We think that it is all right for you to leave hospital now. We have checked your symptoms and you seem well on the road to recovery. When you get home it is very unlikely that you will have any further problems. But if any of the following symptoms do return we suggest you come back, or get someone to bring you back to your nearest hospital Emergency Department as soon as possible:
- unconsciousness, or lack of full consciousness (for example, problems keeping eyes open)
- drowsiness (feeling sleepy) that goes on for longer than 1 hour when you would normally be wide awake
- problems understanding or speaking
- loss of balance or problems walking
- weakness in one or more arms or legs
- problems with your eyesight
- painful headache that won’t go away
- vomiting (being sick)
- seizures (also known as convulsions or fits)
- clear fluid coming out of your ear or nose
- bleeding from one or both ears
Things you shouldn’t worry about
You may feel some other symptoms over the next few days, which should disappear in the next 2 weeks. These include a mild headache, feeling sick (without vomiting), dizziness, irritability or bad temper, problems concentrating or problems with your memory, tiredness, lack of appetite or problems sleeping. If you feel very concerned about any of these symptoms in the first few days after discharge, you should go and see your own doctor to talk about them.
If these problems do not go away after 2 weeks, you should go and see your doctor. We would also recommend that you seek a doctor’s opinion about your ability to drive a car or motorbike.
Things that will help you get better
If you follow this advice you should get better more quickly and it may help any symptoms you have to go away.
DO NOT: stay at home alone for the first 24 hours after leaving hospital
DO: make sure you stay within easy reach of a telephone and medical help
DO: have plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations
DO NOT: take any alcohol or drugs
DO NOT: take sleeping pills, sedatives or tranquillisers unless they are given by a doctor
DO NOT: play any contact sport (for example, rugby or football) for at least 3 weeks without talking to your doctor first
DO NOT: return to your normal school, college or work activity until you feel you have completely recovered
DO NOT: drive a car, motorbike or ride a bicycle, or operate machinery unless you feel you have completely recovered
Telephone number to call the hospital: 01935 384 355
Long-term problems
Most patients recover quickly from their accident and experience no long-term problems. However, some patients only develop problems after a few weeks or months. If you start to feel that things are not quite right (for example, memory problems, not feeling yourself), then please contact your doctor as soon as possible so that he/she can check to make sure you are recovering properly.
Further support
You can find further support and information from the Headway website:
https://www.headway.org.uk/home.aspx
Telephone:
07940 830 168 Headway Somerset
01823 444 829 Head Office
