Worried about elderly parent :'(

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Tori

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Firstly, i'm nto expecting a diagnosis over the net. This is more a vent than anything else, although any help would be appreciated.

My mother is 74 and is fit and active, although she has diabetes which is under control.

Last year she had a bad fall and broke her jaw both sides, broke her arm and lost alot of teeth. It really shook her up, but she recovered well.

Today she fell again. Luckily there were people around this time and they called an ambulance and sat with her. She has cracked ribs and a broken finger.

What worries me, is that she has no recollection of tripping or slipping before she falls, but is completely conscious all the time. Why would someone just fall? She doesn't understand it either and it's scaring her to the point of she does not want to go out. She was like this after her last fall, and it took her a while to have the confidence to walk down her own street alone. I worry this will make it worse. What makes it even worse is that my mother is 90% deaf. I have tried to get her to have an aid, but she claims it's 'wax' and an aid won't help. is it possible an imbalance in her ears could make her fall? She never feels dizzy.

I'm very upset over this. More so, as she did not call me when it happened as she was too embarassed. Now i'm worried sick it'll happen again and she'll say nothing :'(
 
Hey Tori, it could be an ear infection causing the falls.
 
She's not in any pain she says. Not from her ears anyway! Her finger looks a mess, so it looks like a trip to the walk in centre tomorrow. the nail has split all the way down to the cuticla on one finger :(
 
An imbalance could make her fall but more likely there has been a momentary loss of blood circulation to the brain possibly caused by an irregular or missing heartbeat.
She should be investigated for this and it could be that a pacemaker is required.
Another causes could be hardening of the arteries, does she have high blood pressure? Is she overweight?
 
She does have an irregular heartbeat! She is only 8 stone and has a very healthy diet. She is very strict with what she eats and has regular checks with a diabetic dietician.
She was told she had an irregular heartbeat some time ago. Ok, this is at least something I can ask about. Thanks! Her cholestral is fine as that's tested regularly too.
 
its worth looking into but it could also be that she simply doesnt remember tripping or slipping but did

I went over on my ass a couple of weeks back and although i can reconstruct how I came to fall (slipped on a wet piece of wood) I have no memory of actually doing it other than the oooh craaaap feeling as your legs go out from under you - I hit the ground had a WTF moment then realised what had happened - an old person might experience more confusion and not know what they did.
 
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My mum had exactly the same issues, diabetes so a healthy diet but had a few falls which she couldn't explain. Although she was 'tested' it took an overnight monitoring in hospital to show up the problem. After a pacemaker was fitted she was "as right as rain". Quite common in the elderly.
 
She doesn't remember slipping or tripping on anything though. Is that normal? If I've fallen, I know i've slipped on something slippery, or tripped up on something, or I've drunk too much generally. She can't put it down to any of those things. Just nothing. She just remembers falling :(
 
Thanks gramps, so it could be something easily fixed and not all my worst nightmares and my brain doing overtime. I don't have anyone else other than my ma :(

Suz, she has her blood pressure done regularly, along with cholestral, blood sugars and other stuff due to her diabetes and everything is fine there.

I will insist on getting a hearing test now if it kills me.
 
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Tori said:
She doesn't remember slipping or tripping on anything though. Is that normal? If I've fallen, I know i've slipped on something slippery, or tripped up on something, or I've drunk too much generally. She can't put it down to any of those things. Just nothing. She just remembers falling :(
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That would certainly fit the pattern - temporary loss causing the fall and the failure to know what happened.
 
Can I ask? Is she on any pain patches for arthritis? My grandfather is diabetic and slipped recently also, the doctors gave him medication for the pain and the patches, he's been forgetful the past few months and they diagnoised him with dimentia. Past couple of days he's been refusing the patches and hasn't had a memory slip, done some research and the drug in the patch is a morphine sub, which side effects include memory loss and hallucinations. Just a thought to say to the doctors, hope things get better
 
Can't help if anything like an answer. bu Tori i hope he is feeling better soon and you get some solid answers asap
 
No nothing like that. She's fit and healthy otherwise, rides her bike, walks everywhere, cooks fresh food etc. That's why I'm so worried, as she does everything right.

Thanks Terri x
 
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A form of epilepsy perhaps? My grandmother suffered with it for years, everything would be normal and she would just keel over, she never remembered it happening.
 
She doesn't pass out or anything though. I'm convinced it's a drop in bp :(
 
a mate of mine (who's in his mid 50s) was diagnosed with sick synus syndrome based on these symptoms - thats a problem with the heart where the heart rate suddenly drops - cured by fitting a pacemaker
 
I think this might be similar Pete. I'm hoping it'll be something easily fixed as ma has had such a crap year. She fell, then had a bowel cancer scare which resulted in some nasty tests etc, then another fall which is going to lead to more tests. I have a rotten sister who couldn't give a hoot and won't even visit so it's just all got on top of me :'(
 
Sounds most likely to be heart/circulatory in origin. If it's happened twice with significant injuries (broken bones count!) then get her GP to refer her to a cardiology clinic or even a specialist falls clinic if there is one locally. It could be any number of things but needs proper investigation.
 
:plusone: Totally agree with the above - GP, then hopefully falls clinic, if she has an irreg heartbeat is she on warfarin? Then again with several falls that could just create another hazard.

Do let us know how things go.

GP Steve
 
Tori

My Mum is 76 and has what she calls blackouts. She's had them before and had a battery of tests and is to have some more.

