CT Scan Update
December 17, 2008
My son had his CT scan this afternoon and the good news for all of us is that he has no brain bleeds or anything else scarier than a concussion.
The specialist told us that he is not to “use his brain” for at least 2-4 weeks or until his headaches completely subside. Since he is a teenage boy that shouldn’t be too difficult.
I kid, mostly. He is not supposed to read, do any schoolwork, play any sort of video games, or exert himself in any manner. There goes his help shoveling in the big storm that is supposed to come our way later this week. He should lay around and sleep as much as possible. If he is doing something and feels a headache coming on he should immediately stop and go lay down lie down rest. My son was somewhat jazzed by this advice.
In fact, I am wondering how I can get myself a concussion.
He has a follow-up visit to the sports medicine doctor who specializes in concussions on December 30th where his progress will be evaluated.
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I am so glad to hear the good news about your son. I am sure he is going to love all the laziness prescribed for him!
December 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pmI’m so glad it’s not so serious. But dang - doctor’s orders to lay lie whatever around for a month? It’s time for me to take up football. Know any teams that need a fifty year old female tackle?
December 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pmGlad he’s okay!
December 17th, 2008 at 11:11 pmGlad he’s okay, but yeah, I’m looking for something to hit myself on the head with right now.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pmHey…I’d like to get in on the concussion thing, too, please. In fact, I sort of have a headache now…I should go lie down…or is lay down…I don’t know either. And thank heavens he’s all good in the noggin.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pmI’m glad he’s okay. And I want to rest that much too!
December 17th, 2008 at 11:38 pmChris. I have been following your trip to Florida. My son played Jr Midget and another team in our league made it to the finals in Florida, but lost to a VA team. I know what you mean about the boys trying not to admit being injured. Last season, my son hurt his knee, but didn’t tell us or the coaches until after the season. He only mentioned it because a good friend (12 years old at the time) was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma and had to have his leg amputated. Anyway, when the season was over, he finally told us about his injury, so I took him to the orthopedist, nothing too serious, but 6 weeks of twice a week physical therapy, and he was fine (something to do with the cartilage slipping). Boys…And next year he will play high school football, so we are telling him he MUST tell us or the coach when he is injured.
At least it’s Christmas vacation, so your son won’t need to use his brain much for the next two weeks unless it’s to count down the days until Christmas.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:44 pmGreat news! How scary, still. But so glad you can maybe breathe a bit easier.
When you’ve found that concussion store, please let the rest of us know.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:57 pmGreat news! I like that advice. He will find that even easier to do than you expect.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:02 amWell shit, I need one of them damn concussions too!
No, seriously, glad there is nothing seriously wrong. Wheew!
December 18th, 2008 at 12:05 amchris- i have very much enojoyed reading your blog over the past many months as my family has grown from 3 to 4. my eldest is a boy - 3 yrs — and i can only imagine the traumas in our future. i hope your son heals quickly. with love, m (from texas, 2 yrs ago from MA)
December 18th, 2008 at 12:07 amWas so bummed when the football trip morphed into concussion adventures. I’m glad he’s OK - and yes, with that prescription, I would love a concussion, too! The closest I came was two years ago, when I caught pneumonia and my doc ordered me to stop all childcare and all work, even making calls from home … so I arranged babysitters and used the time to read the whole Philippa Gregory series about the Tudors. Too bad he can’t read!
December 18th, 2008 at 12:19 amIm gald he is OK!
December 18th, 2008 at 12:26 amGlad he’s okay. Head injuries are always scary.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:30 amAs a person who has been previously concussed, I can confirm the laying down in really truly necessary. I didn’t listen to the doctor and went back to work anyway. I ended up in the hospital after passing out from dizziness.
I was thinking the same thing - I want a concussion too!
December 18th, 2008 at 12:33 amWow, Chris. That’s crazy.
I’m praying he’s back to running around in no time.
Unless you’d like to keep him horizontal…
December 18th, 2008 at 12:40 amSo glad to hear it wasn’t any worse than this — which is quite bad enough. When my daughter had her concussion (slipped on the pool deck) she was unable to walk (literally) for two weeks, and slept far more than normal for about a month. But she did recover fully.
Spoil that kid — and keep an eye out for symptoms that linger.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:58 amWow, I’m glad it’s not more serious than that but honest truth? This sounds plenty serious to me. Thank God he’s ok.
And: No reading? I’d go insane if it were me OR my kids…trying to imagine keeping them away from books and video games for a month. Somehow I imagine he won’t be jazzed for long.
