My mom just passed away from a brain bleed and the doctors told me her system had such a high amount of over the counter pain meds, and asked if it’s possible she was trying to kill herself. I don’t want to believe that’s even possible. This sucks.
My mom just passed away from a brain bleed and the doctors told me her system had such a high amount of over the counter pain meds, and asked if it’s possible she was trying to kill herself. I don’t want to believe that’s even possible. This sucks.
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That is a horrible situation to be in. Did she use pain killers habitually to treat an ongoing illness?
I’m so sorry honey.
I’ve heard brain bleed can cause terrible headaches. Maybe she over medicated for a headache accidentally.
Early onset dementia and just forgot she had taken her headache meds. Kept taking every hour. Got worse took more.
Yea… I’d just go with that.
She was probably taking them for the intense headache from the brain bleed, she also would have become confused when parts of her brain became oxygen-starved and forgotten when/how many she had taken and just kept taking more because of the pain
Maybe she was trying to treat a pain that eventually caused her fall and bleed? Sorry for your loss and I wish you peace
Regardless of everything else, I’d focus on the fact that they’re asking you. That means it’s not conclusive and they don’t know. Just because they asked, it doesn’t mean that is what happened. It just means they’re trying to figure it out.
Could that have been what happened? Sure. But unless there’s a way to know what actually happened then it’s all just speculation with varying degrees of likelihood. There’s no use beating yourself up over it or driving yourself crazy trying to look for signs that you missed.
Your mom wouldn’t want you spending your life hung up on the way that she left hers. Please don’t be afraid to turn towards therapy to help you navigate your path through this grief.
I’m truly sorry for your loss.
Medical field here –
Most likely they’re referring to an elevated acetaminophen (Tylenol) level – this is the otc medication we test for because it has liver toxicity if not treated early on. Wouldn’t test for any other over the counter pain meds.
Testing those levels is pretty standard in the emergency department if someone is brought in with an altered mental status, they probably ordered it before having any head imaging or any idea what was happening – we shoot broadly in those situations. Seeing the level it is a reasonable, albeit difficult, question to ask in that situation – particularly as someone who overdosed on one medication could have taken a lot of others.
Even if there was acetaminophen toxicity, that does not cause a brain bleed – those would be different processes and like other posters said, she might have been taking a lot if she had a bad headache. Brain bleeds don’t necessarily cause you to just drop suddenly, it can progress over time.
Please don’t buy too much into that question – the medical team was just doing their job and covering their bases.
Very sorry about your mother.
It was probably in a desperate attenpt to handle the pain, and when that happens you can lose track of how much medicine you’ve taken.
Most people don’t suspect a brain bleed when they have headaches, and most people who take their own lives due to overwheling amount of pain don’t use pain meds, they do it quickly.
My girlfriend just went thru a brain bleed. She said it was like somebody was hitting in the head with a pick axe. Worst pain she has ever had. Plus she is a nurse and is one to usually blow off pain but not this time she said it woke her up out a dead sleep and she sat straight up! I have a feeling your mom was just trying to treat an unimaginable headache. I am truly sorry for your loss
The doctor has to ask certain questions and I know it’s difficult but it’s standard procedure. The last two times that I had a medical emergency I was asked a lot of questions that I felt were irrelevant to my medical condition but they have to cover all bases.
No matter what he asked you have to dissuade him that the answer is no. Assuming she has life insurance her death is not covered if she took her own life.
I know when I’ve been my sickest, I throw any thoughts of caution with medication to the wind becauSe it’s just so bad.