"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Falls.
About six weeks ago I bought a new machine because I was not sleeping well. It is a ResMed IPAP machine.It works well and I am sleeping more soundly.
Three weeks ago I had a fall in the middle of the night. I was pretty sleepy at the time but managed to crawl back into bed. I awoke in the morning to severe pain.I had, in fact, cracked a rib.
It had just started to recover from that, when on Monday I had another fall and cracked two more ribs. I was semiconscious when taken to hospital for diagnosis.
Rarely, in the past I have had falls, not as severe and did not sustain any injury.
Does anyone see a connection between the new machine and the two recent falls?
Views: 111
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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my goodness, Gordon. I'm so sorry to hear about these terrible falls.
do you have any data from your machine on the night of the fall? I wonder whether you were having apneas/hypopneas or leaks that aroused you from sleep and set the stage for the fall.
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Permalink Reply by RL on
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This could have so many different causes, hopefully your doctor will follow up with you. My first thought was to check your blood pressure at night, and see if you could have an at home oximetry test to do overnight while using your IPAP to make sure your oxygen level is not going too low. Checking your IPAP data might give some clues as well.
Best wishes for a short recovery with your ribs!
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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I'm sorry to hear this. Did you happen to get a new mask at the same time? I don't even know if this is plausible, but if a mask were not vented properly, could CO2 build up cause a person to be groggy?
What were you doing when you fell? If you were up going to the BR, perhaps you were just still very sleepy.
Did the docs have anything to say other than you broke some ribs? That's a pretty severe fall by the way, it certainly needs looking into. I am prone to falls, but never fall that hard, Gordon.
Mary Z.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon Osmond on
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On both occasions I fell just after standing up. On Tuesday might I was sitting at my desk. Two weeks ago I stood up from the bed to go to the toilet.
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Permalink Reply by Carl Speas on
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i had these falls myself before going on bpap. doctor said it was due to a lack of oxygen from the sleep apnea. since starting treament i have not had them. I agree with RL maybe you need to have oxygen levels monitored.
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Also, I would sit on the side of the bed for a minute or two, breathing deeply and getting your land legs back before getting up. BP could be dropping. Checking 02 levels would be a good idea, any dizziness, or grey haze before hitting the floor?
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Permalink Reply by gordon on
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Really sorry to hear this, Gordon. Our son (20) has always had fantastic health since birth, he had dizzy/falling spells twice in his room about 6 months ago, they ran tests, EAR WAX was the (relief!) cause, after getting out of his computer chair, it was equilibrium.
Or, it's blood pressure or more serious, not sure if CPAP to blame,
hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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how is your blood sugar?
gordon nelson said:Really sorry to hear this, Gordon. Our son (20) has always had fantastic health since birth, he had dizzy/falling spells twice in his room about 6 months ago, they ran tests, EAR WAX was the (relief!) cause, after getting out of his computer chair, it was equilibrium.
Or, it's blood pressure or more serious, not sure if CPAP to blame,
hope this helps.
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AND - men get osteoporosis too!!! Sounds like those ribs broke very easily. If I were you I would also push for a DEXA bone scan.
Blood pressure, hypoglycemia, CO2 retention, 02 desaturation or deprivation, ear infection or other ear effects on the equilibrium, orthostatic hypertension (or is it orthostatic hypotension??) ....
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Orthostatic hypotension is when the BP is normal sitting up, but takes a significant drop upon the person standing. Hence sitting on the side of the bed getting acclimated, especially when coming from a prone position can help. This can also occur when someone has been sitting for a long time without moving their legs around and blood pools in the legs. Good point about the osteoporisis- either those were very hard falls, or the bones not as strong as they could be. Also other good points, Judy.
Mary Z.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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All good suggestions. Hope you get to feeling better Gordon!!
Keep us posted please.
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