December 18th, 2008 at 1:10 amChris, I am glad to hear things are looking better. I was so saddened to read about his concussion. I have been a faithful reader lately and I am hooked! You make me want to have seven kids and that is saying something.
FYI: this might help with the conjugation of the two different verbs, lie and lay:
lie, lay, lain: (Present tense: I lie down. Past tense: I lay down. Past perfect tense: I had lain down.)
lay, laid, laid (The chicken lay an egg. The chicken laid an egg. The chicken had laid an egg.)
Does that help? My father-in-law helped me learn this a few years ago (and I am embarrassed to say I was an English major in college). Don’t try explaining it to your son or it may make his head hurt. It makes mine hurt and I don’t have a concussion.
December 18th, 2008 at 1:51 amDear Santa~
December 18th, 2008 at 2:04 amAll I want for Christmas is a concussion and a doctor that recommends lots and lots of rest. Please bring before Christmas so I can enjoy it now.
Thank you,
Polly
Yes, I sort of like those recommendations myself…
December 18th, 2008 at 2:13 amI’m going to go jump off my roof. I’ll let you guys know how it goes. Fingers crossed I get a concussion! Maybe my husband and three boys can finish up all of these holiday errands…..;o)
December 18th, 2008 at 3:16 amGod help us parents of teenagers if our kids read this blog post!
Thanks for the update. I’ve been following your Florida adventures with interest and checking back for updates on the concussion situation, but haven’t commented in a while. Apparently computers aggravate morning sickness. Blech. Anyway, glad to hear everything will be alright.
I hope you don’t misunderstand me when I wish you a very quiet, very uneventful Christmas…
December 18th, 2008 at 3:46 amGlad to hear he’s on the mend… scary stuff… Yeah I want a concussion type rest too!
December 18th, 2008 at 3:57 amNo reading? How odd. Wouldn’t TV be a strain too, then? I LOVE LOVE LOVE your “fun with the brain injured” conversation. SO evil.
December 18th, 2008 at 6:37 amThanks for the update. Glad it’s not too serious.
When you recline you lie ( i in recline & lie )
When you place something you lay it ( a in place & lay )
So your son should lie down and lay his concussed head on a pillow.
December 18th, 2008 at 7:07 amHow scary! I’m so glad he’s okay though. I hope the headaches go away very soon.
December 18th, 2008 at 7:32 amI’m so glad that you got a good report from the ct.
The part where you said that he shouldn;’t use his brain for a month cracked me up, because, seriously, he’s a teenage boy. They typically don’t use their brains for months and months!
December 18th, 2008 at 8:11 amWhew. Great news. I know you are relieved.
Hang in there. I understand that Santa has a special place in his heart for the lay/lie impaired.
As for snow….don’t forget that latitudes make all the difference in the world. ;*)
December 18th, 2008 at 8:48 amGlad he’s ok. But yeah seriously, how can I give myself a concussion?
December 18th, 2008 at 9:07 amchris - I am living your life again. We just got home Monday as well. Our guys made it to the Superbowl but got clobbered in the finals. Disney sure does it up right…fireworks display going off while their names were being called off - smoke as they ran out of the tunnel. Russel Athleticwear fitted them for all new uniforms.
I came home to Christmas decorations in boxes, and just said - these are going back up to the attic. have the trees done though. It would have been fun to meet up, but realized we were at two locations.
Our last game that brought up into the championship got nasty at the end. My son ended up lying (laying?
motionless on the field when the game was done, so I know your anxiety.
December 18th, 2008 at 9:57 amHere’s my take on our injury. http://inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com/2008/12/it-only-takes-moment.html
My husband tore his calf muscle playing basketball and the dr’s orders were to lay on the couch with it elevated all weekend long. All Superbowl weekend long. I told him I wanted to see the note.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:00 amSo glad to hear he’s OK. Now YOU go lie down, too.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:12 amWow Chris, what a stretch of weeks you’ve had there. So glad to hear that your son is going to be alright. I think mothers of the injured should be allowed to follow the same recuperating instructions.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:30 amGlad to hear he’ll be fine. Now about getting myself a concussion….
