Crash

[Rubylu]

Well last night my lupus nearly killed me and potentially others. I had a head on car crash into a stationary car. I have noticed memory of the preceding 10 mins to where the crash happened, and was unconscious at the scene, so can’t remember the actual crash either. ED think I might of had a seizure, but also found I have pericarditis, who’s explains why I have felt so grotty for past two weeks.

[MEW53]

Make sure you get yourself checked out properly, sounds like it was lucky no one else was injured. Take time out and rest and hopefully you’ll get to the bottom of this episode.

Get well soon.

[Rubylu in reply to MEW53]

Seeng GP tomorrow. Had CT scan of head, neck, chest and abdo, an ecg and echocardiogram in the ED. Which showed inflammation and fluid around my pericardium. They were very thorough and knowledgeable about SLE and NMO, which I have. They are requesting I be seen by my consultants (neuro and rheum), as a follow-up. I’ve got horrible concussion today. My GP prescribed some antiemetics for the nausea).

[MEW53 in reply to Rubylu]

Glad you are in good hands.

Take care especially with the concussion 😀

[Freckle1000]

Hello to a fellow lupie - who's also had a concussion in a car accident. ( mine from 2003 )

Sorry to hear you're in such a tattered state. Just thought I'd send you a virtual hug ( from Australia ) - you poor sausage.

One bonus at least - with all those scans - they spotted that fluid under the pericardium. ( in ancient times a Rheumatologist could diagnose that one by listening to the heart - I had this in my 20's ) now 51. With me they just upped the pred and the problem went away.

Could I suggest - if you have some micophenolate on hand - to take a bit more (?) - A neurologist told it's good for concussion, especially if you take it strait after a whack on the head.

As if life isn't hard enough !!!.

Our car was hit by a young bloke who was tired, hung over and fell asleep at the wheel.

I was a passenger and - don't remember about 15 mins prior to the accident - and have only fragmentary memories of the accident itself, but a fairly vivid memory after waking up in the car afterwards. The concussion caused this type of amnesia pattern for me.

Anyway - I hope you're on the mend and feeling ok. I know how shocking it can all feel. For me it was a bit psychologically similar to being randomly & violently attacked - even though it was via accident and car.

Many more hugs to you.

[Rubylu in reply to Freckle1000]

Thanks for the hugs. I’m glad they are virtual, my chest is so sore! The doc did listen to my chest and said he could hear fluid. I guess the echo is a way of objectively capturing the evidence. At least it offered an explanation.

My head hurts like hell as well as my eyes, but the CT showed no accident damaged per se, but I do have NMO lesions which have got worse and my brain took a fair old shake. Just resting up for the W/e. No rushing around like a lunatic.

The location was 100 meters from a Primary School gate. If it had happened half an hour earlier, then there would have been a lot of children being picked up and going home. I was really upset when I thought about the potential consequences. I feel very flat now, with zero energy.

I’m glad you weren’t badly injured in your crash. They are frightening things.xx

[MEGS53 in reply to Rubylu]

You've had an awful time. Please rest and take care. Lots of gentle virtual hugs coming your way. xxx

[Freckle1000 in reply to Rubylu]

Yep. They're horribly sudden and random things.

I'm glad you aren't too badly injured yourself.

Don't beat yourself up about what happened - there's a reason they call them accidents.

Also ..........in my experience - sometimes ER and intensive care hospital staff aren't always best placed to deduce what actually happened in a crash ? or with Lupus.

Sending you another virtual - avoiding the sternum area - hug. Hope things are getting better.

XoX

[Hidden in reply to Freckle1000]

I understand why you would feel attack, given it was caused by clear, bad choices. Glad you are ok Freckle! 🙏

[Freckle1000 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that Brookside. 🙂

My limbs were pretzeled in my accident, along with a few other close shaves ( small crack in my C2 vertebrae /apparently decided against breathing at one stage ) - but one advantage here - if you can call it that is due of the long distances we have to drive on dodgy roads, car accidents are more frequent - and our ER and ambulance standards are really high - so after some resussusetation and a lot of good orthopaedic operations I eventually became vertical again. Still have some metal bits to me - but recovered.

Yes.......some rather strong mixed feelings about the young man in question. There were charges bought against him - but ultimately it was decided he was too young and vaulnerable for him to be found legally culpable - so he got off with a fine.

It may sound strange but all that was much easier to cope with than trying to navigate the medical system with Lupus. It was all black and white and obvious so no begging for help involved - the medico's just did their job.

X

[Hidden in reply to Freckle1000]

Too young to be charged? But not to young to drink, nor drive a vehicle that could kill someone (a giant weapon?) It’s amazing what people get away with. But I’m glad it wasn’t fatal. I’m sure your joints and limbs could have gone without the jolt.

[Freckle1000 in reply to Hidden]

Yep. People getting away with bad stuff - ( Doctors too ) over a lifetime has made me a tad jaded and contributed to a bit of PTSD. That's the worst aspect - not the injuries or the illness - but the human behaviour attached.

ps. I actually thought it would make the arthritis worse ( mines always been very mild - have the internal organ attacking sort of SLE ) but it hasn't effected it.

[nanleighh]

Oh how scary. I hope you are okay. Will pray for a speedy recovery.

[Hidden]

Ruby, so very glad you are (somewhat) ok. I’ve had a seizure with this too. Luckily I was at home. But they are super weird to go through.

Anyway, again, I am glad you are on the mend. Make sure you rest the next three days with your concussion, we want you 100%!

[Cas70]

You poor thing. Rest up, get your strength back. X

[maggielee]

Just adding my hugs to the pile being sent to you..

What a shock to your whole symptom, concussion needs monitoring as I am sure you been advised....

Be super gentle on yourself for a while as suggested here...its hard to get your brain to calm as well especially in light of other possible outcomes...try to focus on your recovery & that the doctors are looking into possible health reasons for the accident..

Don't overdo - enjoy some rest & hoping your body isn't to painful...

ml