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Original poster

Handhold please - DH head injury

200 replies

GloriaMaximus · 31/08/2019 05:26

We are currently away for DH birthday visiting places where he holidayed growing up. We are staying in the middle of nowhere!

Around 10pm, DH hit his head on a door frame trying to catch a moth. He complained of a horrendous headache but by midnight (the turn of his birthday) he seemed ok. He had his presents etc (as per his own decided tradition) but as we were going to bed he just started screeching in pain. This lasted about 20 minutes when he fell asleep. 2 hours later he woke up to go to the toilet and it then came back with a vengeance. He's also then started violently vomiting so I convinced him to get in the car to drive an hour to the smallest a and e that exists.

I'm so scared. Apart from the pain he is confused (swears blind he doesn't know where a light switch is in the bathroom because he didn't turn it on. Forgot why we were in the car. And he's is soooo angry. With a strong accent different (DH is from this area of the uk but I'm not even from this country) the receptionist struggled to take details from me but he was u willing to give them himself. He got irate instantaneously.

I'm worried it's serious but hoping he's just tired and pissed off.

Please can someone either reassure me or just sit with me as we wait. The wait time is as long if not longer than our local, major city hospital 😔

OP posts:
Retroraver93 · 31/08/2019 14:49

I agree with PPs that the hike is a really bad idea. It's too soon and too far away from help if he turns a turn for the worse.

It is also something I would class as a "strenuous activity" which as the doctor has said is a no go for 3 weeks.

Hopefully he will realise this himself and rest up or take it easy for the rest of your time away instead. You can always make plans at a later date to return for a few days to do the hike another time when he is in full health.

Take care Flowers

billy1966 · 31/08/2019 15:04

OP, a bad concussion is not something that goes away in 48 hours.

I would be very firm and tell him you have had quite enough stress over the weekend, thank you very much and that he's not going. End of

He needs to have a little bit of consideration for you.

Nothing as tedious as a stubborn man.

I'd be having none of it.

Good luck.

lawnmowingsucks · 31/08/2019 15:08

Sending love

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General health
UrsulaPandress · 31/08/2019 15:11

Did he catch the moth by the way?

howrudeforme · 31/08/2019 15:14

Cancel.

Op - my very fit and strong step dad cane to visit me on mother’s day and took my ds to the park. He had an awful accident - somehow tripped on a tree root and went flying into tree and then fell down flat on face. Loads of people helped. Took him to a&e to repair his torn lip.

A week later my mum calls in a panic - they’re in a&e and he has the the symptoms you say. He’s taken to a head trauma facility. 3 days on they can find a bleed and decide to discharge- a junior doctor spots the bleed at the very last moment and two hours later he’s in surgery - all fine after.

Nothing strenuous for your dh - insist on more scans

originaldomesticgodess · 31/08/2019 15:16

Try and come up with an alternative. ..nice pub lunch, visit a n.t property, afternoon tea...you get the drift. This way he might not feel like he is missing out. Good luck.

Original poster
GloriaMaximus · 31/08/2019 15:25

I just brought it up and he insists he will see how he is tomorrow. I let it go because I don't want to spoil the day but I'll put my foot down in the morning!!

@UrsulaPandress yeah he did but it was still between cup and coaster on the decking when we got back so I let it go and it flew straight back in. Twat.

OP posts:
OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 31/08/2019 15:25

You must be so worried especially if he wants to go on the hike, or even a walk away from your car or roads.

Can I make a suggestion? Get the app What3words on your phone.

If, God forbid, you need to phone for help and are not sure where you are or its not near a road or landmark then this app will enable you to tell emergency services exactly where you are to within 3 metres. (The link above explains it)

Original poster
GloriaMaximus · 31/08/2019 15:27

Thank you @OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny (love the name) I actually downloaded it a few weeks ago out of curiosity after seeing it mentioned on another thread. It's so clever!

OP posts:
Original poster
GloriaMaximus · 31/08/2019 15:27

Although I wouldn't have thought to use it in a situation like this had you not mentioned it ☺️

OP posts:
CorBlimeyGovenor · 31/08/2019 15:30

Any bruising takes time to come out. He could get worse before he gets better. He needs at least 24hrs rest in a darkened room. Also, remember that he can't be fully trusted to make rational decisions right now. Going on a hike, somewhere remote, having been told not to exercise is irrational. Hide the car keys. Also call his family and get them all to nag at him too if needs be. You need to knock some sense into him. Not literally of course!

CorBlimeyGovenor · 31/08/2019 15:31

Re that app. Obviously don't stray anywhere without a phone signal otherwise you're buggered,so to speak.

