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Falling for no apparent reason: Any ideas?

Posted by callalily74 @callalily74, Aug 11, 2016

I'm 75, active, female, and constantly falling for seemingly no reason. I just fall! Three times already this week. In one fall, I split my ear and required 8 stitches. No dizziness, etc.

I need falling prevention classes in Seacoast NH. I am getting very worried that one of these falls will result in serious injury. Perhaps I need some kind of testing. Tomorrow, I'm going to an ENT doctor who was referred to me by a doctor at the Urgent Care Clinic who said my ear was infected. The ENT receptionist said maybe he'll refer me to an audiologist or optometrist to do balance, inner ear testing, etc. Does that sound about right to anybody who knows what I'm talking about. Remember, no lightheadedness or dizziness, etc. I take several medications for depression, anxiety, cholesterol, etc, but my mind does not feel foggy or cloudy.

Please help me find an appropriate doctor specializing in this issue. Or a suitable class or program. I am getting scared now. It happens too much. I only was really hurt once so far when I split my ear when I fell, but I know it can happen any time now and maybe disable me, or worse.

Please help me. I'll be here to see any posts all day today and am free to answer any questions you may have.

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cctee | @cctee | 1 day ago
In reply to @nanniesue4 "I have had dizziness and awkward balance for about 1 year a vascular Dr found that..." + (show)
@nanniesue4

I have had dizziness and awkward balance for about 1 year a vascular Dr found that when I stand up my blood pressure drops 30 points so that was one symptom I also have had a few falls and become off balance when I turn my head or look up or down I feel like it’s in my neck but they can’t find anything wrong in the neck. But had bad fall backwards and hit my head hard on wood floor I had concussion and whip lash. Now were doing a VNG test for inner ear. I thinks it could be do to knocking my jaw out of alignment. But it’s been a real mystery. Then they did a full body xray and my neck is leaning to the left side scoliosis and my spine has flattened out but still no definite cause of the symptoms I am having. Its so frustrating and I just feel bad most of the time. I sure hope you find out what your problem is because this isn’t fun you feel so helpless! Good luck and prayers!

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That sounds like orthostatic hypotension. B/P dropping when standing up from sitting or lying down. Did the doctor do any further testing to see what was causing the OH?

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1 reply
methel | @methel | 1 day ago
In reply to @cctee "That sounds like orthostatic hypotension. B/P dropping when standing up from sitting or lying down. Did..." + (show)
@cctee

That sounds like orthostatic hypotension. B/P dropping when standing up from sitting or lying down. Did the doctor do any further testing to see what was causing the OH?

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You are right in wanting to figure this out before you have a disabling fall, but it will not be easy. I think the beginning is to determine if the new tendency to fall is a ‘ brain problem’ or an ‘inner ear problem’. The doctors for these are very different and the treatments and prognoses are so different. Finding the right first doctor is the first challenge but my total guess is that it will be easier for the inner ear specialist to confirm that it is or is not an inner ear problem than for the neurologist to decide it’s caused by your brain malfunctioning in not controlling your blood pressure or knowing where a body part is. I wish you the best in a difficult situation.

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1 reply
cctee | @cctee | 1 day ago
In reply to @methel "You are right in wanting to figure this out before you have a disabling fall, but..." + (show)
@methel

You are right in wanting to figure this out before you have a disabling fall, but it will not be easy. I think the beginning is to determine if the new tendency to fall is a ‘ brain problem’ or an ‘inner ear problem’. The doctors for these are very different and the treatments and prognoses are so different. Finding the right first doctor is the first challenge but my total guess is that it will be easier for the inner ear specialist to confirm that it is or is not an inner ear problem than for the neurologist to decide it’s caused by your brain malfunctioning in not controlling your blood pressure or knowing where a body part is. I wish you the best in a difficult situation.

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Methyl, I’m confused, I was responding to Nanniesue4 who said her blood pressure dropped 30 pts when standing. Are you the same person as Nanniesue4? Otherwise my comment makes no sense for you. Nanniesue4 has orhtostatic hypotension and inner ear would not cause your blood pressure to drop when standing (at least I don’t think it will).

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methel | @methel | 1 day ago

I’m not the same person. I’m sorry that I got my reply in the wrong place. I’ve been through the same symptoms with a family member and it took many tests and multiple doctors to decide that it was a brain issue.

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kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | 1 day ago

I am so sorry for both of you! I went through 8 months of dizzy spells, sometimes 3-4 per day and huge events of vertigo. I finally found the answer myself through endless research. It was an acute onset following having Zephyr valves inserted for my COPD. My pulmo physician changed me from warfarin to Eliquis. Lo and behold found about 8 case studies of individuals had been changed as I was and a NIH mega-analysis on the subject of the change from warfarin to Eliquis. Eliquis was the culprit. I stopped taking it, resumed the warfarin and haven't been dizzy since! Check your medications particularly anything that you started recently. That's what I did, I drilled down on the four changes that had been made at the time the dizzy "stuff" started. Unfortunately, I ended up playing patty-cake with 3 different ENT and 2 Neuro's and wasted 8 months of my life as I could not go anywhere in fear of the vertigo, and most certainly could not drive. Suggest getting on that computer and digging into reputable sites ie NIH for research and/or large teaching Universities Neuro programs.

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cctee | @cctee | 22 hours ago
In reply to @methel "I’m not the same person. I’m sorry that I got my reply in the wrong place...." + (show)
@methel

I’m not the same person. I’m sorry that I got my reply in the wrong place. I’ve been through the same symptoms with a family member and it took many tests and multiple doctors to decide that it was a brain issue.

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If you don’t mind saying what was the cause of the orthostatic hypotension with your family member. Yes, these DXs are plenty of trouble to get. Add in the wait time for specialists and tests and it’s heartbreaking. ❤️

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1 reply
methel | @methel | 21 hours ago
In reply to @cctee "If you don’t mind saying what was the cause of the orthostatic hypotension with your family..." + (show)
@cctee

If you don’t mind saying what was the cause of the orthostatic hypotension with your family member. Yes, these DXs are plenty of trouble to get. Add in the wait time for specialists and tests and it’s heartbreaking. ❤️

Jump to this post

I don’t think that even now there has been a clear diagnosis.

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SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | 20 hours ago

Just a hint. When you are writing to a specific person, we must use their User name preceded by @
For an example, @SusanEllen66 would come to me.

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