“Why can't I have a doctor look at my head without going to the ER?”
I'm 78 years old. About 7 days after my head injury my head still feels warm but no discharge. There is a flap of skin size of a pea which I hope will fall off. I have no fever and I can now chew and swallow easily. The surface wound size of 2 fingers plus smacked ear are healing nicely with lotion, petrolatum, ethelene glycol, zink ointment. I can sleep on my left side with no problem. I've had 2 hospitals and 2 urgent care refused to see me saying go to the emergency room. I did have what I think was a clot go to my heart but then pass, it seems to have cleared up. Why can't I have a doctor look at my head without going to the ER?
Male | 78 years old
Complaint duration: 7
Medications: ice cream
Conditions: truma
1 Answer
Immediately after head injury, the things that concern me in the elderly are whether someone is on blood thinning medications (Coumadin, Plavix, and so on). Elderly patients are more likely than younger patients to suffer from subdural hemorrhage after head injury. Seeking immediate medical is therefore important in the first 24 hours. If you are doing pretty well after 7 days, importance of going to the ER or urgent care is much less.
