Is it normal to have tinnitus and blocked ears a week after a head injury?

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10 Comments

My mum walked into something last Weds (30.5) and - at the time of writing - it is now the 7th of June.

She took a fair wallop and apparently lost her memory for a bit before she was hurt.

The day after she hurt her head, she went to our local hospital's A&E. After roughly 2 hours wait, she was seen by three different people over the course of another 2 hours: a triage (Whatever that is!!), a doctor/nurse and someone from the ED (Emergency Department).
All three did nothing more than ask her the same questions. Only the last person gave her head a look and said there was no scraping of the skin, even though there most definitely was scraping and bruising (I've had a look at it and treated it with witch hazel myself). One of them assumed she'd had a fall, but injuries from falling would be very different to

Someone said one of her pupils wasn't reacting much to their torch and that got both of us worried. However, she could read, speak and write fine.
When I called NHS Direct last night (without her knowing), she laughingly called me a fucker.

Now, the bruising has gone but she has a really tender spot on the top of her head, as well as tinnitus and blocked ears. She can't hear the TV too clearly, can't concentrate on anything other than that and can't have it too loud as it hurts her. I have to stand close to her in order for her to be able to hear me. I don't have a particularly quiet voice, and I've not shouted.
However, she can still talk fine as long as it's not for too long and she can shift positions to watch the TV easily enough.

She tried to book an appointment at our local GP yesterday, but the results of her phone consultation were that she had to wait until Monday to be seen.
Because she - very understandably, I think!! - doesn't want to go back to hospital and get fobbed off again, she tried making an appointment at a walk-in.

Well, you had to be registered. To cap it all off, there's no guarantee you'll be seen if you arrive after 6pm despite the walk-in being open till 8. She was told this over the phone and found a review saying that one mum brought her sick child in at 7 and was turned away. This is despite the fact there is no mention of this on the health centre's website.

She's going to the walk-in centre tomorrow by public transport.

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Based on 18 votes (9 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    She needs a ENT asap!

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    • BlueAlice
      11 years ago

      She's been seen now and is fine. I made an earlier comment abou tit x3

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      • Avant-Garde
        11 years ago

        Sorry, I commented from my phone. I'm glad she's better:)

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        • BlueAlice
          11 years ago

          Hey, no worries! If you're curious it was in response to joybird above. (I can't be arsed to repost it here, soz!!)

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  • joybird
    11 years ago

    Your mum is going to A&E which is NOT the right dept. She needs to go to ENT urgently!!

    I was in and out of hospital for months before making it to ENT and they said if they had seen me sooner they could have cured my balance. I went suddenly deaf following the death of my father, and I have really loud tinnitus that prevents me sleeping.

    ENT checked for brain damage and tumours with a full brain scan. They also sorted out a hearing aid and noise devices to put under my pillow. Hopefully, this is just temporary following the blow to the head but make sure she gets to the right dept.

    A&E is the same as a GP! Get to the specialist dept.

    Good luck, please let me know if/when she gets sorted.

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    • BlueAlice
      11 years ago

      Hi!

      Been away from here for a while because I've been tidying up my flat at uni and my mum's been at a conference in Finland for a few days (11th-18th) and then helping me move out the last couple of days (only got back this afternoon, 20.6).

      Turns out it was an ear infection! IIRC, she was advised to take antibiotics for a couple of days before she flew out, and the doctor advised hayfever nasal spray and painkillers on the flight (both for that and a recently sprained ankle) and found she had almost no problems.
      By sheer luck, the doctor she saw had recently been to an ENT conference and was given advice along those lines.

      The first nurse who saw her had a look at her head and ears and was a bit worried, so she called over Mr. Conference to double check and he diagnosed the ear infection.

      She's now absolutely fine.

      Thanks for the concern, though

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      • joybird
        11 years ago

        That's great!

        It's a rotten thing to live with long term - have lost faith with the medical service.

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    • DaemonWolf
      11 years ago

      I thought that only a GP or A&E can refer you to a specialist department like ENT. I didn't know there was a way you could just go right to them.

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      • joybird
        11 years ago

        I don't know how I got there but a nurse who works in ENT told me to go in. Please phone and try to make an appointment for her or ask them can you walk in. I'd assume that as it's to do with her hearing you could go there. Act dumb and just arrive! The quicker you get there the faster she gets help before permanent damage sets in - which is what happened to me!!

        Don't wait on your GP referring her. If he says he will, tell her to sit there until he gives her a letter as a walk in - she can't wait on all the admin and bureaucracy.

        Best of luck!!

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        • joybird
          11 years ago

          As you are in the UK the law states that you cannot be refused to be seen if you are on the Practice premises. Your mum needs to REFUSE to leave without being seen!! Do not let them fob her off!!

          Thinking about her I'm just wondering if the bruising is causing some pressure inside her head that's blocking her hearing - otherwise it could be nerve damage going to the brain.

          Go sit in ENT and refuse to leave without seeing a consultant.

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