Medical question(s)

[Quit Screwing Me]

I'm concerned about a friend of mine in Florida. He's had a lot of issues after coming out of the army with PTSD, and problems with his back and knee. Of course, meds are always given. A couple months ago he was in a motorcycle accident and broke his collar bone and a few ribs. He's been posting on facebook lately about migraines. Then today I saw his mother (whom I've never met) did one of those check-in things with him at a hospital there. So I asked what was wrong and she said migraines got out of control. She said they are out of the ER now and were sent to see an ophtamologist (sp?) First thing I though was aneurysm. I haven't heard anything since then and I just went to check HER facebook page which is luckily not set to private, and she had posted a bit earlier that "they" are keeping him. Now, an ophtamologist isn't equipped to "keep" anybody, so I'm thinking he was sent back to the hospital. Nothings been posted in a bit. I thought of calling the hospital - I did that last time. Just worried.

[dawniedawn67]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you're wrong in that an ophthamologist cannot admit someone to a hospital - I think ophthamologists are more towards medical conditions of and related to the eye, unlike an optometrist, who deals more with vision issues.

 

Hope whatever is wrong with your friend is not serious.

[iH8cra]

I guess an eye doctor could admit someone to the hospital, but I've never seen that happen.

 

Calling the hospital isn't going to do much good. Due to HIPPA laws, you need a code to get any information. Without it, the nurses cannot legally tell you anything.

[VibrantEcho]

I would send his mom a FB message expressing your concern and asking if Friend is all right/needs anything....leave it open-ended for her to give as much (or little) info as she is comfortable sharing.

[mdw2006]

Ophthalmologists can admit to the hospital it doesn't happen often but they can do it, most of the time they will send them for MRI etc and get in touch with their pcp right away to let them know what is going.

 

Hope your friend is doing okay and glad he went to get it checked out.

[beli]

Hope your friend is doing okay..

[SplashMom]

I hope your friend improves soon. I would think with his migraines they would want him to see a neurologist.

[sirrowan]

I just hope its not an anyerism(sp). My cousin had one of these and the local hospital let her sit there for almost 2 weeks stating they were waiting to see if it would get better. I'm not one to get involved in their family business BUT I took her daughter outside (she was at my house) and I asked her if her mother had good insurance. She did. I told her that she MUST get her out of that hospital. I told her what my mother said. Well, when I told my mother that the doctor were waiting for it to get better, the look on my mother's face was priceless. She was horrified and stated that they don't get better. That if she didn't get surgery she WOULD die.

 

Long story short, her daughter is not assertive and didn't have the balls to stand up to the doctors. Thank GOD for an intern/extern that happened on her case and took things in his own hands. She was moved to Ohio State U. for emergency surgery and it's a miracle that she is still alive. She's not the same though........

 

What I'm saying is that if you are truly concerned for your friend, you CAN go to the hospital and you CAN ask questions and assert yourself. They can tell you that they cannot tell you anything but if your friend is lying there and its ok with him then ask away!!!!!

 

Perhaps his mother needs someone by her side to help her assert herself? Just saying. Its always comforting to know that you are not alone in these instances and perhaps that's what she needs. YOU.

[Quit Screwing Me]

I've not heard anything back from his mother. I also tried texting him earlier today and said what his mom had told me and wanted to see if he was ok. No response. Nothing at all.

 

The problem is, I'm in NC and they're in FL. I don't know any of his friends/family down there.

[Quit Screwing Me]

Still nothing from anyone. Today I left a message for his on again/off again girlfriend.

[cocomad]

My DS was in the hospital for eye surgery by an when he was two. He had strabismus both eyes. So they do admit people.

[jack1212]

Anyone who has migraines due to trauma, should have a CT Scan or MRI performed.

 

I hope they already did that.

[Quit Screwing Me]

I have news, and I'm upset about it, but not for the usual suspected reasons.

 

Long story short, the guy has gotten some bad breaks, bad home life when younger, etc.... Joined the army to try to make something of himself and before leaving married his GF. Of course while he's getting shot at, she's messing around. He gets discharged early for injuries and PTSD. She divorces him. The VA it seems just wants to pump you full of pills and send you on your merry way rather than deal with stuff. He gets in a motorcycle accident and further injures himself pretty badly. Loses job. Just one thing after another.

 

So his mom never responded to me again - grrrrrrr

 

I messaged his on/off again GF on FB. She replied after a couple days saying he had woken up one day with both eyes swollen shut and in a lot of pain. I know he'd been having migraines prior to this. She said they did some sort of laser surgery on both eyes and he's slowly recovering and still in a lot of pain, both from this and all his other stuff. Then she tells me he's been abusing his meds. He had told me a while back he was taking too much stuff, but I was under the impression that the doctors were forcing all this stuff on him. Then the additional accident didn't help. Plus PTSD. The last two times I actually spoke with him on the phone, the one time in particular, it was difficult to understand him due to slurred speech, etc.... But he told me he was trying to cut back on his meds. I figured it was all the pain and such talking. But she's asked me for help because he likes me and respects me. I feel pretty certain he has no true support where he's at. I'm 700 miles away and don't know what I can do. He really needs a new environment to even get a foothold. I asked her to call me and gave my number. I want to talk with her since I've never met her before and try my best to gauge the situation as best as I can before I do or say anything. This just sucks. I haven't heard from her yet. I hope she calls. I'll do anything in my power to help any one of my friends, but I really have no clue what to do besides show up at his door and kidnap him and bring him back with me.

[mdw2006]

Sorry your friend is going thru all this PTSD really sucks, addicted to pills which I am sure he wasn't doing it for the "high" more to numb the pain.

 

I hope you can find a way to help him.