postural hypotension

[belinda legate]

Today after my husband has had
postural hypotension for the past few months we have seen a doctor who says it nerve damage, My husband can stand but while walking only afew steps becames very dizzy and has over the last month had a number of falls, His blood pressure becomes very low ie 111/65, Over the past couple of weeks a number of meds have been dropped but this has not helped, He now has his blood sugars under control ie 7.5 - 8.5 The only advise we were given was to drink more and add salt to the diet and learn to clench while standing slowly, Does anyone have any other advise on how to cope with this please, many thanks

 

[AlisonM]

When I sit/stand up, I do it very slowly and, if I'm going to stand up, I pause once on my feet for a moment or two before moving. It makes a little difference but doesn't stop me getting dizzy all the time. I've found that since I have the walker I'm more stable and much less likely to fall, for which small mercy my poor body is grateful because it means fewer bruises. There doesn't seem to be much they can do otherwise, at least they haven't so far. One thing I would suggest when getting up from a chair is to move to the edge and use the chair arms to push up rather than leaning forward as most folk would to stand without using the chair arms. Leaning forward to get up seems to make the hypotension and resulting dizziness worse for me.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Belinda, 111/65 is not a low blood pressure. There is a tablet that is used for people who's BP drops when standing it's called fludrocortisone https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/esuom20/chapter/Key-points-from-the-evidence unless the patient has Addison's disease then it's off label

 

[Copepod]

Postural hypotension usually means feeling dizzy immediately after rising lying to sitting to standing, not feeling dizzy after a few steps. Usual advice is to take your time when rising, taking a moment at each stage before moving again.

As your husband has had several falls, it may be worth considering using one of two sticks to steady himself. Or ask for referral to local falls team.

 

[belinda legate]

Pumper_Sue 111/65 was my husbands blood pressure reading today while standing how funny that there is a tablet with that name,
Copepod it was a doctor at our hospital in the "falls clinic" that we saw today, He did say that there was a tablet that could be used but in his words "We would be scraping the bottom of the barrow if we use it as it cause damage to the heart"
AlisonM I think we will have to get him a walker, It has come as a shock to him as until 3 months ago he was a HGV driver working away from home all week, He feels like he is the only person in the world this has happened to as he knows no-one else, I am going to get him to join so that he can ask things that are worrying him,
Thank you everyone for your advise x

 

[AlisonM]

@belinda legate : If you do go for one, I can recommend this one: LiteTravel Rollator, I bought mine in September and it's great, folds up easily, not heavy but sturdy and there's a seat if he gets dizzy. Plus it's a good price. Oh, and it's so easy to assemble, you won't need the instructions. I did add a couple of clip on bike lights, while it has reflector strips, they're not all that well placed and that's my only whinge.

 

[belinda legate]

Thank you AlisonM ill check that out

 

[trophywench]

And 'daft' things help Belinda - like sitting down on the loo even if he only wants a wee, if he isn't doing that already. something my husband had to teach himself to always do years ago since he's had low BP and heart rate generally always, at least since he was a teenager and somebody took his BP for the first time in his life!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Another thought who decided he had a diabetes problem? was it just said because he has diabetes, or did they to see if he has a middle ear imbalance/infection. If that's the case a tablet called stemitil sp* will sort that out.
A BP of 111/65 whilst standing is excellent what is it when sitting then rising ie,. what sort of drop are you talking about?

 

[belinda legate]

Pumper_Sue lol Sorry i got the numbers the wrong way about, the top number of 111 was when he was sitting, the top number when standing was 65 Sadly i let him go in with the nurse to have this and a ecg done while i sat in another room talking to the doctor, ill make sure i see it myself next time, He has had his ear's checked a number of times and they are fine x
Trophywife That was how this first started, At times when taking a wee standing up he said when he "pushed down" to wee he fainted! Acouple of times he hit the wall and sink or landed on his backside, he said nothing about this to doc's until he was in hospital and it happened again and i told the staff nurse whoops he was not best pleased at the time lol Yes he now sits down to spend a penny