# Checking in head injury when living alone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112 "2024-04-10T20:07:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/1 "2024-04-10T20:07:47Z")
I tend to be a hypochondriac, so be warned. While on a staircase, I bent down to tie a shoelace. I got up at full speed and somehow banged my head against the hollow metal railing. I feel okay, but being somewhat hypochondriac, I feel and think stuff that makes me wonder if this is one of those cases of a seemingly minor head injury being serious. I don’t _think_ so, but I also know that such thinking can also be affected (not to mention that lack of pain isn’t a final sure indicator). This happened at lunchtime. I work for the rest of the day and then take the bus home. I live alone. Anything I should do or watch out for? One website suggested calling family or friends, but that seems kind of odd in of itself? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/2 "2024-04-10T20:13:54Z")
So you were injured at work and went home afterwards? Or did you get injured off of your worksite during lunch? Do you have insurance? Were you bleeding? Was there a noticeable bump on your head? Did you considering going to an ER or Urgent Care facility? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/3 "2024-04-10T20:18:55Z")
Latter. Yes. No. Not that I can tell. I have, but I’m not sure this warrants it; it didn’t _seem_ any more serious than banging my head on a kitchen cabinet door (except for surface area and material.) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/4 "2024-04-10T20:40:54Z")
Does your insurance include a nursing line to answer questions? Can the urgent care facility advise whether or not to come in? All I know is that '70s medical shows checked whether the patient’s pupils were equal and reactive (using a flashlight). Also, when I had a concussion in the sixth grade, they were concerned about my blood pressure dropping. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/5 "2024-04-10T20:46:46Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > All I know is that '70s medical shows checked whether the patient’s pupils were equal and reactive (using a flashlight). (ex neuro RN here) This is an example of them getting it right. Also, go immejiately to ER or urgent care if you have any of the following: - Nausea or vomiting - Dizziness or balance problems - Memory problems / confusion / foggy brain - Visual changes / slurred speech - Sudden sensitivity to light or noise - Headache that does not lesson or go away - Feeling of pressure in the head - Any other sudden change in how you are behaving or how you feel mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/6 "2024-04-10T20:57:13Z")
One of my wife’s co-workers has been unable to work for the last month, and her doctor has finally released her to do no more than 2 hours of work a day, from home. Reason? Concussion, caused by hitting her head on the rear hatch of her SUV from standing up too quickly. I do believe she had a fair bit of pain, that caused her to go to urgent care for it, but might not be a bad idea to have it checked - something seemingly simple can have an outsized effect. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/7 "2024-04-10T21:20:48Z")
I believe the old-fashioned advice about “don’t sleep during a concussion” is outdated, IIRC, in fact, sleeping is good for it. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/8 "2024-04-10T21:31:35Z")
Many years ago I suffered a pretty strong concussion, leaving a motorcycle at 45 mph and leading with your head will do that. I slept probably 12 hours straight after my buddies got me home. Guess I woke up alright 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/9 "2024-04-10T21:54:27Z")
I’d call a family member and ask them to return the call in a couple hours. Have a safe word or sentence you’ll need to remember. But. If you have any of @Mean_Mr.Mustard s symptoms go directly to ER. Don’t drive yourself. (I have to say @Mean_Mr.Mustard once told me the same symptoms. I insisted on a neurologist work up. I was already in a rehab facility and I ended up with a brain bleed before he could get me transferred to the hospital. Time is critical. It was just a tap on a cupboard coming up from brushing my teeth. So he knows what he’s talking about) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/10 "2024-04-11T02:21:46Z")
If you don’t wake up tomorrow, let us know! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/11 "2024-04-11T03:18:56Z")
> [@Dogginit](#): > > Guess I woke up alright 😉 Hey everybody! Should we tell him or just let him continue unawares? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/12 "2024-04-11T03:20:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I believe the old-fashioned advice about “don’t sleep during a concussion” is outdated, IIRC, in fact, sleeping is good for it. Sleeping might be good for it. Except for the ones where you’re having a brain bleed and don’t wake up at all, or do so seriously brain damaged because the hours you spent asleep were the few hours your problem was medically addressable. If only you’d been awake to notice the symptoms and get help. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/13 "2024-04-11T13:34:18Z")
Yes, this reminds me of the case of actress Natasha Richardson a few years ago: > **[Natasha Richardson Died of Epidural Hematoma After Skiing Accident](https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Movies/story?id=7119825&page=1)** > > The actress Natasha Richardson has died of an epidural hematoma after a fall on a Canadian ski slope Monday. Family members said they were "shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha." I think it very likely I would have done exactly the same thing that Natasha did. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/14 "2024-04-11T13:37:51Z")
And then there’s [**Bob Saget**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Saget). Leaper? You good?? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/15 "2024-04-11T19:12:48Z")
Sorry, no, dead. But yeah, the conditions that inherently affect your judgment of how you actually feel are the ones that make me nervous, for reasons mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-in-head-injury-when-living-alone/1000112/16 "2024-04-11T19:21:27Z")
Let us know the date of your funeral service.🤗 I’m glad you’re better really. I feel for you. I’m similarly hypochondriac-tic. I have many folks around tho’. I’m afraid they won’t believe me, I’ve cried wolf so often. Which is just another anxiety thing. Aaaaacccckkk. It never ceases to amaze how often I get on these trails of despair. One anxiety leads to another.