Hi Ladies,Yes this is the second time I've passed out on the toilet the first was a few months back.I ended on my face looked like i had done a few rounds with a boxer,
I went to my part time job not knowing if my employer would what me to stay, we told customer I had asked for a rise and this was the answer they took it in good humor.
This time I passed out and my poor husband could not get me up,he was about to call a ambulance when I came to, the problem with him getting me up is I took time of chemo a couple years ago to have a knee replacement my Dr would not do both while i was on chemo so when I go down I can't get up by myself.
When I came to we discovered my left ankle had gone under and I could not stand on it and my other knee also had swollen, I've now been in bed for a couple days and trying to get around on crutches.
This happens to me when I get constipated so I need to look at the problem but as you ladies know it's hard to control constipation when your on treatment and I have low blood presser also, so I think I need to take a pillow with me or better still have a seat belt in the toilet.
Take care my friends and my best wishes to you all Lorraine xx
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lorraine71-Australia
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I too have had some near misses on the toilet during Chemo. I would suddenly get faint from the stress of using the toilet (and I have diarrhoea!). Too embarrassed to let myself pass out on the John, I managed to pull my pants up and get out before collapsing in front of my bedroom door.
Too faint to get up again. This happened twice also, but once I had learned my lesson, I could gage myself when nest I was in that precarious state.
Luckily I did no more damage than terrify my loved ones.
Sorry Lorraine but the mental pic of you sitting on the lav complete with seat belt did make me chuckle! Honestly tho the stuff this illness throws at us its a good job we can retain some semblance of humour. hope yr ok xx Kathy xx
HI Kathy, It's now to the stage I am worried about going to the loo at night or any time, so a padded toilet or a very low one so I'm already on the floor,but the problem with the low toilet is I can't get back up.
I'm ok today going getting around on my crutches..take care Lorraine xx😀
OMG honey. You could have done some serious damage to yourself. It's so hard not to strain though and statistics say that a lot of people do die on the loo. Had a friend do that very thing - but, he was about 20 stone or more. His old heart couldn't take the strain of it all. And don't forget Elvis and Judy Garland, to name two. I'm at the rabbit poo stage, day 4 post chemo, after doing virtually nothing for a couple of days. So tonight it's the old Oxy Powder and while I sleep all my poop will turn to liquid so tomorrow my colon with be squeaky clean. I've given myself a pile since being on caelyx and it bleeds if I push too much. Then, if I do manage something it's like passing a fecking cactus. I'd rather have the liquid poo and stay in all day than face the dreaded cactus and bleeding pile.
Do take care of yourself and don't overdo it on the loo. If it doesn't want to come out then just let it be and send down something to blast it out easily. I won't laugh at the thought of you on the loo with a seat belt on surrounded by cushions ........... but I will smile You could always wear a crash helmet and some skateboard protective pads when you visit...... Sorry darling. Couldn't resist. Do look after yourself. You are too precious to have any more crap in your life. Big love xxxx
Oh Lorraine. That’s worrying. I hope it doesn’t happen again to you. Seat belt on the toilet really made me laugh. Great you’ve still got humour with this wretched disease.
Hi Suzanne ,Thank you but what make you think I'm joking I think the seat belt was a good idea I would just go in buckle up and pass out, The idea could take off ha ha I could make a fortune the toilet seat belts
But for now I 'll just have to be more careful..Take care of yourself love Lorraine xx💙💙
Thank you Netti, yes the rest has help I'm getting around on my crutches and feeling a lot better and will have to try and be more careful in the future.
You take care of yourself my friend ..Lorraine xx💙💙
Oh Lorraine! You poor thing! The seatbelt on the toilet makes me think of an episode of an adult cartoon South Park! It’s a weird episode but funny too! I hope you get better soon xxx
Oh poor you... with consequences to add to all your other troubles... The sudden fainting thing is weird, at least I get plenty of body warning signs if I feel dizzy and about to go, so I can go sit/ lie down and recover..
I suppose it is all about how quickly your blood pressure drops...?
My little tip for when you seem to be spending more time on the loo than off it hoping and pushing for action is to place A little stool ( we keep in the downstairs toilet, ) in front of you with a cushion on top. I literally lay my head on it with exhaustion... it's surprisingly comforting and helped me relax a bit.
Am thinking if you had similar set up at least - if you fainted again - you'd just end up in a better position and not flat on the floor...
Hope you recover soon, but there's always something isn't there!
Hi Janet, Thank you I will have to do some thing if only to give me peace of mind I'll try your suggesten, the is trouble I get no warning at all one minute I'm on the loo next wake up on The floor,It's quite scary how fast it happens.
I'm ok to day managing to get around the house on my crutches and yes there is always something we have to watch, the good thing is I'm still here.
Really sorry to hear about this. I think the issue is how to avoid it happening again. Not sure who you would talk to about it. On another note, there are thick spongy floor mats that might be worth purchasing and putting around your toilet in your bathroom as they would cushion a fall. My biggest fear would be hitting my head on a hard floor. Also perhaps purchasing some smelling salts. When I was young I would occasionally pass out for no reason that anyone could figure out and they worked to bring me around. This is something your spouse could administer. Hope you heal quickly.