December 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am?!?!!!!!!! i don’t read for a few days, & come back to concussions & amnesia? that is so scary. i’m relieved for you that he is well, & i hope he’s back to normal soon.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:01 amI’m glad to hear it’s not worse, but I agree that it sounds serious enough! And while lots of rest sounds good, it’s like bed rest for pregnancy. A few days is enough and then you realize it’s boring! A 14 yo who can’t play video games or read? I can’t even imagine it. Just keep reminding him, when he gets frustrated, that he doesn’t have to do shoveling or trash or any other chore that he doesn’t feel like doing! I hope your (and his!) Christmas turns out ok!
December 18th, 2008 at 11:21 amI was just thinking - our school district has started doing “baseline testing” on student athletes for concussion. It’s a computer program where they go in and answer a set of questions. Then, if they get a head injury, they answer the set of questions again and the doctors can see if there’s been a significant change. Maybe when you see the doctor again you can look into this for your other rough-and-tough kids too? Maybe it will be like carrying an umbrella, and if you are THAT prepared, nothing will happen.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:22 amSo glad it isn’t something more serious, but still - a concussion! Speedy and healthy healing. I hope the storm passes over you all!
My hub just returned from a four day trip with chicken pox and has been told to rest, heal - as in “don’t do much around the house to help out” - ACK! Too bad I don’t have a back-up
December 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pmYay, Kathy!
I like that way of remembering it. I’ll have to tell my kids because they never seem to get it right.
I’m glad he’s, more or less, okay — but that sure stinks about not being able to exert himself or “use his brain” too much.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI’m really glad he is doing better and resting. I can only imagine how scary this must have been.
When I was in high school, a guy I knew was in a car accident and had a concussion. It quickly got around that he wasn’t supposed to “think” for the next 3 weeks. We all laughed and figured that wouldn’t be too hard for him. I honestly always assumed it was a joke. Guess I was wrong.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pmGlad to hear the good news!
December 18th, 2008 at 1:04 pmPhew! Glad things are as good as can be, under the circumstances. And don’t worry about the storm - my kidlets and I are building a snow magnet to keep the storm away from you guys (my sister is up there and is doing some traveling) and bring it down here to Texas instead! So - no worries. We’ve got it covered!
December 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pmGood news. And what a prescription from the doctor. I may try faking a concussion… an actual one doesn’t sound so good to me. Hope he’s all better very soon! He’s very lucky!
December 18th, 2008 at 4:48 pmI am so glad to here the good news!!!
December 18th, 2008 at 5:02 pmI have to say, a concussion every now and then is alright. I had one from a bike accident last month. And when you are a “grown up” they give you great meds like Hydrocodone and such because as “grown ups” we can’t lay, lie or rest!
December 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pmI am now wishing for a concussion for myself. It sounds so enjoyably relaxing.
December 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pmGlad to hear he’s ok and I hope he’s feeling 100% soon.
I feel so bad for you and everything that is going on..
I admire your sense of humor through it all too..
December 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pmIf I lived next door I would go and help you .:)
Chris, just hover over your little ones! I got a concussion courtesy of my 5-year-old daughter. I was bent over her to help with her socks or something, when she decided to jump up. Her head tagged me under the chin hard enough that I felt the blow on the back of my skull. Apparently that was my brain. Beware of hard-headed children! Luckily, she was fine. I don’t think she even noticed. It does take a while to start feeling normal again even post-headaches. And the post-concussive dopeyness was ridiculous. Take good care.
December 18th, 2008 at 9:43 pmSo glad that he’s going to be all right.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:07 amI had a concussion last month and nobody told me not to read, and since I had to “rest” I spent all day laying around reading. It took so much longer to heal and I had eye strain and some other problems until I finally realized what was happening.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:05 pmI’ve got a sinus infection — not so good as a concussion, but certainly effective enough to keep one out of commission for a while… I’m starting my Christmas shopping tonight.
Here’s a little ditty that has been tremendously helpful for me:
Lie — Recline
Lay — Place
Glad to hear things aren’t too serious!
December 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pmWoo-hoo! Glad it is not going to have any lasting effects.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:43 pmGood to hear about it not being too serious. With him being a teenager, the “don’t use your brain” thing shouldn’t be too hard.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pmI’m glad he’s going to be ok!
They start playing tackle football around here (Alabama) at age 4. My 7 year old son has been begging to play since then, and so far we’ve said “not yet!” Your son’s injury is making me lean toward, “Not EVER!”
Good thing we have fall baseball!
December 21st, 2008 at 12:14 pmI’m really thankful your boy is OK!
December 21st, 2008 at 3:23 pmThank goodness! That has got to be so scary for you, as the mom. I’m so glad he’s fine.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am