Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
II am going to follow up my accident from Friday night with a visit to a neurologist just to be safe. The cat scan that was done in the ER will be forwarded. Do I even mention I had/have Lyme? Or will that just needlessly complicate the reason for the visit which is to see if I could possibly have some injury due to a very hard fall on my head?
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Don't start out with that information but I do think it's important to mention it, just in case.
I think it's important because, just in case, he might understand the significance of that - what lyme can do to the entire brain - it should help him get the full picture better.
All detail could matter (to a really good doctor) though by not mentioning it, if the doctor is just mediocre anyway, it probably won't matter too much.
He's looking for damage from the injury. Period. If he knows nothing about lyme, he won't understand the mitigating factors anyway.
Know that it could get you tossed out but since you are there for injury and you seek their expertise in that respect, you should not be dismissed if you mention lyme and you are not ther asking him to assess, agree with or treat lyme.
You can put on your intake form that you were diagnosed with lyme (and whatever else) . . .
POTS, NMH or an QT rhythm issues if diagnosed as part of lyme, should be noted.
Otherwise, do mention in your discussion but more as a statement of fact and then just let it go. Do not expect a reply of any kind but at least you put it out there. Do not try to get any kind of reaction from him. Just state as a fact and move on.
You could research this doctor first, though. Talk to those in the area lyme support groups and get a sense of others' experiences with him regarding lyme, itself, and how he stands. That might help you know if you should mention it or not.
If he's opposed to the idea of lyme, stay quiet and you will likely be afforded more respect in that case. If he's very much opposed (as so many are), he won't know about lyme complications, anyway.
And, if he has more respect for you, likely you will have been rebab support for the accident. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Miraculously, though, I do have a neuro who knows what Lyme can do.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Hi, I wanted to bump this up with another question for your opinions?
I am two weeks out from my head injury, my mind, cognition, and every thing else seems fine. my appt is not for another week... do I need to even go to a neurologist? if I had any symptoms from my head injury wouldn't I have noticed them by now?
The only curiosity I have is for someone to read the cat scan... tell me if I have grey matter... if I am gonna get alzheimers... but can they tell that from a cat scan? and do I even want to go there?
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Q: Do I need to even go to a neurologist?
I don't think anyone can answer that but I think you need to keep this appointment
Q: If I had any symptoms from my head injury wouldn't I have noticed them by now?
Not necessarily - but it's nice that you are feeling better and, most likely, you'd be there just to check in,
and get advice on moving forward after the hit on the head (even if you feel okay, the brain is still healing and that requires certain attention), and see the CT results.
"The only curiosity I have is for someone to read the cat scan"
Well, it may be of help to hear what they have to say and see the CT scan. Although, normally, you won't get to see the images, do ask to see - it's just nice to see the inside of our brain when we can, to say "Hi, there!"
"... tell me if I have grey matter... if I am gonna get alzheimers... but can they tell that from a cat scan?"
NO. They cannot. Most tests in that range are behavioral, memory, academic sort of tests.
There are some more very specific scans possible now but I am certain those were not ordered - as most are still in the experimental stage of research projects.
Aside from treating infections such as lyme that may be linked to amyloid plaques in the brain . . . healthy intake of a variety of anti-oxidants from the full range of the plant kingdom - and good oils - that is the best protection from brain disease.
Google: prevent+amyloid+plaques -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Did you already have the cat scan? The neurologist can also do a neurological exam to make sure everything is working correctly and there is no evidence of any neurological damage from the impact.
I would probably be inclined to keep the appt. Lyme may not come up - or if it turns out that there are any concerns, perhaps that is when you could mention that you have been struggling with lyme disease. I hope he is a lyme friendly MD (I know this is a tall order!) Good luck!
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Thanks Keebler and dbpei. The cat scan was done in the ER the night of the accident. I don't know if there are levels of scanning and if they were just looking at the site of the laceration? They just said the cat scan looked good. I have a copy of it on disk. The report was sent to the neurologist.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Well, I'm going to go against popular opinion here and say that if you're not having any problems, why go to the neurologist.
Symptoms of a concussion show up soon after and then improve. When someone has a concussion from a sports injury, they are told not to do sports for a while, to let their head heal.
They can't diagnose potential Alzheimer's from an Xray or a scan. But if you want the neurologist to look at the CT scan, it's your dollar.
A scan right after a head injury is probably looking for bleeding. If they said it "looked good" then they didn't see any bleeding.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I was knocked out by a horse and had a concussion and was told what the cat scan said before I left the hospital. I even had short term memory loss.
If the cat scan is clean, a mine was, I am not sure why you need to follow up with a neurologist.
I would think that if there was something wrong, that the hospital would have brought in the hospital neurologist to look at the Cat scan.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- In light of Carol's input . . . I had been thinking there must have been a reason that you were instructed by ER staff at the injury time to make the appointment with the neurologist for this particular point in time for him to review the CT scan, etc..
I did not know you already got the results of that.
Carol's wisdom always seems pretty solid - so - I would ammend my input and go more toward hers regarding cancelling the appointment, since you say you have no remaining symptoms from the injury.
Although, I do know that mild brain injury can take a very long to heal -- but you say you did not seem to really experience any lasting effects so that is good to hear.
I still stick by my energetic approach to preventing whatever you can with great antioxidants, good oils and other wisdom.
Chances are no neurologist will tell you these things. -
[ 04-27-2013, 07:23 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Of course the ER staff will say to follow up with an appointment to a neurologist. If there are any residual problems, they need to CYA.
Keebler, I don't have medical training. I may look at things differently than some people because of my experience in nursing.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Carol,
I've always considered nursing to be medical.
Still, to make you feel more comfortable and if it's more accurate -- I've reworded my reply above to say your "wisdom always seems pretty solid" - hope that works. (smiles to you!) -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
May I ask what type of accident? Whether its a fall from stairs or a. Car might make a difference
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
there is so much new info on tbi now with the guys coming back from the war that the docs are not up on the newist stuff
i get my best helful info from brain injury association...each stat has one and some are better than others
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Thanks all. I fell trying to use crutches after my first fall of that day, where I broke my ankle. I hit my head hard, had a laceration that needed 9 staples. I have to admit I may have been overly worried cause I have been working on a project involving TBI and how these things show up so much later. But, with no symptoms, what is a neurologist going to do?
The ER told me to see my Pcp. Unfortunately, she was out for surgery of her own, and cause of my lack of mobility I just couldn't seek out some one new. Plus, orthopedist who checked my ankle was kind enough to take my staples out.
The good news is the ankle made me take it pretty easy for 2 weeks. So maybe I have done what I am supposed to do.
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