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Falling for no apparent reason: Any ideas?
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: Oct 15 11:16am | Replies (201)Comment receiving replies
Hello,
My name is Nancy and I am 75 years old. I have fallen a couple of times this year but once I fainted from my antidepressant (Lexapro) being raised to 30 mgs from 20 mgs. Evidently this drug can cause fainting when you are elderly so I know it was not my heart. However, yesterday morning and this morning when I got up (slowly) I fell backwards but I didn't get hurt. I am concerned because it didn't seem to have any warning and I don't think I was lightheaded. Now I'm worried when I get up because I could get hurt since my bedroom is so small. When I got up a couple of hours later I did get up slowly and it's didn't happen. All I could think was MS (I usually think of the worst). I'm wondering if it cold my blood pressure which has been great for some time. I have a friend who is a nurse so I will ask her to take my BP. I feel for you re the falling. It can be very scary and unsettling especially being elderly. I truly hope that you do find the reason for your falls because I know it is scary. I stopped my exercising (I had a lovely therapist come to my apartment) because I am depressed (more than usual) so that might be part of the reason. I just don't get why it would happen without maybe dizziness, I just lose my balance and just fall. I hate this because it always seems to be something new. Oh well, I will just see if it keeps happening and if so off to the doctor I will go. I truly hope that you find what is causing the falls. I am on antidepressants, Vitamin D and quite a few more. It's like a pharmacy and I have been healthy most of my life but I was never 75 before. : ) Take care. Nancy S.
Replies to "Hello, My name is Nancy and I am 75 years old. I have fallen a couple..."
Hi Nancy, I am sorry that you having this problem. I don't know if it will help but I'll share my story. In March my husband who is 71 got out of bed and fell. he had no warning. He just said that he felt like he had "Jello Legs". We went to the ER. I thought he had a stroke. He spent 3 days in the hospital and was released without a diagnosis. He seemed to be Ok after that but then one morning in June he couldn't move his legs to get out of bed. So back to the hospital. After extensive testing he was discharged with a Parkinson's diagnosis. We went to another neurologist and was given a new diagnosis, C.I.D.P. and no Parkinson's. We moved on to neurologist #3, who said he didn't know what my husband had. In the meantime my husband had fallen again. So we go to neurologist #4 who said it is definitely not C.I.D.P but a polyneuropathy caused by my husband's heavy drinking. That was 2 months ago and my husband has stopped drinking, he is eating right and going to the gym and so far hasn't fallen. We may never really have a definite answer. I say this because he didn't have any withdrawal symptoms plus his blood work & liver are all normal. Things that you would think would be affected by heavy drinking. I don't know if my story was of any use but I offer it in the event that it might give you some small insight into your situation...good luck.
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Hello Nancy, I wonder if you are aware that falls can be the #1 reason us seniors lose our independence? So it is very important that you find out why this is happening to you before you get injured.
Low blood pressure on rising is very common, and getting up slowly is a good way to stay safe. That's why, if you are in the hospital, they will have sit on the edge of the bed first, wait a short time, then stand up carefully.
If the falls have happened more than once, PLEASE contact your doctor now for a complete evaluation. It may be that your medications need to be reduced or changed. This often happens as we get older because the way our liver metabolizes medication changes.
Sue