CorBlimeyGovenor · 31/08/2019 15:33

Am laughing about the moth though!! Catch it. Kill it gently and then mount it in a frame for his b'day!

MintToBee · 31/08/2019 15:35

My husband had concussion in May. He's still suffering from post concussion syndrome. He's a lot better now but watch out for angry mood swings. It can take months to recover from. Any strenuous stuff is a big NO! Hopefully he recovers soon and listens to you.

Shockers · 31/08/2019 15:42

Mwnt is lovely- perhaps just a gentle mooch on the beach would be a better plan. It’s not very big.

SleepWarrior · 31/08/2019 15:43

Oh gosh, an inconclusive scan isn't an all clear, it just means no conclusions could be reached in either direction.

I wouldn't just cancel the hike; I think I'd actually go home and rest so that you're close to a big hospital if you feel the need to go in again/another scan is needed.

If he won't protect himself (understandable, he feels ok) then maybe harping on about how anxious and scared you are would make him want to cancel it for you?

AnnonniMoose · 31/08/2019 16:03

I'd also say no hike. And tbh, he might want to rethink his rugby playing. If he's had previous concussions, and now this, another head injury might ... well, you get the drift. Although I realise that you'd probably get a lot of resistance from him to a suggestion like this.

I fell off a windowsill when I was younger, banged my head, had a concussion and amnesia (just for a day). I wasn't allowed to do any physical activity, PE at school or even swimming for three months. Head injuries are serious.

AnnonniMoose · 31/08/2019 16:58

Sorry, forgot to add - I was told that one more bad bump on my head could cause permanent brain damage. I take very good care of my head lol.

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 31/08/2019 17:36

Although I wouldn't have thought to use it in a situation like this had you not mentioned it

Gloria, it's only because I've had to use it recently (long story, that's very outing so I won't go into it here!) so it's very fresh in my mind.

KatherineJaneway · 31/08/2019 17:39

The hike, as you know, is an extremely bad idea. In west Wales there are patches where there is no mobile signal at all and help takes time to get to you if you have an emergency.

A beach visit, ice cream, sitting down watching the waves is all fine, anything too strenuous is not good.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 31/08/2019 17:40

My DS had a mild concussion in December and is still suffering Post Concussion Syndrome now. I suppose he’s about 80% back to normal but it has messed up his life a bit, (six weeks off sick, missed promotion, broke up with girlfriend).

He was very silly and did not follow the 24 hour protocol because he was feeling okay. His real problems started a couple of days after the bump.

OP don’t even think of agreeing to this hike. Don’t mess about with concussion.

Lunafortheloveogod · 31/08/2019 17:53

Would he go the hike without you? If he’d only go with you worst case scenario he won’t listen and magically you’ve got an upset stomach and don’t want to be caught short in the middle of no where.. he’s not going to check the toilet after you, hopefully.

DP is as stubborn as an ox, torn ligaments in both knees last year but still wanted to go to the gym and do tough mudder.. within the week. I was quite far on pregnant with ds so his DM convinced him tough mudder was a horrible idea as he’d have no phone etc so he’d maybe miss the birth of his child (weeks early they’d probably stop labour etc but he didn’t know they could even stop labour)

Span1elsRock · 31/08/2019 18:00

OP I had a head injury around 6 years ago, from falling backwards in the garden and banging my head on the floor. Within 24 hours I was howling with pain and had to go back to A & E for pain relief and checking back over.

Just to warn you, it took 18 months at least to fully recover. I tired easily, forgot my name, you name it. He needs absolute rest and quiet for the next week at least. Not hiking. You don't ask someone with a head injury to exercise their common sense, trust me.

I hope he's better soon. When you are home, request a referral to your local minor head injury clinic - they saved my sanity.

IncrediblySadToo · 31/08/2019 18:07

I’d be bundling him into the car on monday morning and heading for the hospital in Birmingham

It’s all very well & good being ‘the big man’ and carrying on skating giants , but not to put too fine a point in it, it’s not him that will be the widow if he doesn’t take this seriously. If he tries to insist on the hike, tell him he’s not being a hero, he’s being a selfish twat

It was inconclusive - take him to a major hospital near home!!

Aridane · 31/08/2019 18:15

loriaMaximus Sat 31-Aug-19 14:38:00
I completely agree regarding cancelling. I'm just trying to work out how to approach it. I guess I'll need to keep dropping concerns but make a firm no tomorrow

Make alternative plans for tomorrow so you still have something g fun to fo tomorrow

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