Doctors

[Connemmara]

Just in from Credit Union where I met one of my colleagues - and she had a massive black eye - which she wanted me to see. What happened - she doesn't know - last week her eyes went funny and she started to vomit and vomit - hubby phoned the doctor - doctor wouldn't come out - my colleague - went to surgery - whilst with doctor forewarned the doctor she was going to be sick and she lashed all around her - what was wrong with her? Doctor said it was a "virus". Doctors bless them.

[boxtops]

I don't know about your friend - but the eyes going funny, and the vomiting, used to be symptoms of the severe migraines I used to get in my time.

[boxtops]

PS I must admit I'd have taken her to A&E if the vomiting was that bad, not to the GP.

[pixie373]

Possibly painless migraine. Can cause changes in vision and sickness. Not sure about black eye though!

[Connemmara]

As time went on tonight I realised she should have gone to A&E myself (she works upstairs I am down). I was coming home in the car - she had left earlier and was walking unbalanced and picking her steps - she was near to her home otherwise I would have stopped and given her a lift. Deffo A&E visit was warranted. She did not look too well - you know she should not have been at CU tonight as it is voluntary. But, ......

[boxtops]

Not too late to go to A&E now.... I used to be really uncoordinated when I had my migraines.

[Connemmara]

Pixie her eyes were absolutely horrific - she started to stab at one of her eyes and I was going to die - the whole eye blah blah was roaring red. Am Mama Mia.

[boxtops]

One of my enlightened GPs explained to me that migraine comes in several stages including
aura (vision disturbance)
pain
vomiting
lack of coordination
post-migraine debility

and you don't have to experience all of them (and certainly not necessarily the pain) to be having a migraine. I was prescribed medication which i could take when I suspected that one was coming on - it didn't always stop it, but it helped lessen the effects.

The doc she saw may not have had that experience.

[pixie373]

Sounds awful! I hope she's being looked after now.

[Connemmara]

Pixie looked awful too. I mean I have had migraines - but what was the black eye?

[boxtops]

Perhaps she whacked herself in the eye when she was lashing out.

[pixie373]

Did she lose consciousness at all? My sister has had black-outs with her migraines. Thankfully, only twice and many years ago

[Connemmara]

thanks all - won't see her for another two weeks - it is the Twelfth - next Monday (ie bank holiday for NI) - so hopefully she has improved - she is a nice person. bye all.

[Sqad]

Conne what an interesting case history containing important lessons for all interested in medicine and illustrating perhaps that we must never jump to conclusions.

Vomiting + a black eye.

Now...what were the sequence of events?

1) Vomiting followed by a black eye?
2) A black eye followed by vomiting?
3) A physical assault on your colleague by persons or person unknown?

1) Vomiting followed by a black eye.......could be a migraine attack followed by trauma to the eye.....lots of ifs and buts about that....migraine may occur without headache, but not high on the list of causes of vomiting.Danger is to make an unlikely diagnosis and then try to make the symptoms fit.

2) A black eye followed by vomiting. Now we have a different ball game....the black eye may well indicate a punch and the vomiting suggestive of a fractured skull.

I feel that we shall never know, but the post shows the importance of an accurate history and not accepting "odd, unrelated symptoms" as the truth.

Doctors visiting patients in the home is a very British thing and in most cases is a waste of time and money.....the patient stands the best chance by going TO the doctor.

Thanks Conne...interesting and thought provoking and i agree with the post of boxy that she should have gone to A&E.

[anneasquith]

neurological examination ?

[Sqad]

at least......anne.

[Connemmara]

also Sqad - her two eyes particularly left one was completely bloodshot and to my alarm she lifted her eye lid and proceeded to show me the back of her eye was a ball of blood. She does have protruding eyes for by.

[Sqad]

Conne..thanks.......my opinion remains the same.

[237SJ]

Sounds like some sort of head injury to me. You sure she`s not a victim of domestic violence?

[Connemmara]

Whether this enters the equation but hubby and her seem to be very happy. She actually said the symptoms began to start while in CU last week. Anyway perhaps that is why they didn't go to A&E - A&E ask a lot of questions!!!! Oh well.