Brother passing out, falling down

[HelpinUtah]

Hello old friends and new ones!   I know it's been a long time since I've been around.  I hope you are all doing well.  

I have some concerns about my brother who is living with us right now.  He normally lives in PA but is separated from his wife.  He got himself into trouble within the first month of staying with us - stole something and was arrested.  He has received 6 months probation and must stay with us until the 6 months are up.  He is still having problems in his marriage, but he also has several medical conditions that require him to take vicadin 4 times a day.  He also takes Xanax, 1 mgs. a couple times a day and Skolaxin (muscle relaxant).  He has MS and RA.  Since he's been with us I've noticed him falling a lot and passing out occasionally.  We took him to the ER recently and he said while he was back getting a CT scan of his brain, that they found a mass in the back of his brain and that they gave him a referral to a neurologist.  His behavior has been erratic for a few weeks now and getting worse as well.  He's been doing strange things as far as arguments with his wife and also texting her friends and threatening them to stay away from her friends, etc.  Anyway, he tells me is he waiting for the referral to be sent by this physician to the neurologist before they will even make an appointment.  That part is true as I've called them myself.  But, my concern is I spoke with his wife last night who told me a friend of hers saw him take 6 vicodins at one time a few months back.  Now, I'm beginning to wonder if the passing out, falling down and slurred speech and confusion is from him abusing his pain meds.  I've also notice that my mother's medication for her pain relievers are being filled more often (she hardly ever takes them).  I'm back on pain medication as well for chronic pain and some other issues involving my knee (need a knee replacement) and my shoulder.  I've noticed that some of my medication seems to be missing.  At first  thought maybe I was taking too many, but I'm super careful and then last week I had my prescription refilled and noticed yesterday when I went to take a pain pill that I'd say about 20 pills were missing.  Anyway, I'm sure he is abusing his medication now.  Is he making up the story about the brain mass to cover for his addiction?  

I went through withdrawal from Lortab before, but I never went through these types of behavior - is it possible all of this is due to abusing his Vicodin and his Xanax.  What should I watch out for?  I'm getting worried that he will kill himself.  He has fallen down our stairs several times now and just Saturday night he hit his head so hard on the concrete at the bottom of our garage steps that we had to call 911 and have him take to the hospital.  But, this time they did not say anything about a brain mass when the doctor came into the room - unless he talked to him again in private in the back.  I'm reallly questioning everything he has told me now.  Although, he told me he thinks he's dying and has been writing letters to family, etc.  

I'm sorry this is so disjointed, but I'm really worried.  I know many of you can tell me what you think based on the details I've given you.  Would he really make up a brain mass?  

I'm very confused,
Thanks for your help!

[HelpinUtah]

Thanks everyone for your help.  

Vicki:  I've been wondering some of the same things.  He told us the doctor came back to talk with him while he was back there since we were waiting for him in his room.  Originally, he said he wasn't going to tell us about the mass.  The reason he went to the ER the first time was he fell down a full flight of stairs (he done that at least 4 times now).  He said he passed out.  I had wondered why they wouldn't have kept him to do tests since told them how he had been falling and passing out.  But, we live a rural town and the hospital is great for urgent care, but for the major specialties, they are not equiped for those.  I have asked him to call a neurologist at the University of Utah - a friend of mine has 2 brain tumors and she loves her neurologist and so I gave him the number for that guy.  So far, he has not made an appointment.  He keep saying he's waiting for a referral.  

He told me he takes his Vicodin as precribed and that's 4 a day, but his wife said a friend of their's told her he took 6 at one time.  I just don't know how reliable that person is?  

So, I'll keep an eye on things and I may ask him if he is abusing this weekend.  Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll tell me the truth.  We'll see.

Thanks again!!!!

[vicki595]

Well,I'm not sure about a lock box unless it's bolted to the floor!  An addict will do anything!   Try locking them in the car trunk.

I have some thoughts about this:   What brought him to the ER in the first place that time?  I promise you that if the tech saw a mass at the base of his brain,#1 She/he wouldn't tell the patient,and #2, they would have been calling for consults immediately!
They most likely would have kept him there.  

Xanax @ 2mg per day is strong when mixed with opiates and muscle relaxers. You say he takes four a day of Vicodin?  From six at once?   The whole thing sounds fishy to me...

I'd push him for some answers. Ask to seee his discharge papers from the ER visit the first time...

