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Old 11-19-2010, 09:58 PM
sr10 sr10 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 6
10 yr Member
sr10 sr10 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 6
10 yr Member
Default where do I start

My heart breaks to read of all the suffering endured here, but I'm latching on to the hope and community spirit. My son, 32, suffered a concussion on 7/25/10. The headaches began immediately, violent, severe headaches. He lost all sense of taste and smell. He's lost 40 lbs. 3 emergency room visits since. Most of the ER doctors were very helpful, but try to find a decent doctor in private practice has been a futile search to date. He has a high tolerance for pain meds - the only one he found to work a little was hydrocodone. At one point in the ICU, they gave him morphine delaudid, fentynl and hydrocodone at the same time with only a few minutes of relief. The MRI/MRA doesn't show anything. There was a small bleed at the beginning, but as of the last tests (Sept.), that was gone, but the headaches persist. They subsided a bit about 6 weeks ago but came back in full force. The doctors he has seen only seem concerned with him quitting the hydrocodone, but have not offered any suggestions or options or even listened when he has asked about what to do about the headaches if he stops taking this particular pain medicine. Many of them do not work for him at all and it usually takes a double dose to help enough for him to function. I have asked, he has asked, his wife has asked repeatedly what is he supposed to do about the headaches without the hydrocodone. No answers, they won't listen, they are assuming he just wants the drugs...nothing could be farther from the truth. He hates any kind of drugs and would love to get off, but he still has these horrible headaches. His current neurologist is the very same way. Prior to the concussion, he suffered from depression and anxiety and takes Paxil and Xanex. He also has a long history of not sleeping. He still can't sleep and is more depressed than ever now, we all feel the current medicine and/or dose is not longer helping, possibly due to the trauma of the concussion. Doctors won't listen or do anything about that either. It's time for a change in doctors, but he is has about given up on doctors. I don't know how many neurologists we called before finding one that would see him. Even the ER referrals wouldn't. We will continue to search, but until then, does anyone have any suggestions, found medications that actually help? Ways his wife and I can help? I realize many of you have much worse conditions and you are coping and that gives me hope - this is destroying his life and, of course, as his Mom, watching him suffer is unbearable. I can't even think anymore. Any advice would be appreciated more than I can say. Sorry about the long thread...and this is the short version...
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