x x

OP posts:
georgimama · 05/03/2009 20:57

Could it be a stomach ulcer?

You aren't being a plonker. Having read some of your threads I think you are a saint.

If you are worried and think he needs help now take him to A&E. Otherwise phone GP first thing and ask for an emergency appointment.

Was the GP at the walk in centre made aware that he is a recovering alcoholic? It could be something to do with alcohol withdrawal.

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 20:59

Hi Ewe, sorry cross post there. He has been drinking heavily for two years that i am aware of although i suspect that it was longer than that as he works in the city and would normally get the train home after lunches out etc.

He only got the buscopan this evening but the gp told him to wait another week before going back.
I was thkining more like go back to normal gp if no improvement over the weekend?

OP posts:
Elibean · 05/03/2009 21:00

I don't know either, but do understand your anxiety...how could you not think that, with your uncle so ill? I'm so sorry about that, for starters

Re your dp, I would take him back to different GP, or A&E, if not able to eat anything still tomorrow - it does sound more than IBS, though very like some of the bugs that are going round, so lots of unserious possibilities. But its important to check out, if only for peace of mind.

I also think its important to tell whoever sees him next that he had an alcohol problem - for a start, they should take anything gastro more seriously, and in any case its an important part of his medical history.

Wishing you luck, and dp better...will be thinking of you both.

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 21:01

Hi georgimama,

lol at saint. I promise you i'm not! We did tell the gp he is recovering but he was fairly dismissive of it.
DP did suggest stomach ulcer but the gp laughed it off.

OP posts:
Elibean · 05/03/2009 21:02

Did the GP feel his abdomen? Do any tests?

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 21:04

Need to get dd to bed now, but thankyou so much for your support. Will pop back on in a bit.
Thank you again, i do think i'm going to make him go back in the morning. I'm not happy about this at all really.

OP posts:
gagarin · 05/03/2009 21:04

Has he had blood tests to check the state of his liver? Have you noticed any sign of jaundice at all?

Not to be alarmist but if he has been drinking heavily over a period of time he could have liver problems - and this can lead to some of those symptoms.

Get him to see his GP and also t be brave and let the docs know he has had a drink problem. Unless he tells them they only have half the info.

georgimama · 05/03/2009 21:04

I only mention it because when I was 17 my then boyfriend's mother (who had an addiction to aspirin of all things, but I strongly believed at the time - and am now convinced - was also an alcoholic) was found by said then boyfriend suffering a bleed from the ulcer. She hadn't known she had one but had had pains and upset tum (sp!) for a few weeks. It was scary for him - and her obviously - but she was absolutely fine after a few days in hospital. I think they lasered the ulcer.

GP at walk in centre sounds distinctly unhelpful. How is he now?

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 05/03/2009 21:05

Sorry eli, very briefly, he felt his stomach, dp said it hurt. That was it.

OP posts:
Elibean · 05/03/2009 21:08

I wouldn't be happy with that either

Especially after years of heavy drinking. He should have at least felt his liver carefully, asked more questions, probably taken blood tests, maybe a stool sample, surely??

Hope you have better luck with tomorrow's appointment, I think you're right to go - at worst, you'll get help fast which is important, at best, you'll have a much happier weekend with some peace of mind!

Will be thinking of you.

herbietea · 05/03/2009 21:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

unavailable · 05/03/2009 21:10

I agree with georgie - my first thought was stomach ulcer. My dad suffered from this after decades of heavy drinking, and your husband's symptoms sound very similar.

Try nhs direct tonight, and arrange to see different gp in the morning ?

Ewe · 05/03/2009 21:14

Aaah, a city drinker, I used to have one of those too - I mean who has 3 bottles of wine between two people before 2pm?! I blame the city drinking for the recession too

I think you should definitely go back, I suffer from IBS, gastro reflux and intolerances galore and it doesn't sound like my experience of IBS. If he can't eat/keep anything down I think you are perfectly justified to ask for more tests and investigation. Don't suppose you have any private healthcare insurance with his work?

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 06/03/2009 09:05

Hi ladies,

thank you so much for all your messages and help, very much appreciated.

DP took some of the buscopan last night that the gp prescribed but has still not eaten anything. He is tired all the time as well, looks very pale.
He doesn't look jaundiced at all but i'm no expert.
I've made an appointment with our normal gp for this afternoon, dp did tell the gp about his alchohol issues last night but the gp just dismissed it. Our own gp is aware of dp's history though so we should probably get a better hearing if you see what i mean.

Poor dp is worrying himself stupid now so i am tryiong to play it down and just make it sound as though it's probably absolutely nothing. (which it probably will be)
I just think that IBS doesn't fit his symptoms at all.
I'll let you know how we get on.

OP posts:
choochoochaboogie · 06/03/2009 09:32

Glad you've got an appt this afternoon. It might be a good idea to take urine and stool samples with you for them to test, esp for blood in stools. Doesn't sound like IBS to me. May well be virus so don't panic too much but glad you're getting it checked out.

Good luck

Elibean · 06/03/2009 10:07

Good luck from me, too. Poor dh, he must feel awful as well as being worried. Good idea to take samples in case, speeds things up. And do remind him there are some horrid gastro viruses around, as well as ulcers and other very treatable conditions that are far more likely than anything awful.

Elibean · 06/03/2009 22:14

How did it go, Idrank? Hoping the GP was helpful, and that dp is ok...

Elibean · 07/03/2009 20:50

No news?

Elibean · 07/03/2009 20:50

Not wanting to hassle, just thinking of you

Original poster
Idrankthechristmasspirits · 07/03/2009 21:53

Hi,

thankyou.

He is having blood tests on monday. GP was far more thorough. He had a feel around his belly and took his blood pressure, had a long chat.
He said he doesn't think it's anything serious, possibly stress/depression upsetting his stomach and causing loss of appetite etc but wants to rule out anything else because of the feeling of fullness with the alchohol issues.

He also said he would refer him for counselling if he wanted it, dp said he would have a think and decide over the next week. (we go back next week for blood test results i think.)

DP is a bit better since seeing the gp, i think he is a bit more reassured now.
I'll let you know how we get on. I really appreciate your help. Many thanks.

OP posts:
Elibean · 08/03/2009 10:22

Thats great, Idrank, sounds very reassuring!

Re the counselling, also sounds great - IME, once you put the drink down, you're left with all the feelings and issues you drank to get away from in the first place (and the issues you created by drinking, for that matter) so after the initial relief of not drinking, stress and depression are very likely to rear up.

Good luck for tomorrow, hope he gets reassuring results fast!

Swipe left for the next trending thread