Good luck~

[Dav125]

Hey Utah, to kinda answer your question about the mood swings, etc, I believe the xanax is contributing bigtime to the irrational behavior and the fainting spells.

This medical problem your brother is having that the CT shows could very well be contributing too but the xanax is doing him no favors,,believe me...I don't go near them anymore because of that very reason..The last time I was prescribed them ,I pretty much decided that was it because I started having spells and outbursts etc just like you describe your brother having..I know for a fact it was the xanax..I'm not sure if its due to a change in my chemistry or what over the years, but they didn't work as they had in the past..They made me mean and nasty.

.So if there's anyway to curb that I'd do it. I don't have any recommendations as to how to do that but the answer to your question is "yes", I think the combination of the meds he's taking are a big factor in the change in behavior your seeing...Especially if he's abusing as you suspect.  The lock box is a good idea :)

[HelpinUtah]

Hi Sara!

So nice to see you again too!!!

Thanks for your advice.  My husband suggested we go buy a safety box that locks and put it under our bed and the key with us at all times to keep my medications safe.  I agree with him.  I will speak with my mother about her pain pills too.  

I hope life is treating you well!  :)

[dominosarah]

Nice to see you!!!

There isnt anything you can do about the brain mass(if there is) but you can do something about him taking your meds and your moms.  Going to have to lock everything up and keep it in a safe place.  I do know that if there is a mass in the brain erratic behavior does happen depending on where the mass is.  Sounds like you have your hands full.  Stay in touch~~~~~sara

[HelpinUtah]

Thanks again IBKleen!!!!

Laurel:
Yes, it's been so long.  I hope you are doing well!  I've missed your sunshininess!  If that's even a word!  LOL!!!  We're trying to keep me from having the knee replacement but the knee pain is getting worse and worse.  Tomorrow I have an injection into the knee with something that will cushion the knee, hopefully for 6 months or so.  They can do another injection then and keep holding it off if it works.  The cortisone injection did not help but for 2 or 3 days.  But, it looks like the knee is bone on bone.  I'm now on Celebrex to see if that will help too.  I think it might be starting to help - I do not need to take pain pills as often since taking it.  That's a plus!  The shoulder will be dealt with later - in the meantime cortison has worked.  I think it might be bursitis - it's that time of year.  

Thanks for your advice about my brother too.  I'll wait and see what they say, but in the meantime be on the lookout.  I have not spoken with him about it because I just really started doubting things over the weekend, especially after his wife told me she believes he is abusing and told me about a friend seeing him take that many vicodin.  But, I will wait it out as you and IBKleen has suggested but stay vigilant at the same time.

Thanks again for your help!  I knew I could count of my old friends here to set me straight!  

(((HUGS)))

[laurel453]

Janet, i am sorry for your brother but i am so happy to see you... I see you are going through pain and really hope the knee replacement will be successful and the shoulder problem will get better... i have missed you here!!

As for your brother,... you have said that he has an appointment with the neurologist so as IBKleen has said, wait until he has a diagnosis. He could indeed be abusing more and more his meds because he is not feeling well and he is scared... i don't know but until you have a clear idea of what is happening after his appointment, i can not see what you could do meanwhile apart from keeping your meds on a safe box and keeping an eye on him...Have you talked to him about what is going on ?

[IBKleen]

Still hun, hang in there until you have the results. I know it is hard but it is best for you and your bother if you stay calm, okay?

[HelpinUtah]

Yes, I am imagining the worst.  It's very difficult not too with all the conflicting stories and his behaviors lately.  I will wait and see if he actually gets himself in to see the neurologist and see what they say.  I will also be counting my pills regularly and like today, I hid them so he cannot take them.  

I understand nobody can help with a brain mass here in this forum, but my gut is starting to tell me he made it up due to his drug abuse.  I was at the ER with him the night he was told about the brain mass, but he told me they told him about it in the back after they did the CT Scan - but nothing was said in front of me.

Anyway, thanks for your advice - I know I'm jumping the gun here.  But, my gut is really making me wonder.  I probably can't do anything about his abuse, if there is any, but he lives with me and I will need to confront it somehow if I find out he is abusing.  The drama is really becoming overwhelming.

Thanks again!  I hope you are well IBKleen!  :)

[IBKleen]

Hi,

A brain mass? I do not believe anyone here can help you with that. There are tests that need to be done, right?

Hun, you can't do much even if he was using/abusing drugs and you know that from your own experience. Instead of imagining the worst, which you are, how about you wait and see what the professionals say. Okay?

Let us know what the doctors say.