My son knocked his head pretty good last night.
 

Last night, my son was running in circles around the couch and lost control. He ran into the entrance of the hallway (the doorway) and banged his head really good. There is a knot the size of a golf ball and he's just not acting himself ever since. I could just be paranoid since i'm very protective of my son...but, he's not walking right, the words he knows how to say aren't coming out right, he's calling everything cereal, his pupils look bigger than normal, he's slow to respond...I'm very worried about him.

My mom wants me to take him to the ER but I don't think that's going to help. It's hard for a doctor to diagnose a concussion in a child of his age. Only the parents and those close to him would know if he's acting different, you know? I don't think his brain is bleeding and I don't want his little brain to be assaulted by the radiation of a CT scan.

What should I do?

Pediatricians see alot of head hits in small children. I'd take him to the pediatrician.

He will be fine.
 

He will be fine as long as it doesn't happen again. Warning sgins for worsening would be excessive sleepiness, throbbing headache or double vision.

I can't take him to his pediatrician because his stupid mom didn't follow through with Welfare and his insurance got turned off.

He's still acting very weird. His pupils are really dilated, all the time, his balance is off, he's extremely fussy and being very disobedient. He takes long naps during the day, longer than usual...We usually sleep about 2-3 hours during the day now.

I took him to the emergency room and they wanted to give him a CT scan. I respectfully declined. The doctor said he doesn't think its anything serious or his symptoms would be more severe. I'm still very, very worried about him. I love my little boy and he's just not acting himself right now....

...HELP???

Take him to the ER!!!!!!!!!
 

Sorry to sound loud, but you must take your son to the ER immediately!!!!
Your not qualified to make any life decisions about this obvious concusion!!!!!!
Your child is in danger of his life, the brain is nothing to mess around with. He is a pediatric child who will be treated differently then a adult. Please take him to the ER...PLEASE
SalfuZ:eek:

Does the county have sliding scale fees for medical care?
That might be an option for follow up care.

Honestly, I can't even afford to put food in the fridge and I'm short on rent. My only option is the emergency room and we all know there is nothing they can do for him.

:(

We don't know that there is nothing they can do for him.

They are obligated to treat no matter the ability to pay. Especially for a child.......if they thought a CT scan was needed I'd surely get that and any follow-up care they deemed necessary.

Does your county have a WIC program?
It may have a different name in other states.
short for women infants children - I'm sure it covers dads too..

gets you food vouchers and other county services.

Check your county website to see whats available for help.

join a church, they often have help for people in need.

You live in Vegas.

Take him to UNLV Medical ER. They have a very competent Pediatric Center .

Hospitals have Social Services that can work with you to arrange for social services to pick up where services were 'dropped' by whatever fault.

That child is in need, and you need to obtain the best possible evaluation for him; as you know - you have been through this yourself.

Don't let 'what you can afford' hold back the care he needs now.

Go for it , SpaceCadet, you will feel all the better for it after all.

When my son was just over a year old (1992), he fell backwards off a couch and hit the back of his head on the bottom shelf of a coffee table. It left a shelf shape on the back of his head that he still has slight remnants of today. We took him to the ER and his pediatrician was called to the ER.

He was examined and the doctor said he saw nothing to worry about. He did not even suggest an x-ray. He said that at that age, the head and brain are very tolerant to such impacts.

If the ER doctor said he did not see any serious symptoms, accept that. He checked his pupils and knows how to diagnose them properly. Parents tend to get too focused on the child after injuries. They then see little issues that they take as symptoms of the injury where they are just symptoms of still being a toddler. If he is sleeping more, that is good for him.

I fell yesterday and smacked the bony part of the back of my head into a door very hard. I was OK yesterday and slept good last night but am having a 'no driving day' today. Caleb may have the same ups and downs. His healing will be difficult to track because he is changing so fast. As they grow at this age, their physical skills are in flux. They can be funny to watch when they get excited and act like a little drunk man because they are moving faster than their balance can keep up with. They can be like the ball in a pin ball machine.

Relax, and just love him.

Go to Welfare and get his Medicaid re-established. Maybe it is time to apply for full custody if Tara is not keeping on top of his affairs.

My new granddaughter turned 8 weeks old yesterday. She is starting to learn to use her hands and feet. I can't figure out how she can twist her tongue like she does. My 3 other grands were 400 miles away so I did not get to watch them grow up like this.

My best to you both.

Indications for a pediatric ER visit:

"More severe symptoms of concussion necessitate emergency medical help."

"These symptoms include uneven pupils, dilated pupils or non-responsive pupils."

"General non-responsiveness or persistent loss of memory is also a symptom of concussion."

"If your child is disoriented, off balance, has difficulty walking or speaking, or is dizzy, these symptoms of a concussion can also be signs that complications may be occurring."

As suggested by Concussion, get him asap to UNLV ER for adequate pediatric eval & followup care there with the social services coordination of care/finances, etc.

Get your family onto the Food Assistance program in your state, be it called "SNAP" = Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program - or whatever it's called there; and yes, WIC also, asap.

There are also Food Banks for food assistance, churches, Catholic Social Services (you don't have to be Catholic, etc.) as previous posters have suggested.
This month & next in particular are good months to get food assistance from such.
No excuse for you not to have adequate food in the house to feed you & your family.

Nick, you know well the 'complications symptoms' of concussion. Do not risk the potential loss of custody of your toddler son.

If he is indeed still behaving as you describe, he needs adequate followup care.
And if you deny him medical care, someone somewhere along the line will be obligated by law to report you to Child Protective Services.

Just a word to the wise, okay?

Best regards,
Theta

Nick,

If you are concerned about losing custody of Caleb, call CPS and tell them about Caleb and what the doctor said last week and his current symptoms. Tell them that you are afraid of losing custody but that his mom let his Medicaid lapse. Ask them if you are putting him at risk by not taking him to the ER. Get CPS on your side. They will know what resources are available.

Use the system to your and Caleb's favor. The right attitude will be appreciated. They have too many parents who don't give a rip.

My best to you both.

Most hospitals have donors who give to create a fund for those who can not afford insurance or able to pay out of pocket. Be upfront with the doctor and she/he should know where to direct you. With regards to social services I am biased.

Seek every bit of care you can for yourself and your son. Even though it maybe taxing to deal with a beauracracy your son needs you to. As his parent you have the right and obligation to assure he has food, shelter, clothing and medical care. While most agencies are understanding that can change if they feel the parents are not trying to seek those things out.

You have had some good advice. My own parents failed to do those things for me when I was a child because of self indulgence and pride. I can tell you while it is hard on the whole family children can not and do not know how to help themselves. As a society we have a structure that helps, please use it to yours and your sons benefit you both need it.:grouphug: