Evening all. Hope you don’t mind but I have a health question that is not lupus related but there is a wealth of knowledge on this site and hope someone may be able to help.
My Dad is 73 and for the last couple of years has had intermittent bouts of severe nausea to the point he feels he is going to pass out. He also has a gnawing pain in his upper stomach under rib cage (straight across, not on one side). His blood results are fine except for a low neutrophil count (goes between 0.9 and 1.5), he has had an endoscope and a CT scan with contrast dye both of which were clear and a raft of gut hormone blood tests which again are all clear. He is prone to indigestion even without food. He was due to go back to his consultant however she is on maternity leave and his appointment with a locum has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation.
He has a bit of a shopping list of meds for various things (including benign prostrate problem and low pressure headaches) however consultant says they have checked side effects and don’t think this could be causing the problem.
Over the last 3 days he has had constant severe nausea with no let up. He has had nothing to eat except a couple of slices of toast which made him feel worse. I would add he is very constipated and is taking Laxido powder but it doesn’t seem to be doing much.
These last 3 days are the worst he’s been for quite a while. We are both shielding at the moment and I’m scared that if I phone NHS24 they may ask him to go to A&E.
Does anyone have any ideas? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
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Froggie70
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Froggie - I think seeing his GP ASAP is the best option. Those symptoms are hard to figure out, and the A & E may not be the best place to begin. Since you are both in vulnerable categories, a doctor’s office may be less of a risk too.
I know this is a terrible time to have medical issues, but it is not good to neglect them either. I felt safe at an in person appointment recently.
This is really interesting. The problem is these episodes come on so quickly that they never coincide with an appointment. If things keep up I will phone NHS24. Thank you.
Sorry to hear about your dad...If you note in my posts, I been experiencing stomach problems as well for the last six months...My is a partial blockage in between my small & large intestines which has caused nausea, stomach pain, trap wind & constipation.
You sound you need advice from a doctor or gastro specialist.. I been given meds for nausea & contipation & pain.
I went to A&E last week & got to see a doctors & get medicine.
They are controlling A&E's so only patients are in there (my husband sat in the car waiting), everyone were given masks. There is seat separation, etc. It alot less hectic than it been in there.
I would get further medical advise, even if it is to go to A&E.
Try to keep his fluids up, eat light like soup, etc.
Thank you. From what you’ve said and PMRpro’s link I’m beginning to think it sounds like a blockage. Will make sure he drinks plenty and if things are the same later will phone NHS24.
Froggie this is difficult. We can't give medical advice but if it was me this is what I'd be thinking.
1. Is he dehydrated because that can cause nausea. If so I would try and get a dioralyte into him. Works well for nausea as it replaces lost electrolytes.
2. The pain sounds like it isn't going and it's been there a while. Given this, and his hx and his age would the benefit of getting a medical opinion outweigh the risk of potentially going to hospital?
Initially if you get medical help it would be over the phone via 111 so no risk of catching Corona there.
Depending on what they say it might be that your Dad might require a trip to hospital. We are told that the NHS is still running and is open for business, although I completely understand your concern.
Take a look at your shielding letter. I think if you phone 111 and you explain that you are shielding then you may get triaged differently, although this might only be in relation to covid symptoms.
3. If he does need to go into A&E I am not sure if you can go too as not all trusts let visitors in etc.
4. 111 will only advice hospital if he needs it. But talking to them will probably help you work through to find a solution.
Those are my thoughts. I hope you can get him comfortable soon. You are obviously very concerned otherwise you wouldn't have posted on here.
It is difficult to diagnose IBS, but I have these same symptoms a lot, when IBS rears its ugly head, constipation, vomiting, pain. Trapped wind is a very painful issue, it gets trapped everywhere and also pushes on the diaphragm causing, eventually, shortness of breath. These may all be due to acid reflux, too.
Maybe it's very bad indigestion.
I hope you find out what it is and he gets some comfort soon. Bev xxx
Hello. I suffer from that myself and I know exactly what you mean. I have wondered about this but docs have never suggested this. Phoned GP this morning and nurse is coming out tomorrow to do bloods. Thank you for replying, I really appreciate it.
Hello there. Dad’s bloods came back ok except neutrophils are 1.1 but he has a history of this. He is a wee bit better still seedy but not the really bad way he was.
Take care 🤗
Hi am so sorry your hear you’re dads so unwell. Ring 111 get advice and has your dad had a stomach scan lately. There’s so many things it could be. I had similar problems and for me it was GERD and gallbladder issues it could be the same or something else for your dad but it definitely needs sorting out today. Let us all know how everything goes. You must be worried sick. Hoping it’s all going to get sorted. Take care. J
Hi, thank you for replying, I really appreciate it. Phoned GP this morning and a nurse is coming out tomorrow to take bloods. I will let you know how we get in.
