My dad is 65 years old and has been on dialysis for nine years. He recently received a kidney transplant and had been weak from the surgery. He tripped and fell on tile floor and cracked his head open. He spent a few days in ICU at the hospital and was discharged to my elderly and disabled mother. She was instructed to watch him 24 hours a day, which he slept most of. He was using a walker to get to the bathroom and back to bed. He was alert and able to communicate as normal. Just tired and no appetite.
By the following Monday (he was sent home Friday) he couldn’t walk and was “out of it” mentally. He was readmitted to the hospital and the diagnosis was that he was dehydrated and his calcium levels were high which was causing the dimentia and confusion. At this point when he was in ICU, there was just CT scans done, which were “fine” and the hospital told my mom he could discharge to a rehab facility/nursing home to begin physical therapy, etc…My dad could not even feed himself and now was bedridden, didnt know my mom or the day, he was holding his hand to his chest like he had cerebral palsy or bad arthritis, his eyes were blank, and he was rambling on about nonsense. He was being treated for the calcium and dehydration at this point for several days and should have been getting better, not worse. He lasted two days in the “nursing home” and between the nurses there, my family, and my dad’s own doctors we all agreed they were not equipped to take care of him there. He hadnt eaten in over a week, now was in diapers and looked like a strung out drug user! My dad was completely functional, brilliant and “normal” a few weeks ago and now he is this person who thinks dreams are real and paranoid, confused, and slowly getting worse.
Back to the hospital and now they do MRI and EEG, not just a CT scan, Found fluid in the brain (doctor said image of my dad’s head was unlike any he had ever seen) and they found a tumor on his parathyroid (which explains the high calcium and PTH levels) Now he is so frail and weak nobody wants to take responsibilty for another surgery and there is the new kidney to keep in mind when trying to do anything because he is on all the immunosuppressant meds. He had a transplant a long time ago but the kidney had to be removed due to BK virus. My dad was prepared for the anti-rejection meds and knows he gets a bit “manic” but this is something unlike anything the meds would cause.
Now he is back at the hospital where he got his kidney tranplant two months ago and they drained the fluid (and blood) that was in his brain. He appeared to be trying to find words and made some sense of things but then just complete nonsense rambling of weird things, and he was very scared and paranoid the hospital staff was going to kill him. He thinks he already ate so he turns away all food usually. He will show small improvements and will do or say things that are like my dad used to be which gives me hope. But then he takes two steps backwards for every small step forward. The hospital is already buzzing about discharging him to a rehab again for PT! He is near vegetable state and they are scooting him out the door. Worse yet, the tumor is still there and nobody can tell us what is going on in his head and why, They say the tests are normal. Are there any other tests they can do for my dad? I know if he goes to the nursing home again he will worsen and die there. There are too many unknowns and my mom and I dont have anyone to turn to for help. Shouldnt the hospital offer a psych evaluation so they can see how he is completely delirious despite the brain drain they did? If that didnt work why would they release him? Shouldnt they keep going until they find out why he is the way he is and if it is reversable or permanent? Calcium levels have been stable for a while now and they are working with the transplant doctors to make sure all the labs for the kidney are being analyzed (or so they say…its like pulling teeth to get anyone to answer any questions) I am so frusterated and need answers as to why if the brain is “fine” is my dad the way he is all of a sudden? Please any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Saucy
Posts Tagged Head
My dad is 65 years old and has been on dialysis for nine years. He recently received a kidney transplant and had been weak from the surgery. He tripped and fell on tile floor and cracked his head open. He spent a few days in ICU at the hospital and was discharged to my elderly and disabled mother. She was instructed to watch him 24 hours a day, which he slept most of. He was using a walker to get to the bathroom and back to bed. He was alert and able to communicate as normal. Just tired and no appetite.
By the following Monday (he was sent home Friday) he couldn’t walk and was “out of it” mentally. He was readmitted to the hospital and the diagnosis was that he was dehydrated and his calcium levels were high which was causing the dimentia and confusion. At this point when he was in ICU, there was just CT scans done, which were “fine” and the hospital told my mom he could discharge to a rehab facility/nursing home to begin physical therapy, etc…My dad could not even feed himself and now was bedridden, didnt know my mom or the day, he was holding his hand to his chest like he had cerebral palsy or bad arthritis, his eyes were blank, and he was rambling on about nonsense. He was being treated for the calcium and dehydration at this point for several days and should have been getting better, not worse. He lasted two days in the “nursing home” and between the nurses there, my family, and my dad’s own doctors we all agreed they were not equipped to take care of him there. He hadnt eaten in over a week, now was in diapers and looked like a strung out drug user! My dad was completely functional, brilliant and “normal” a few weeks ago and now he is this person who thinks dreams are real and paranoid, confused, and slowly getting worse.
Back to the hospital and now they do MRI and EEG, not just a CT scan, Found fluid in the brain (doctor said image of my dad’s head was unlike any he had ever seen) and they found a tumor on his parathyroid (which explains the high calcium and PTH levels) Now he is so frail and weak nobody wants to take responsibilty for another surgery and there is the new kidney to keep in mind when trying to do anything because he is on all the immunosuppressant meds. He had a transplant a long time ago but the kidney had to be removed due to BK virus. My dad was prepared for the anti-rejection meds and knows he gets a bit “manic” but this is something unlike anything the meds would cause.
