To think this shouldn't keep happening

[Gingerbreadboy]

Worried about DM, every 6 months or so she collapses/faints/passes out and every time has landed badly and cut her head open and has needed stitches.
It happened again today, luckily someone caught her, so no stitches!
Most times she ends up in A&E and they decide it's her blood pressure medication that has caused her to faint, but nothing ever gets done. She's had ECG when admitted.
I'm really worried that she will fall and really hurt herself, she gets no warning, just goes down. Last year she badly cut her head and there was blood everywhere. She is usually sick and has once before soiled herself.
Anyone got any ideas or had similar?
I am going to try and get her GP appointment in the morning.
Sorry, it's not really AIBU just here for traffic.

My mother has had something a bit similar over the last few years, although she hasn't ever injured herself. She too has blood pressure medication and she is also Type 2 diabetic. With her, the latest diagnosis is Postural Hypertension (or it could be hypOtension - I get them muddled), but she often has funny turns when she gets up after a longer period of inactivity.

My nan has similar and is also blamed on her blood pressure meds.

does it happen when she hasn't eaten for a while and then stands up too quickly?

For my mum, yes. Often in the middle of the night, too. We've started making sure she takes a banana up to bed with her, so she can eat it if she wakes in the night feeling strange.

clam - my nan has the same, also first thing in the morning. she takes biscuits to bed with her. I think the blood pressure meds must have some impact on blood sugar levels. even though the doctors say otherwise!

op perhaps looking into a panic alarm system might be in order?

Before today, it has been in the morning. In the shower first thing, and another time whilst making a morning cuppa.
Today it happened at 5pm but she had been on a walk and was standing in a que for 10 mins. It was also very warm today
The scary thing is having no warning, she doesn't feel ill beforehand so doesn't know it's gonna happen.

Surely they need to adjust her meds?

She can't live like that, poor love.

A panic alarm thing wouldn't work either of she just drops :(

Agree with your decision to go back to gp

YANBU :)

Random times - several times during the interval at shows, once in the dr's waiting room (useful!), on the way to the loo in the middle of the night, or when she's stressing about something. Or not even stressing, really - she's quite highly strung and dramatic, so gets excited and worked up about things. That doesn't help although she likes the attention.

Dad will go to the GP with her tomorrow not that he's much healthier as he sees it happening, and I've told him he needs to insist they look into it more and not just send her packing, I dread the phone ringing tbh

it's hard to adjust the meds unfortunately - but I suggest you try amd get your mum to try making sure she eats little and often so that her sugar levels don't drop. when the sugar is low the body can't alway maintain the energy needed to pump blood round at the right speed and pressure and cases the collapses.

Thanks wheres I will suggest that

I suffer with a bizarre condition that effects my blood sugar levels so I am very used to my blood pressure falling and passing out everyone told me I was diabetic for years so was nice to find out I wasn't

wheres do you have any warning? It must be worrying for you and your family

sometimes I do feel a bit lightheaded and my hands shake but generally no. I think they are just used to it. I have got very good at managing my sugar levels and I have a medical alert bracelet when I remember to wear it! I have a badge in my car too that let's the police and ambulance know I have a medical alert

Mmm thats interesting, thanks. I guess its not so much the fainting but where she lands and injures herself that is worrying me . Although she obviously shouldn't just be keeling over either!

Postural hypotension/vasovagul, possibly caused by heat and being on her feet for too long. Get her to stand up slowly and allow her body to adjust to standing before walking off. Not have too hot a shower/bath.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response

also can they check her sodium levels?

Sounds very much like drop in blood pressure - usually caused by change in temp (baths etc), exercise, standing for long periods etc.

This can be tested using a 'tilt test'...unfortunately if this is the case there is nothing to be done. Just be very careful getting up slowly Eric as others have said

Does she drive? Probably ought to think about safety of that.

some hospitals have specialist "falls clinics" - see if her local one does (GP should know if it's not on their website). Also keep fluid levels up.

What her memory like

This happened to my mum and it was thyroid problems.

piper her memory is ok I think. she's 70 so obviously not as sharp as it used to be but I've not noticed anything untoward.
She has managed to get an appointment with the GP today so hopefully something will be sorted, I will report back
Thanks for everyone's input it's such a worry when parents start to get old

balaboosta she can drive but doesn't often, so I think this will put her off even more!

Well, mum went to GP about her 'faint' her blood pressure was taken, sitting and standing. GP won't reduce strength of pills otherwise BP will rise too much,
This episode was put down to walking around in the heat, standing in a que for 10 mis and not drinking enough!
And so we continue, I guess there's nothing that can be done really