Thank heavens a nurse has been called out and at least the drs are taking it seriously. What a worry. Fingers crossed they can find out what’s wrong and get your dad better as it’s no fun for your dad being sick all the time and you must be so concerned. Have a lovely day and I hope your dad gets the medical attention he so rightly deserves. J
Really sorry to hear your Dad is so unwell. I had to go to a&e recently and ended up having surgery. All of the precautions were amazing and everyone was so responsible about adhering to guidelines. If your dad does have to have to visit a&e it's not as scary as it sounds at the moment.x
I am so sorry to hear what your Dad is going through, and you too having to witness him in so much pain. I feel for you both.
I would seek medical advice asap. Can you arrange a phone appointment with your GP or phone NHS24 for advice? That’s what I would do anyway, and they’ll decide what course of action should take place and most likely arrange it there and then.
So pleased to hear that Froggie. Don’t ever feel alone, we are all here to support each other. I hope all goes well for your Dad 🙏🏻🙏🏻 and please let us know how you get on tomorrow. In the meantime I hope the nausea lifts - there’s nothing worse I always think - and he is able to get comfortable.🤞🤞 Don’t neglect yourself either. Take care. 🤗😘
I was thinking of you yesterday and wondering how your Dad got on? I hope the results of the blood tests don’t take long in coming and that your Dad has been given something to relieve his nausea and pain.🙏🏻 Let me know how it went. Best wishes. 🤗😘
Hello there sorry I’ve not been updating, not much news, was hanging off until tomorrow as hopefully should have results.
I phoned the hospital and got a telephone consultation with the consultant and he has taken Dad off one of his medications and will look at his blood results. Dad’s taking a new anti nausea tablet which has helped a wee bit.
A bit of a carry on with the nurse, she was really forgetful and was back and forward to her car a couple of times as she forgot her glasses and then some kit. Then she couldn’t get blood from Dad. All in she was in the house for half an hour. And me being a worrier I’m now worried that we have coronavirus in the house.
Thank you again for you support, I will let you know if we get results back tomorrow.🤗😘
Glad you got to speak to the consultant and I hope the anti nausea tablets help even more with time.
I can understand your worry about the nurse being in and out and perhaps carrying the virus but I’m sure she’ll be taking all necessary precautions. If you are still worried wipe down anything she touched with either surgical spirit or soapy water whilst wearing gloves. That’s what I do every time hubby returns from the weekly shopping trip and I wipe down whatever he has bought too.
I hope you get some answers tomorrow. In the meantime take care of yourself as well as your Dad. Let me know how it goes. Hugs 🤗😘
Hi just wanted to update you. Bloods came back ok just neutrophils are 1.1 but this is the norm for him. He feels a bit better but still very seedy. Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it.
I’m pleased to hear your Dad’s bloods are ok but not so good he is still feeling bad. Any explanation given for his episode?
Glad to have been a support. I hope he continues to improve. Keep me posted. Now look after yourself Froggie - you’ve been through a lot too. Take care. 🤗😘
For a start does he have any sachets that you can get from pharmacy. They give salts etc that your body needs after being sick. You just add them to water and drink it
Secondly bran is the best thing I ever found for constipation. You could try that. Both might help until docs appt
I agree with others that say that you should go take care of this. It almost sounds like it could even be something neurological, vagus nerve issue, or who knows what...
Hello thanks for replying. GP is arranging to get a nurse to do bloods tomorrow. I’m going to phone the consultant’s secretary this afternoon to see what can be done.
One shouldn't ignore severe nausea and pain that is constant and unrelenting for 3 days straight... it could be anything from a severe flu or food poisoning, to a heart attack, to a perforated ulcer, to a gall bladder attack, to severely impacted colon from the constipation or an intestinal blockage.
So if he's had this for 3 days straight, I'd consider it something that needs medical intervention now to make sure it is not something more serious than needs immediate attention to save his life. Please don't hesitate to take him to the A&E if other measures haven't resolved this soon.
If you are afraid to take him because of your own medical conditions, call an ambulance or have someone else take him in. And if your own medical condition requires intense shielding, then he should go somewhere else to recover for 14 days after he leaves the hospital before returning to you to make sure he didn't catch covid in the hospital.
Hello that’s so kind of you. Nothing much to report back at the moment. A friend picked up the medication yesterday afternoon for us, so Dad has had a couple of the new anti-nausea tablets and he did pick up a wee bit. This morning he feels as if it’s getting worse but he’s had no meds as yet so just making breakfast and he’ll take another. The nurse will be here hopefully today to take bloods. On a more positive note I phoned the consultant’s secretary yesterday and left a message explaining the situation and asking when his cancelled appointment is rescheduled for, she phoned at 8.30 this morning, was so nice and said to leave it with her and she would check. She’s just called back to say he has one for today at 10.30. Can’t ask for more than that. Thanks again, I will let you know what happens with the consultation. 🤗😘
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