Fell down last night
 

Well last night (about 1:30 a.m.) I experienced my first fall since being dx. I got up to go to the bathroom and felt a bit dizzy. Well I made it to the bathroom, but then found myself loosing my balance. I am not sure if I sort of passed out. I tried grabbing the shower rod thinking I could sit down on the side of the tub. Well the rod fell on my head and I landed up in the tub with my legs over the side. My cane also ended up in the tub with me.:rolleyes: Now I live alone so there was noone I could call for help. :eek: I first tried pushing myself up, but did not have enough arm strength. So then I raised my legs into the tub and tried grabbing the grab bar to pull myself up. I still did not have enough strength. I need to start lifting those weights that are sitting in my spare bedroom.:o

I thought I was going to end up sleeping in the tub. I then rolled over and pushed myself up on my knees (which hurt like **** -- arthritis) and then managed to get out. I put some neosporin on my scraped arm , went back to bed and immediately feel asleep. I think I need to cut the meds I am taking at night. I currently take zocor, 900 mg of neurontin, ambien, and .25 of clonzaepam.

The damage? My right arm/elbow is scaped and bruised, my right hip is a bit sore, by back and knees hurt more than usual. I am going to take some advil once I eat something.

Oh, man. It is so scary when that happens! I'm just glad that you're okay.

It's especially hard for those of us who live alone, I keep my cell phone on my person at all times for this very reason.

Barb, maybe it's time to add a rollator to your fleet. It will give you the bilateral support and also a place to sit in situations like this. You might also consider some supplementary grab bars in the bathroom to use as high-strength railings you can use when moving about the room. They say that the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house.

I hope your owies heal swiftly. :)

:hug: Barb.....I'm sorry to hear this. Neurontin always made me a bit woosy and I was taking less of a dose than you are. So that along with the other meds probably added to your wobbly state. It's scary to fall whatever the reason. I'm alone most of the time, too, and have often wondered what I'd do if I fell and/or hurt myself while home alone. Cindy's got a good idea about keeping the cell phone on you at all times. I usually don't keep it on me but it's never far away. That's not good enough, though, if I can't get to it! :rolleyes: I've almost fallen many times and have just been fortunate enough to either catch myself of regain my balance before it happened. But, it'll happen eventually. I hope your boo-boos heal quickly. This is a good excuse to take a weekend off and just rest and recover. Wish I lived nearby.....I'd help!! :)

Or even (dare I say?) a commode near your bed in case you DO feel woozy when you get up. I know, I know. But it's better than sleeping in the tub for two days. Glad things weren't worse. It's so scary to fall! :hug:

Oh No...I'm so sorry..:( You did what I'm always afraid I'm going to do, when transfering to the toity.. (fall in the tub). I haven't yet but It's still early..:rolleyes:

My DD put a phone extention next to the toity, for that very reason and the fact that the phone always rings whilst I am indisposed..LOL!

I hate falling. I always think, that the next time, I won't be able to pull myself up..:eek:

I'm sorry for your BooBoos and I hope you heal fast, both mentally and physically..:hug::hug:

Awwww, I'm so sorry, Barb02! I'm so glad to know that (despite the pain) you were able to get yourself out of the tub.

My grandmother once spent a day and night in the tub waiting for someone to help.

Exactly a year ago I was on crutches b/c of a broken ankle. I was very afraid to shower alone while balancing on one leg. I did what Cindy mentioned and kept that cell phone close by, just in case.

Please be careful! Falling sure takes a toll on your self-confidence. I don't know how old you are, but grandkid kisses sure help heal booboos! :hug:

Cell phone was sitting on the sink. No pockets in my pj's:). I am going to cut down on some of my bedtime meds.

Hi Barb. I have had the same experiences of falling on the short night journey from bed to the bathroom. I agree that cutting medication is a good start.

I did the same.

But I have now added the rollator at night. I just place it next to the bed when I go to sleep. It is so nice to have it when I am making my way to the bathroom in the dark.

I really did not want to do it but now that it is there, it is so much safer.

Sure beats sleeping in the tub.

:hug: Barb. I agree to getting grab bars for support. There is also a bar you can buy that fits down on the side of your tub for added support getting in and out that may help. The bars today are not your institutional ones anymore and come in a variety of styles to choose from.

The rollator is also a great idea and one Jim refused. It cost him many falls and compound fractures due to him being too stubborn to use it. I am telling you the truth. If we had not lived with him there is no telling how he would have helped himself when he was too injured to get back up. Worse, sometimes he fell in the shower and we'd have to help him up naked and all.

If you find you need it, use it and don't be ashamed or get down on yourself. Ask yourself this question. Is it worse to use a rollator at night or to call someone to pick you up because you injured yourself and can't get up?

Don't take my advice to heart, I am a carepartner and can't help myself. lol

:hug:

I'm glad to hear no permanent damages came out of this. It surely is an eyeopener!

I've been afraid of falling since my first episode of ON, especially in the bathroom. When we start on our redo this spring, we plan on an open shower, no tub, bars all around and nonslip surfaces. It will be wheelchair accessible to the point that we are even reconfiguring the plumbing and moving the sink to make it an easy in and out.

