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Post by ntsf on Mar 19, 2019 1:54:44 GMT
my dad is 92, lives alone, cooks his own meals.. very independent of course. 2 yrs ago, was skiing with no problems down major mountain --sun valley idaho--all winter.. has been healthy and very active all his life.. no smoking, limited drinking over the past 20 yrs. climbed and backpacked and just general get up and go. he was the guy who always used the stairs never the elevator.
about 18 months ago, he went to get up from a chair and he felt like his legs could not support him. felt very dizzy. after 2 hours laying on floor, was able to get up and felt ok. doctor did scans, etc. could not find any problems. dad takes no medications.
he started feeling slightly dizzy, very occasionally with no apparent reason or connection between incidents. harder and harder to get out of bed every day. last year, tried to ski but fell over due to loss of balance. he seemed to be losing balance the most while skiing. --he has skiing since 1936.
so in the past two months, he finds it hard to get out of bed before 2-3 pm. very dizzy --has a hard hard time getting going. he starts feeling good at 4 pm and gains energy and strength in the evening.
I'm trying to get him to go back to doctor. I've also suggested eating something before he gets up and drinking as much water as he can. I think he drinks 4-6 glasses a day of liquid.
any suggestions from the crowd? I had talked him into going to europe with me for a week in two months, now he wants to back out. I live two states away which is tough..
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 1:33:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2019 2:00:07 GMT
Has he had his ears checked to make sure all is well there? There are some small crystal type of things (my uncle called them his ear rocks) that can come loose and float in the ear canal upsetting the balance.
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Post by pjaye on Mar 19, 2019 2:11:56 GMT
In my opinion, dizziness, fainting etc always needs a full cardiac (heart) work up. ECG, possibly 24hr halter monitor, stress test & full bloods.
Those symptoms can be associated with insufficient cardiac output.
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Post by Just Beth on Mar 19, 2019 2:17:38 GMT
I agree with PJaye, he needs a cardiac work up. He could be having bradycardia or other arrhythmia. Many of there are easily treated.
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Post by internetmama on Mar 19, 2019 2:29:52 GMT
Also get a brain MRI to check for brain tumors and a Head and neck MRA to check for possible stroke or clogged arteries. Could be vertigo (I just had it.). An ENT can help him with that but rule out the scary stuff first. Next step is physical therapy to retrain balance and build core strength. Sorry he is suffering. Vertigo was the worst illness I’ve ever had and I’ve had chemo, natural child birth times 3, and a huge kidney stone.
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 1:33:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2019 3:17:42 GMT
Does he also live at a higher altitude? Wonder if that is starting to effect him more as he’s aged?
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Mar 19, 2019 3:20:09 GMT
Full blood work too.
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Post by Really Red on Mar 19, 2019 3:30:34 GMT
I can't believe his doctor isn't taking this more seriously! We do not do a favor to older folk. I agree with everyone above, but I also think it may be an ear thing. That's exactly what my MIL had. She walked the St. Jacques de Compostele at 80 yo - 800km! But she had so many inner ear problems and she couldn't get out of bed. She finally had her ear deafened, which helped, but did not cure her problem.
I hope he finds out what it is. Do you have a sibling or family member nearby?
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 1:33:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2019 3:39:59 GMT
I had assumed a doctor would do a full heart and blood work up on a 90+ year old. Maybe not, if they didn't that is the place to start.
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Post by bc2ca on Mar 19, 2019 3:48:29 GMT
What time is he going to bed in the evening? How much is he eating during the day? My dad is 90 and sleeps about 10-11 hours at night with a 1-2 hour afternoon nap, just as a comparison. He lives independently in a senior community, is fit and healthy. He has had issues with dizzy spells and fainting that they've never been able to pinpoint a reason. Low blood pressure and low blood sugar are suspected factors. His most recent episode happened with a middle of the night trip to the bathroom. He felt he was going to faint and started to lie down, but actually did pass out before he got there, hitting his head. He was checked out, but once again given no answers. He does better if he gets up slowly and sits on the bed before being completely upright.  hugs, it's hard to watch an active parent aging |
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Post by Legacy Girl on Mar 19, 2019 4:36:28 GMT
Any indication of a tremor in his hands, arms, feet or legs?
