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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Am I Having Confusion, Memory Loss, Occassional High BP After Accidentally Hitting Head And Are There Chances Of Getting Normal?

I m sorry this is so long but thought the details important. In January of 2013, I tripped over my laptop cord and went flying into our dining room table that has a sharp edge and broke my nose. It happened so quickly that I don t know how I also managed to hit the back upper side of my head (maybe on one of the chairs?), nearly broke my left knee and suffered bruising on my right arm, hip and thigh. I didn t go to the ER because when I called them, they said I would be waiting for hours and the waiting room was full of flu patients. The cut across my nose was pretty clean, not gaping. My husband helped get the bleeding stopped. I did look as though I had been beaten severely the next day with major black eyes and bruising in the other areas. I was surprised at how sore the back of my head was since there wasn t even a slight bump. I didn t think much about it as I gradually improved. On July 1 of 2013 my husband and I flew to Wisconsin from Texas and then back again after 6 days. Upon arriving in WI, I started having terrible headaches and confusion. Within 4 days of returning to Texas, my husband had to take me to the ER because the headache pain was unbearable and sudden very high blood pressure. The ER got me stable with BP meds, fluids and 3 doses of morphine. I don t remember any of that. My husband said I kept trying to pull the IV s out. I saw my PCP the next day and he sent me for an MRI which showed I had a subdural hematoma with a thin layer of blood covering my entire brain. I had been taking lots of advil and aspirin for the pain.The neurosurgeon I was referred to said DO NOT take either because of the bleed. He decided not to do surgery but put me on Keppra to reduce the chances of seizures and have follow up CT scans and visits to see him. My PCP put me on Lisinipril for the BP before I saw the NS. I ve had 2 catscans since the MRI and they show improvement. But I m still having periods of confusion, occasional but not constant high BP (I have always had low BP) and mild headaches. I am now off of the Keppra but am taking 1/2 of a 2.5 Lisiniprol when the BP goes up. I am also more depressed than usual (I have fibromylagia, hypothyroidism, and IBS). I am 62, female and concerned that I might never be normal again because of the continuing confusion and memory problems that I didn t have before all of this happened. The neurosurgeon said I may or may not improve further.
Tue, 11 Feb 2014
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Diabetologist 's  Response
hi there
i am Dr Saumya Mittal
I have read your detailed query
And I need to say the information is quite aptly put

I will start by first stating that the symptoms are probably due to the hematoma.

understand that the skull is a closed space in which the brain is placed. So any added matter in a closed space will increase the pressure. that is a basic law of physics. As long as the blood remains inside, the pressure will be high. This therefore causes pain and discomfort. headache is due to this.

As for improvement, I cannot surely say, because i have not seen the mri. However you may talk to your neurosurgeon about elective surgery and drainage of blood

i am hoping your thyroid and bp is under control.
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Why Am I Having Confusion, Memory Loss, Occassional High BP After Accidentally Hitting Head And Are There Chances Of Getting Normal?

hi there i am Dr Saumya Mittal I have read your detailed query And I need to say the information is quite aptly put I will start by first stating that the symptoms are probably due to the hematoma. understand that the skull is a closed space in which the brain is placed. So any added matter in a closed space will increase the pressure. that is a basic law of physics. As long as the blood remains inside, the pressure will be high. This therefore causes pain and discomfort. headache is due to this. As for improvement, I cannot surely say, because i have not seen the mri. However you may talk to your neurosurgeon about elective surgery and drainage of blood i am hoping your thyroid and bp is under control.