Time of vomiting onset post head injury

[akomom]

This past Saturday, my 81 year old father, who is typically in very good health, tripped on uneven pavement and fell on his face and hands, bruising them and cutting them quite badly. He did not lose conciousness. He complained of a bad headache and feeling "out of it," but didn't show any short term memory loss or overt confusion. He refused to see the doctor, even for stitches.  On Monday afternoon he had sudden onset of nausea and vomiting. It continues this Tuesday morning. He is alert and feisty, but still has a headache and feels "out of it." He refuses to see the doctor and feels that his vomiting is "food poisoning" and is unrelated to his fall. I am very worried about it, but it will be a huge battle to get him to the doctor. Can you give any opinion on how hard I need to fight him to be seen by the doctor? If he had a head injury related to his fall, would the vomiting have appeared before 48 hours? Would he have other symptoms?
Thanks
AKOmom

[ggreg]

I second that motion, especially the EDP thing.  Call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance, your father will have to go then, because when they suddenly show up, he won't have a choice, because they'll be there and have to take him.  You can talk to your father calmly and explain he does not realize some of the stuff you've witnessed, that it's too big a danger that he hit his head and the vomiting might be from it, and he must trust you, and go.  You can also say, "I wouldn't have called an ambulance unless I was sure, Dad."  He is a grown man, so he has to be treated with respect, he must maintain his dignity through the process.

[caregiver222]

He needs to go the emergency room immediately. This second. Call the police if necessary and have him brought in to the emergency room as an EDP (emotionally disturbed person). His brain is swelling and the window of opportunity to treat this is being lost. The swelling causes confusion and affects judgement.