Now he is back at the hospital where he got his kidney tranplant two months ago and they drained the fluid (and blood) that was in his brain. He appeared to be trying to find words and made some sense of things but then just complete nonsense rambling of weird things, and he was very scared and paranoid the hospital staff was going to kill him. He thinks he already ate so he turns away all food usually. He will show small improvements and will do or say things that are like my dad used to be which gives me hope. But then he takes two steps backwards for every small step forward. The hospital is already buzzing about discharging him to a rehab again for PT! He is near vegetable state and they are scooting him out the door. Worse yet, the tumor is still there and nobody can tell us what is going on in his head and why, They say the tests are normal. Are there any other tests they can do for my dad? I know if he goes to the nursing home again he will worsen and die there. There are too many unknowns and my mom and I dont have anyone to turn to for help. Shouldnt the hospital offer a psych evaluation so they can see how he is completely delirious despite the brain drain they did? If that didnt work why would they release him? Shouldnt they keep going until they find out why he is the way he is and if it is reversable or permanent? Calcium levels have been stable for a while now and they are working with the transplant doctors to make sure all the labs for the kidney are being analyzed (or so they say…its like pulling teeth to get anyone to answer any questions) I am so frusterated and need answers as to why if the brain is “fine” is my dad the way he is all of a sudden? Please any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Saucy
Here is the situation, I was in a car accident about a month ago, and a couple days after the accident I went to the er for symptoms I was feeling. I had nausea, minor voomiting, neck, and back of head pain.
The dr told me I had suffered from whiplash and gave me a soft collar to wear for about a week and a half. Since thin I have still felt thses symptoms and every day have throbbing pain in the back of my head accompanied by seldom episodes of tingling in my hands and feeling lightheaded (not sure if this is all tied together).
I went to see my regular doctor last week and was told that physical therapy would help
Are these common symptoms to experience, ro should I be going back in, as I am not being relieved of my discomfort.
Head Trauma Question??
Feb 23
My 85 year old grama gigi fell down stairs x mas day, had a subdural hematoma, cats scans showed new bleed recently, Monday March 3 rd, they drained the bleed to release pressure . I am worried she has taken a turn for the worse, is it normal for her to not make sense , she is out of it not herself, wants to go home from rehab, she is getting physical therapy, before they will let her go home. Maybe this is part of the anesthesia wearing off and trauma and being old for surgery? or is it something she will be permananetly brain damaged, her husband pappy of 67 years is waiting at home and bedside and depends on her recovery for his survival as well, were positive and hope for the best for those with past experience who may know the outcome somewhat to expect, any ideas , advice welcome.thye family is so busy now its only pappy being there for her constant is there hope for her recovery? I need answers for them.Thank you
I was in a car accident with very bad whiplash 3 years ago. I went to physical therapy right after and got better mobility. I still had pain. It really came on in January when I had really bad pain in my back in the fleshy part of my right side. I thought my lung had collapsed it hurt so bad. The the head ache started. The head ache is right above my eyebrows, the top of my head and down my neck. It feels like someone is behind me pulling my scalp and the skin undeneath it tight. When I bend over it feels like someone is hitting me between the eyes. When I lay on my stomach in bed and reach over for something, the pain is excruciating. I have seen an internist, Allergist, Ear-nose & throat Dr., eye dr. neurologist, endocrinologist, GI Dr and orthopedisit. They found 3 bulging discs in my neck and 1 herniated in my middle back and that is all. I have had 4 MRI’s, CT scans, ultrasounds, lots of lab work and the full allergy test. I go to PT and the acupunturist, stretch and do yoga.
I have had terrible pain in my head and neck muscles for 3 years now. The pain effects my jaw joints, my neck is always stiff with knots in the back of my neck, I have head pain in the area between my ear and temple that on most days I want to put a drill into that spot. Sometimes the pain shoots up the top of my head. I have had CT scan, MRI both negative, seen my GP, an ENT, did 6 months of physical Therapy, had a nerve conduction, Saw a dentist who made me a night guard for possible TMJ and they all haven’t fixed the problem & sent me to everyone else. Can anyone relate, or maybe help me in a new direction?
For as long as I can remember I’ve always gotten really bad headaches when I run, ride a bike, or swing dance (any really hard type of exercise). I can’t even run to the end of my block without it happening. The pain goes from the back of my head, down through my ears, to my teeth. It hurts so bad I can’t do anything but sit there until it goes away, I can’t even open my mouth to talk because the air on my teeth causes even worse pain. The pain only last for about 5 to 10 minutes and then I’m fine. I’ve tried putting earplugs in while running, different breathing techniques, and just pushing through it, but nothing helped.
About 7 years ago I finally talked to my doctor about it and he sent me to a neurologist. After a year of tests, useless physical therapy, and constantly switching meds, I just gave up and decided to live with it. I’m thinking about seeing a doctor about it again, but am not sure if I want to deal with it. Has anyone else had a problem like this?
i have tried physical therapy, chiropractor,and pain clinic for injections. what else is there?