Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DS 16 fainted and whacked his head but says he's ok...

43 replies

HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 18:52

So DS and his girlfriend were in a shop when DS suddenly passed out, fell backward and whacked his head on the floor. He came round quite fast and being 16 felt a bit embarrassed so they just headed straight home. GF wanted him to go to A&E since she was concerned about how hard he hit his head. He says he is fine and really doesn't need to. He has no lump. But of course I have heard that head lumps that come outwards are normally fine, it's when they go in it's a problem so I'm now worrying myself despite him appearing totally normal!! I suffer from health anxiety so I'm not best placed to judge if he needs checking over or not. What does everyone think?

OP posts:
Chikapu · 03/04/2022 19:08

I would say that he needs checking out, falling backwards and hitting your head hard can result in very bad things.

PerseverancePays · 03/04/2022 19:09

I would look up concussion symptoms and keep an eye on him.

MooPointCowsOpinion · 03/04/2022 19:09

Yeah I’d want him seen. A&E is a fucking nightmare right now though so I would also hesitate, and try and get into a minor injuries centre instead.

PrincessFluffyPants · 03/04/2022 19:10

Surely the reason why he fainted needs investigation too?

Quartz2208 · 03/04/2022 19:13

Yes he needs to go to A&E - there are many reasons for fainting - some of which need to be ruled out.

DS friend fainted recently - and was at A&E for 4 hours having tests until they decided it needed referral to the GP to diagnose

Mumdiva99 · 03/04/2022 19:13

I think I'd also be concerned about why he passed out. That isn't normal for a 16 year old. Can you do the MN favourite of calling 101....or is that the police....is it 111. Confused

goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 03/04/2022 19:13

I would get him checked out. I have recently recovered from serious concussion and it's awful. Keep a really close eye on him & if sick go straight to A&E.

toomuchlaundry · 03/04/2022 19:15

My DM ended up with a bleed on the brain after hitting her head after fainting. I would get him checked out. DM was fine but spent a few days in hospital

cptartapp · 03/04/2022 19:16

Get him checked out. DS1 knocked himself unconscious once at 15 and started vomiting several hours later. Ended up having a brain scan. All ok, but they took it very seriously in A&E.
He really wasn't right for days after either.

Original poster
HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 19:16

@PrincessFluffyPants He went through a fainting phase a few years ago and we had him checked out then and he was given the all-clear. He tends to have quite low blood pressure so I assume it's that. But yes, if it starts happening regularly again I will check it with GP.

OP posts:
Youvebeengonesolong · 03/04/2022 19:16

www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/

Passing out suddenly probably needs checking out. I am not an HCP but normally I think you get some sort of warning you are going to faint. Especially if there is no reason for it such as the shop being hot, your DS having been up late partying the night before, not eating breakfast for example.

Original poster
HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 19:18

Argh, seems I should get him checked! I'd hoped I was over worrying!!

OP posts:
user1471453601 · 03/04/2022 19:20

I hate to tell you this, given your anxiety, but feel I must.

I'm 1957, my uncle (14 years old) fell off his bike. He felt fine, he said to my Nan. Unfortunately he wasn't fine, he had fractured his skull and he died.

Last year I fell and banged my head. I was on a small island in Greece. The local doctor absolutely insisted that I be take by ambulance in a neck brace and on a backboard, to the nearest hospital, a n hours ferry ride and one hour by ambulance away. I was fine, but had to have a ct scan, drip and catheter before they could let me go to a ward. And they insisted I stay in overnight so they could monitor me.

So, in my experience, your lad needs checking over.

Sorry if this worried you.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 03/04/2022 19:26

DD, years ago, fell backwards of a kitchen stool. A&E said she was fine, but she became unwell and we took her back. Fractured skull and a hospital stay.

Youvebeengonesolong · 03/04/2022 19:28

Xposts op, bit of a drip feed about the low blood pressure!

I would probably keep a close eye on him in that case throughout the evening and night but I have no medical training! It might be more reassuring to have a doctor check him out but you should still keep an eye on him even if he is given the ok.

My brother went through a fainting spell as a teen when he was growing fast and is fine as an adult, so I hope your DS grows out of his low blood pressure soon Flowers

Bagelsandbrie · 03/04/2022 19:28

He needs checking out. I’d also want an ecg done to rule out any heart arrhythmia issues.

Original poster
HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 19:34

@Youvebeengonesolong Not a drip-feed at all, I wasn't posting about the fainting, my OP is entirely about his banged head.

OP posts:
Original poster
HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 19:35

Anyway, I have done 111 online and they are going to get a nurse to call me and so we'll see what they say. Thanks for the replies, I might have left it otherwise, on the assumption that I was overreacting as usual!

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 03/04/2022 19:35

I faint due to low blood pressure - I had a few in my early 20s and it was that.

When I fainted again 15 years later it was investigated all over again to rule out anything else?

Mossstitch · 03/04/2022 19:38

One of my sons did this, fainted in the tiled bathroom, the bang was awful, shook the house. He insisted he was alright. We are all NHS so I knew he'd just wait ages in A & E and they would probably just keep him on neuro obs so I set my alarm and woke him up every 4 hours to make sure no change. It was years ago but never happened again, I think probably due to postural hypotension/blood pressure drop. Could your son perhaps be dehydrated, not drank enough, that makes blood pressure drop more. If you don't want to go to A&E I would recommend checking on him every 4 hours for any cognitive deterioration and if there's is any change straight to A&E👍

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/04/2022 19:41

I wasn't posting about the fainting, my OP is entirely about his banged head.

Yes, but the rule is the get any LoC checked out. Unless you know why that is. Whether the LoC is before the fall or as a result, it needs checked.

OddSocksSparklyDocsandDungaree · 03/04/2022 19:42

@MooPointCowsOpinion

Yeah I’d want him seen. A&E is a fucking nightmare right now though so I would also hesitate, and try and get into a minor injuries centre instead.
@MooPointCowsOpinion Our A&E was even quicker than our minor injuries unit the other day. [shocked]
Original poster
HFGG30 · 03/04/2022 19:46

@MrsTerryPratchett I didn't say I wouldn't get the fainting checked...however, at the moment, my concern is the banged head.

OP posts:
LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 03/04/2022 19:48

PS the inward/outward bruise thing is discredited.

Whyevencare · 03/04/2022 19:54

Similar thing here OP, I also tend to have low blood pressure and get dizzy spells.

I fainted 4 years ago and fell back banging my head on a hard kitchen floor. Was home alone and felt very sick afterwards, could hardly walk so had to call my DH who came home. DD phoned an ambulance, by the time the paramedics arrived I felt a bit better. They checked me out, I refused to go to hospital Hmm but they agreed I felt ok.

I did go to A & E a couple days later as constant banging headaches weren't shifting. Checked over again at hospital but refused a CT scan following the doctors advice. Luckily I was fine but it was a scary time.

On a side note I also lost my sense of taste and smell which took several months to come back.

I'd get your DS checked out as this can sometimes be a very serious injury.