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Post by ntsf on Mar 19, 2019 4:45:36 GMT
He used to sit down for three complete meals a day.. like 9, noon and 7 pm. I get the feeling he eats 2 meals now. my sister in law should be back nearby soon.. my brother is off skiing til mid april. my dad lives at sea level in seattle until recently he slept 10-hours a night and an afternoon snooze. he has had clear arteries all his life.. no history of heart problems.. he is very sharp mentally.. with just some little forgetfulness. he gets around fine in his apartment.. takes a cane just because when he goes out. has very quick reflexes. he cooks, cleans, does laundry, changes the sheets, shops, goes to church many sundays. I had to scold him to get him to stop driving in the snow. very social.
thank you for all your suggestions. I can't get up to see him til end of april.. but I can get my sister in law involved maybe.. and if I bug him, he will do what I ask. over 4 days, eating a granola bar before he gets up and a glass of water have not seemed to make a difference.
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Post by newfcathy on Mar 19, 2019 13:53:04 GMT
My dad had dizzy spells after retiring. Turns out he had a cancer in the small intestine.
His new doctor, did rectal exams in back to back check ups and found blood. Dad had suffered blood loss, after a transfusion, he felt much better. The cancer was discovered a bit later.
Dad had been so distraught from the dizziness & overall weakness that he had contemplated suicide, my mom later told me.
Hope that they soon find the cause of your dad’s issues.
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Post by ntsf on Mar 19, 2019 17:50:13 GMT
he has no tremors at all.. he has good strength in hands, etc..
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Post by papersilly on Mar 19, 2019 18:35:00 GMT
my friend's dad went through something like this. they put him through a battery of tests. in the end, they put a pacemaker in him. i don't know the details of his diagnosis but the pacemaker seems to have made a world of difference. no more falling. no more extreme weakness.
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Post by hennybutton on Mar 19, 2019 19:20:31 GMT
My dad had almost the same thing. I can't remember the name of the diagnosis, but it was a result of fluid building up in the brain. They put in a shent to relieve the pressure and that helped a lot. It's fairly common in elderly people.
He should get a neurological workup. I hope they find the cause quickly.
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 1:33:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2019 19:26:36 GMT
My dad had almost the same thing. I can't remember the name of the diagnosis, but it was a result of fluid building up in the brain. They put in a shent to relieve the pressure and that helped a lot. It's fairly common in elderly people. He should get a neurological workup. I hope they find the cause quickly. Hydrocephalus |
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 1:33:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2019 19:27:08 GMT
My dad had almost the same thing. I can't remember the name of the diagnosis, but it was a result of fluid building up in the brain. They put in a shent to relieve the pressure and that helped a lot. It's fairly common in elderly people. He should get a neurological workup. I hope they find the cause quickly. Hydrocephalus |
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Post by hennybutton on Mar 19, 2019 20:03:31 GMT
My dad had almost the same thing. I can't remember the name of the diagnosis, but it was a result of fluid building up in the brain. They put in a shent to relieve the pressure and that helped a lot. It's fairly common in elderly people. He should get a neurological workup. I hope they find the cause quickly. Hydrocephalus Thank you.' |
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Post by deekaye on Mar 19, 2019 20:18:38 GMT
Has he had a change in medication? My father-in-law was dizzy, uncoordinated, etc. and it was because his new heart medication didn't "set well" (his terms) with him. Once it was changed, he was back to his ol' active self.
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Post by ntsf on Mar 19, 2019 23:41:44 GMT
On no regular medication. I just got off the phone with him.. trying to get him to make appt next week. more detail: last big episode was one year ago. they did a CT scan, and ruled out heart attack, stroke, inner ear. he is skeptical. but will call i hope.
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on Mar 20, 2019 1:39:06 GMT
Is someone going to his doctor appts with him? My dad had a tendency not to disclose everything going on to the doctor. Sometimes misinterpreting what the doctor said. It is kind of hard when you don't live in the same household to know everything going on, but please have someone go with him.
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Post by ntsf on Mar 20, 2019 1:55:46 GMT
no one goes with him.to any appointments.. after all your wonderful advice, I am flying up next week and told him to make a appt for his doctor and I will go with him. my brother will see him thursday or friday and is alarmed with my report. today he tried to get up to do stuff and felt too dizzy. we agree he can't live on his own with this situation. but he has long term care insurance and can pay for help.
thanks again. I can a bulldog about stuff but it helps to have a direction.
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Post by wezee on Mar 20, 2019 3:13:58 GMT
Maybe low blood pressure
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