Advice?My sons friend is acting strange.

[1blue&1browneye]

Hi, I don't want medical advice. More of a what would you do in this situation.

My sons friend is 16. He called me today stating when he woke up he was dizzy and weak. He ate sandwich - did not help. I went and got him. My assessment: eyes equal round and reactive. breath sounds clear. bp 100/45. heart rate 68 strong and regular. Temp 97, gait a little off, states he is dizzier when he stands up. His mental orientation~ he's acting like he is stoned (I know he is not), my daughter was blow drying her hair and he stated, "what is that wierd noise", he's not slurring words, but is not hearing what people say and it's like he is clouded/can't think totally straight. He wants to lay down and could fall asleep if he did, which is not like him at all. He's just not himself.

I called his dad. When I finally got him after leaving several voice mails and texts he came to see his son. I told his dad I would be happy to take son to local clinic and pay $20 copay but didn't want to infringe on his parental area. (I had already called clinic, they would see him asap if I could get ok from Dad). Dad decided his son was fine and son could stay with me. (Obviously its a wierd situation between son and dad, son stays with me most of time).

Anyway, I am worried about son but obviously I cannot do anything about it without dads permission. So, do I just sit and watch out for son and if it gets worse.....which I hope it doesn't....then make his dad come to er? As a new grad, all I know is that when mental orientation changes, it's a really bad sign. Right?

My biological son is sticking to friends side and we will just watch him. I am just worried. I hope I am worried for nothing...............

any advice at all would help me. I don't like being in this situation with no control and wierd things happening.

thanks.

me

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Cheaper to go to the dr office than to end up with an ambulance and ER bill if the kid gets worse.

I agree, it seems hard to find a balance sometimes, you have parents that take kids in for every little thing and parents that don't take them in when they should. I know if it were my kids, I would be taking them in myself and be concerned when it comes to altered mental state but it seems like there might be more going on here behind the scenes between the father and son.

[imgonnabanurse]

If it were me I'd call him back and say "I don't know what's wrong but your son really needs to be seen. I typed up a quick note and all you have to do is sign it. We're already on the way or in the car and we'll be there in X minutes." And if he still refused to sign your note to get his son care then tell him you'll have to take him to the emergency room. You have to protect yourself, your son's friend and your family as well. God forbid something were to go wrong people would find a way to blame you. If you have to tell him as a nurse you're held to a higher standard and you can't just sit idly by and hope nothing goes wrong because you have a professional license to protect.

You're a mom. You have that instinct that all mom's have and it's telling you that something is wrong. I don't know what that father's problem is. I think pestering him is worth it to get peace of mind and find that everything is ok and if it isn't then that young man will get the treatment he needs so he can get better. Not to scare you but when my son was younger he just started throwing up some of his feeding after a bottle. People said don't worry it's the formula, it's reflux, or that I didn't know how to make it properly. But my gut told me it was something more. I was told to wait it out but I went to the ED and later that night my son was diagnosed with a bowel obstruction and had surgery the next day. I'm glad I went with my gut. I've learned to trust it and even if he hadn't been diagnosed and everything came back fine it still wouldn't have been a wasted trip if all it gave me was peace of mind. You know something's wrong and his son knows that something is wrong and that should be enough for his father.

[TPfan24]

Medical care ASAP! Don't take any chances. The symptoms described are indicative for immediate assessment.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Unfortunately, though your intentions are good, we can not offer advice on this subject per the TOS. This is, unfortunately, medical advice (to go or not to go), and if the general consensus of the community is based on a moral decision one way or the other, and something detrimental occurs, we have had some responsibility in this.

I am going to close this thread for the time being.

Best of luck,

Tait