What are things I should be looking for after a head injury w/ anorexia?

December 26, 2016 8:37 PM

I had a bad concussion in May, while recovering from anorexia. I'm struggling with potential related issues still. I'm not sure what I should be looking for symptom-wise, and what constitutes a major problem... or how to get my doc to refer me to neurology.

I am worried. I had an ugly concussion back at the very end of May, while in treatment for my eating disorder. I had symptoms for about two weeks, then started getting better.

Now, however. My dissociation has increased exponentially [and really got worse after the injury]. I have severe hot and cold flashes accompanied by nausea. I also have this weird thing where when I "go out," my eyes flicker back and forth very rapidly, or my irises expand and contract rapidly. [This is very, very unpleasant, because I also get "stuck" and can't move.]

I am concerned because I don't know what happens to brains shrunk by anorexia that then have injuries. I am trying to get my doctor to send me to a neurologist because of this, since I'm scared these are some kind of seizure... she thinks it's related to my mental health.

Anyone have any ideas on how to deal with this? Like, research on this, ways to ask my doctor, etc. I realized just now that I've never mentioned the concussion, so I def. need to bring that up.

posted by gloraelin to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Wait, you asked your doctor for a referral to a neurologist, and she refused, but you didn't tell her about the concussion?
posted by praemunire at 9:18 PM on December 26, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm sorry you're going through this. Definitely tell your doctor about the concussion ASAP. Write it down now (or set an alarm to look at this thread or whatever), but make sure you mention it.

One of the worst things about being sick is having no one take you seriously. If you tell your doctor about the concussion and she still won't refer you to a neurologist, you need a new doctor. (You might need a new one anyway. :( )

I'm glad you're recovering. Congratulations :)
posted by schadenfrau at 9:36 PM on December 26, 2016

You have had a concussion, and you have had an eating disorder. There's some evidence that anorexia causes brain changes that makes people more susceptible to mental disorders, but I think there's no obvious connection between the two. (And if there's any causality, I'd guess that brain injury might make someone more susceptible to ED, but it sounds like your ED is resolving itself and the concussion didn't precede the ED.)

Because it's bothering you and because your doctor doesn't know, you would want to bring up the concussion, how you got it, it severity, current symptoms related to it, and related medical records.
posted by flyingfork at 11:17 PM on December 26, 2016

Response by poster: @praemunire um... Yeah, I did, because I have serious memory issues and literally forgot about it at the time. I only put two and two together yesterday.

@schadenfrau -- thanks. It's a tough journey, to be sure!

@SakuraK -- it's possible, I mean, I'd basically have to call 911 unless it happened when I'm with someone who could drive. Is it serious enough to warrant that, really?

@flyingfork -- I've had my ED for years now, and this concussion was end of May/beginning of June. I will definitely swallow my shame and tell her about it ASAP.
posted by gloraelin at 4:15 AM on December 27, 2016

I say call your doctor NOW and tell the nurse about the concussion. I'm alarmed about your reported symptoms and I'm tempted to call the eating disorder a red herring at the moment. If a friend told me just what you have here, with or without any eating disorder, I would want my friend seen immediately by a neurologist.
posted by thebrokedown at 6:39 AM on December 27, 2016 [5 favorites]

You need to find a neurologist or other doctor that specializes in concussions and other brain injuries. Is there a brain injury clinic in your area? Many are affiliated with teaching hospitals or sports medicine clinics. If there's a local affiliate of the Brain Injury Association in your area, they might be able to tell you which doctors nearby specialize in traumatic brain injury. There's a lot of doctors and neurologists out there who don't really understand concussions, especially ones where the symptoms last more than a few weeks or months. Some of the symptoms you describe sound a lot like post-concission syndrome, but are sometimes mistaken for mental illness.
posted by heurtebise at 8:50 AM on December 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Definitely tell your doctor, as soon as possible! I wasn't asking to criticize, I was asking because it didn't make sense and I wanted to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding. I think the not-sense-making is a good sign that you need prompt medical attention.
posted by praemunire at 9:05 PM on December 27, 2016

If you're having episodes where you go "out" and have uncontrollable movements/cannot move, how can you safely drive a car? Are you driving? Do you actually need a referral to see a neurologist, or can you just call a neurologist's office directly and get an appointment? Episodes like the ones you describe can certainly be related to mental health, especially if they occur under times of stress, but a neurologist may want to obtain an EEG first, and certainly it sounds like you shouldn't be doing anything where it would be unsafe if you lost control until you get a more clear diagnosis.

Also, be sure when you describe this to the next doctor, that you're giving them the most accurate information you can and try to just be factual in what you report. Check your eye anatomy - I'm pretty sure your irises are not expanding or contracting, and a better explanation will probably help lot with trying to figure out what's happening.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:31 PM on December 27, 2016

Response by poster: @treehorn+bunny I do not drive at the moment. I had been planning on getting a car soon until this got so bad. I don't work with sharp things or heavy machinery.

I suppose I did use the wrong term for the irisis. Sam, the one who's seen the most of them, says that they "twitch" -- like expand and contract rapidly.
posted by gloraelin at 4:50 AM on December 28, 2016

Response by poster: I keep using "expand and contract," apparently, but I don't know what other terms to use.
posted by gloraelin at 3:58 PM on December 28, 2016

I think the issue is that it's likely your pupils, not your irises, that are expanding or contracting. The pupil is the black part of your eye; the iris is the colored part.
posted by lazuli at 8:05 PM on December 28, 2016

Response by poster: Pupils! Yes, that is what I was trying to get at. Thank you so much.
posted by gloraelin at 1:31 AM on December 31, 2016