Collapse then AF

[ian16527]

Dad has mixed dementia and is 90 in May. He lives alone with my support. He has a history of collapse dating back to the 1990's but only three in all that time.

He had a pacemaker in 2017 due to another collapse and found to have some heart block. A year later he had another and this is when we noticed the start of the memory loss. He has had a low HR for many years.

His confusion the last couple of weeks has been worse and he fell one night ( it was frosty) on the steps. I found out next day. The day later he seemed back to normal but then just dropped in front of me. Out for about 5-10 secs. Paramedics said he was in AF and I noticed the HR at 100. Usually at 60 controlled by the pacemaker. Some confusion started then after this attack

I wonder if he is having some arrhythmia which makes him pass out which reverts to AF.

This episode has resulted in delirium for a day or two which has never happened before. Now he has picked up Covid in hospital. They cant find anything wrong with him apparently. They have lowered his BP meds and upped the bisoprolol

[Cavalierrubie]

Sorry to hear of your problems. At least he is in the best place to get properly diagnosed. I know some folks do pass out with AF. Apparently, it’s to do with the transition of the heart adjusting itself and regulating itself. Personally, l would be looking at the Bisoprolol. I cannot tolerate this drug. It lowers my blood pressure too much as well as making me dizzy with brain fog.

[meadfoot]

Bless him sounds as though he needs a thorough medical work up. Has he seen a cardiologist while in hospital if not he needs to. Covid will most likely exacerbate his cardiac symptoms, they have mine. I so hope you can get him back on track. Perhaps a new strategy overall is now on the cards for his living arrangements etc. Best wishes to you both.

[FraserB]

It’s not easy to see a parent go through so many health changes. My 88 year old mother for over a year also had numerous collapses. She was on many heart medications as well. A neurologist finally said she had a minor stroke in the basal ganglia which if you didn’t know her you’d think there was nothing wrong with her. Unfortunately over a few years it did progress into vascular dementia. A cardiologist mentioned that first stroke was embolic mostly likely started in the heart with arrhythmia. Over a year she kept collapsing with periods in between of seeming okay. She also had her BP meds lowered. And other meds added. Another cardiologist suspected she was having TIAs causing the collapses and wanted to place a pacemaker (she did not have one). She also had delirium when in hospital which is not unusual for a senior because of the hospital environment. Unfortunately we never got a pinpoint diagnosis. From your post it does sound like your dad’s medical history is different from my mother’s but at the same time heart health can play a role in collapses. I hope your dad will stabilize with upping the bisoprolol. And it’s difficult to be an advocate and caregiver of senior parents with health struggles and also have other viral diseases circulating in medical centres at the same time. Your dad is lucky to have you looking out and after him.

[waveylines]

I'm so sorry to hear this. You must be understandably very worried. They do need to sort out what's causing the collapses and it sounds like they think his BP. Is dropping too low. Really hope things settle down for your Dad soon. Being in a hospital environment is not great mentally for your Dad so not surprising he becomes confused. Hope he feels better soon.

[ian16527]

Update, Dads in a care home now. He has had another couple of these attacks, but I only know as his HR is 95-100 sometimes - normally 60 kept by the pacemaker.

He is variable with the memory, but now fairly frail and has lots of hip pain so walking poorly but wandering some nights and wont go to sleep, always looking for things.

He is not capable of being at home due to the stairs and the wandering, even with carers, even though I would like him to get home. He askes somedays, and other days he thinks he is at home. He will be 90 in a month.

Thanks for all your replies

[FraserB]

Thank you ian16527 for letting us know. The care home is an environment that is best for him and the care he needs now especially with the harms of stairs, memory, and especially the wandering. It does take a while for our parent to settle in to a care home (and us as well) but as each day goes by it becomes more familiar.

And early birthday wishes for your dad turning 90 in a month. The best to you both, sounds like you have an amazing dad, he raised an great son.

[ian16527 in reply to FraserB]

I am blushing now I am the only one unfortunately

Thanks and all the best to you