Hi ,Thank you for the surgestens The mat could work but as you said I have to avoid it happening again. I come too alright and feel ok except for the injuries' the first time I did fall flat on my face and looked like I had done a few round with a boxer.
I'm ok to day I must admit been putting of going to the toilet but will have to sooner or later. thank you and take care Lorraine xx
That quick fainting sounds downright scary, Lorraine. Glad your ankle is getting better now.. did you have it xrayed?
Aside from fitting a six point racing harness and crash helmet, I like the suggestions of placing a padded stool and putting soft mats or rugs on the floor. If you do decide to fit a lower toilet, how about handle bars on the wall so you can get back up? Definitely pad all sharp corners. Ikea sells corner protectors.
I know this because chemo has resulted in neuropathy in my right foot. Each time I get up, there's a good chance I'll fall over again right away. So as part of my recent redecorating frenzy, the flat has been emptied of some more bulky pieces, had padded stools added to bathrooms and generally made safer for a toddler.. or in this case a cancer patient :).
Hi Maus, Maybe I should just put padding around me, it is scary, I will have a talk with my oncologist, my having low blood presser does not help having high blood presser does not help, this defiantly is a hoot of a disease..take care of yourself..Lorraine xx
We shouldn't laugh about these additional misfortunes that come our way, but I did chuckle at the seat-belt idea this morning.
Between you and Lily-Anne this week, we have the making of a Buster Keaton movie.
You sound to have a great employer.
I'd focus on trying to get on top of/ boost the BP and preventing the constipation..... easier said than done, I know, but risk management nevertheless....
Stay safe, Lorraine, but keep your sense of humour too. Toilet seat belts - great! For some reason I was reminded of this old Punch cartoon, which describes the opposite problem - I've often wished for a loo by the sofa so I didn't have to keep trekking through to the bathroom!).
Oh Lorraine good to hear you are up and about on your chrutches, I had a vision of you with seatbelt on, crash helmet and ready to go.
I struggled going the toilet since 1st line treatment, this time I go from one to the other during this chemo and have to take laxido & dioctyl every morning and still have to strain. Hugs to you.
Oh Lorraine. I just saw your post. Hope you are feeling a bit better. Apparently its very common I found out when I passed out twice on the toilet when I came home from my operation a couple of years ago. I support what others have said about having padding or towelling or something on your toilet floor so you don't injure yourself if it happens again.
I was lucky that someone was with me and caught me both times or I think my head would have hit the sink! I still get dizzy sometimes and have learnt to sit down immediately and stop!
Please take it easy. Its hard enough dealing with everything else we have to deal with, without more injury on top! Feeling concerned for you. Love from Sydney.
Lorraine I sympathize for you. Apart from packing your toilet with pillows and soft rugs which isn’t ideal, maybe your poor husband will have to accompanied you. I have nearly fallen asleep myself in the loo. My thoughts are with you. X
Oh dear I shouldn’t laugh but the mental picture I have made me giggle. What about a bean bag just in case? I have a hand rail that is occasionally useful but the idea of a toilet seat belt is brilliant!!! Hope it doesn’t happen again though xxx
This hits me really hard. I lost my father 3 years ago because of this. He passed out on the toilet and fractured his neck and it paralyzed him from the neck down. He was in the hospital for 10 days before I had to make the call to let him go be with the angels or let him be a vegetable. Please, talk to your Doctor to see what you can do. I think the seat belt is a wonderful idea. And some bumper pads on the tub and cabinets. Sorry, to share such a thing with all the worry we already have but this hits close to home. Sending hugs and prayers your way.
Hi Lorraine-always coming late to the table being in the US and everyone has said all the things I would have---but I know how scary that could have been for your hubby, how hard for you and glad you are getting around with the crutches. I think since the seat belt idea may not be a reality, I did like the idea of cushioning the floor around the toilet. Pillows abound at bedtime! Or all the time. At least if you fainted, you could sleep awhile! (kidding). Glad your boss was cool with it too...a funny thing to say to customers and easily accepted without complicated questions for you to answer.
Hope you heal quickly and find that magic powder that takes makes it all happen easier!
Oh Lorraine, you poor thing. How frightening - and painful. In England, you can borrow a metal frame to go round the loo, either from the hospital if it's because of an op, or the council if due to any other problem.That would help you sooo much. My husband had to have an op on his foot and wasn't allowed to put any weight on it for some weeks. He refused it at first until he was told to try standing up and not putting any weight on his bad foot. He realised he did need it then. Can you borrow something similar there, I wonder? Hope your aches and pains go soon and you have no more black outs. Take care, love Solange 😊
oh dear, you poor thing - perhaps you can source some assistance for aids in the bathroom like grab handles and hoists, with crash mats (they're used in aged care facilities for people who fall out of bed).
... and then when you're feeling better you can turn the bathroom into your acrobatics practice room ... keep smiling!
Hope you feeling a little better, best wishes Dawn
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You could always wear a crash helmet and some skateboard protective pads when you visit...... Sorry darling. Couldn't resist. Do look after yourself. You are too precious to have any more crap in your life. Big love xxxx
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