Let us know how you go as your bumps and bruises come out and keep that phone ON you!

Just wanted to send you a hug. :hug:

i'm single too and havn't done enuf to guard myself against this.
my BR has a tub rail and grab bars but my phone isn't close.

you might want to consider one of those life alert or medic alert companies that have bracelets or necklaces you can wear to press and call for help if you fall down.

you also might want to talk to your dr first about your nite meds. i wonder if a med, or combination, made you dizzy because when you stood up your blood pressure dropped. when you start to get out of bed try sitting on the edge first and then standing. it will give your BP time to equilibrate.

if you're dizzy try lowering your head, or sitting right where you are.

i hope you will feel better and your bruises will heal quickly.

I'm so sorry to hear about your fall. I'm glad you are okay but I'm sure it was pretty scary.

Thanks everyone for your advice and sympathy. I am okay -- just bruised and sore.

I would love to have a walk in shower. However I rent. I have 2 bathrooms and both have tubs. I think I am going ask my landlords about the possibility of putting in a shower in the master bathroom when they get back from their winter in Florida. I have lived here for 12 years and they have made alot of money off of me. Perhaps they will put one in if I offer to pay half. I know he will put in more grab bars for me.

I do not think I need a rollator at this point as my balance is usually good. I always pass those tests at the neuro's. But if I continue to experience the dizziness at nights after taking less meds (or feel I need the meds) then I will definitely consider it.

Barb, Glad you're ok after that scarey experience. :hug::hug:

You've gotten a lot of great advice, so I don't have much to add.

I'm so sorry about your fall Barb. :hug: It's happened to me several times but not in awhile (knock on fake wood).

Once I was sick on the floor and had to yell for DH about ten times before he work up.

I think it's a good idea to cut down on some of the meds a bit. Also, maybe keep a cordless phone handy at night?

I also think the idea of the rollator just for nighttime use is a good idea.

Hi Barb,
Falling is terrible. One minute you are up and a second later down. It happens so fast. I am glad you are only bruised. The tub is not a soft place to land. Bathrooms are dangerous. My tile is so slippery I had to cover most of it with carpets. I fell on my knee and had to have knee surgery. I was alone at the time.

I drove myself to the hospital with a huge bump and a bleeding knee. I didn't know I had torn the meniscus to bits and two tendons stretched and torn. 6 months in a cast and crutches, along with PT.

I loop my cell phone case to a thick ribbon and tie it loosely around my waist when I have no pockets. If I fall it goes with me in the protective case.

You could have passed out and really hurt yourself. My friend feel asleep on the bowl in the middle of the night and fell forward and hit her head on the tub. Knocked out until morning when her DD came in the house and found her.

I hope it never happens to you again. I think the Ambien pushed you over the dizzy point. I have taken the others you take, but not the Ambien or Zocor. I may get a drug hangover in the morning but not dizzy.

Please call and let your doctor know what happened. Maybe your BP dropped too low while you slept.

I hope your landlord will consider a shower but that doesn't help if you are dizzy going into the BR. Counters and bowls are a hazard too. Feel better soon.

Barb,

Hope you're feeling better now. A lot of good ideas have been posted.
My quick note is to just call your doctor and give him/her the low-down on your fall.

feel better!

Niko

How are you feeling today, Barb? What color are those bruises? :hug:

I am doing okay -- just stiff and sore. Bruises are a lovely shade of blackish/blue with red scrapes in some places. Thanks for asking:D!

Oh, i'm SO sorry to hear that you fell down Barb:hug:! I really hope that you are feeling better now and that your aches and pains have gone away - i'm so glad to hear that you weren't seriously injured!!

Please take it easy and rest until you are feeling better!! I agree with what some of the others have said also, maybe it's time to get an assistive device if you don't have one already - I know it is a scary thought but you shouldn't be having to struggle any more than you already do!!:hug:

I'm keeping you in my thoughts and sending you many pain-free hugs! Feel better soon!!

I don't want to be a nag but I am.:)

Being dizzy or an accidental fall is never anticipated. Old Saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I fell and broke my shoulder back in November. DH was not home so I had to pull myself together and I drove to ER.

I repeat: You can never anticipate an accident!

oh yeah, one more Old Saying: Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.:)

Barb,
Hope you're feeling a bit better...that was scary. Get one of those medical alert necklaces that you can use if you fall...the type that alerts an emergency center.
take care:hug:

Poor Baby. I'm so sorry for your ouchies..:hug:

Are your booboo's all better yet? :(

I have to second it medical alert necklace or bracelet, better safe than sorry) rollator to use at night if you have no visitors ;)


The first step is the hardest. (or as Rod Stewart says "The first cut is the deepest")

I fell in the tub, layed there, struggled to get up and out. Only did it twice til I changed my life.

Do you have a medical alert device? Which do you prefer, the necklace or bracelet? We have looked into it. What company?

I am currently leaving phones on the ground in key locations when I am alone at night and wear my cell phone during the day.

The rollator at night is really good, I can almost walk in my sleep to the bathroom, no worries.