The hospital reckon she has a momentary loss of blood pressure and she passes out for a second or two. She usually ends up sat in a heap on the floor, coming round as she actually collapses.

She had one a few weeks ago and didn't tell me, like you it makes me worry as she lives 120 miles away.

In the olden days they used to call it the vapors. My Mum walks up to 10 miles a day, eats well and looks after herself. She has been on blood pressure tablets for years and takes a raft of other tablets god knows what for.

Try not to get too upset I think with some people it's just part of growing old.
 
She's not blacking out as she remembers everything, she does not know how or why she falls. I'm just off to see her now. I'll keep you updated. Thanks.
 
Hi Tori.

My mother inlaw (81), has the same sort of thing. They have told her that she has low blood pressure. As it only seems to happen, if she turns her head to quickly, or if she bends down, and then stands up to quickly.

What ever it turns out to be, I do hope they get the old dear sorted out soon.
 
I've been to see ma today and she's pretty bright in herself. Her finger looks really nasty so we're off to get that checked tomorrow. She's in pain with her ribs, but she's been lucky, compared with her last fall. Hopefully the doctor will shed a bit more light tomorrow.
 
Hi, speaking as a home carer for my 71 years old mother, twice she suddenly fell over for no apparent reason in the past month, but luckily it was indoors on both occasions and was on the carpet, so nothing got broken (only bruising).
It turns out that she's suffering from arthritis in the knees, where it could cause her legs to give way at any moment. Maybe that could be a factor in your mum's case.
She's recently had treatment for breast cancer (had a mastectomy), now suffers with colitis and is also diabetic (but is the type that can be controlled with tablets rather than injections), so I think I know how you are feeling when it comes to poorly mothers.
My mum has never really been an active type anyway (she's agoraphobic) so it didn't make too much of an impact on her lifestyle, it is just a question of her taking it easy as she gets about the house.
 
Glad she's bearing up ok, just try to emphasise to the Dr that it's not the first time, I'd like to think he'll refer her to the local falls team, well I think I would!

BW
 
Tori, there are some reasonable suggestions here and I note that you were not looking for a diagnosis over the forum.

However, I have a couple of comments.

My Mum-in-Law has not fallen but has had short spells when she cannot recall what happened. She was diagnosed as, probably, having had a small stroke.

At a different time she was also on medication (both pills and an inhaler) to reduce blood pressure and once she had not been to careful about her pills and then used the inhaler and, according to our daughter who was with her at the time, it dropped her like a stone, but afterwards my Mum in law did not know what had happened, so perhaps blood pressure may be an issue.

However, these are just comments about someone else and are therefore not worth much.

The most important thing is that your Mum gets to a doctor and describes as clearly as possible exactly what happened.

Hope things go well.

Dave
 
Mum does seem to be doing ok thanks. She has never had dizzy spells or lack of clarity, so I don't suspect a stroke. She remembers falling, but doesn't know how she fell. it's all a bit of a worry, but doctors tomorrow.
 
Sorry to hear about your mum's predicament; I hope she makes a good recovery and that you do find the cause of these tripping.

I can't offer anything with regards to her health; but these comments caught my attention ...

Tori said:
<snip>

I'm very upset over this. More so, as she did not call me when it happened as she was too embarassed. Now i'm worried sick it'll happen again and she'll say nothing :'(
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From experience, I find that as we grow older we become younger at mind. Silly things come back to embarrass us, things hurt us all too quickly, and things that make complete sense to most adults start to confuse us.

It's not necessarily an issue with everyone growing old, but I've seen it with my parents, and I see it with myself; and the worst part of this is that it's unavoidable and incurable.

If she didn't call you, try to see her point of view and don't be upset with her or yourself; just be there for her and comfort her.


Tori said:
<snip> I have a rotten sister who couldn't give a hoot and won't even visit so it's just all got on top of me :'(
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As a man of faith, I believe what goes around comes around; because of that, I wouldn't worry or bother how other behave, I just do the best that I can ... and especially when it comes to parents (for all the sleepless nights they've had when I was young).

Again, I hope she makes a speedy recovery and you find the source of these lapses and a cure too.
 
Wail said:
As a man of faith, I believe what goes around comes around; because of that, I wouldn't worry or bother how other behave, I just do the best that I can ... and especially when it comes to parents (for all the sleepless nights they've had when I was young).
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Well said :)
 
Tori, hope your Mum is soon feeling better.

My Mum, who is 81, sometimes can get up from say a chair and feel a bit giddy. She has a problem with her balance sometimes and takes tablets to help with it. It's caused by fluid in the ears.

Sometimes she gets confused by things, places she's been to etc but is remarkable for her age.

Quite often I have to repeat things louder and louder! She blames ear wax and says she doesn't need to get her hearing tested! Plus she thinks a hearing aid is something too expensive.
 
Thanks Clive x I failed to get her to the doctors today. She had a bad night and wasn't up to it. I did manage to get her meds from the chemist and she promises when she feels up to it (Her ribs are very sore) she'll go to the docs with me. So I'm no further really :(
At least she's not going far in the mean time.
 
Possibly, but she's capable of getting there really. It's early days, her ribs pain her and she's not going anywhere, so letting her rest for a bit is fine for now. She'll be at the docs as soon as possible!
 
Might be worth booking an appt for your Mum at the end of the week in advance - you can always cancel it if things change.
 
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