Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: Repeated syncope (fainting). Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Unless it has something to do with high blood pressure and then the blood pressure bottoms out when standing... I don't know. And I've never witnessed either of these conditions with my mother -- although doctors assumed my mother had TIAs, but that was when they thought she had vascular dementia. Maybe this is one of the reasons why LBD is often confused with vascular dementia a lot... But again, doctors assumed my mother had them -- they were never witnessed... > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 When my mother experienced falling and waking up on the floor it was thought to be due to low blood pressure, assumed as a side effect of Sinemet. I wonder now if it was that or from the LBD having started. She was put on a med to raise BP and the falling stopped. > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 , My Mom took a few falls early on. She was on blood pressure meds. Now I wonder if she had forgotten to take them. Looking back is always easier to try and figure out. Donna R Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in a nh. She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine. Re: fainting? When my mother experienced falling and waking up on the floor it was thought to be due to low blood pressure, assumed as a side effect of Sinemet. I wonder now if it was that or from the LBD having started. She was put on a med to raise BP and the falling stopped. > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Hi all, The fainting is related to the autonomic dysfunction seen with LBD. It means, practically, that the body can no longer adjust to sudden changes in position, e.g. sitting to standing. Peripheral vasculature usually constricts when changing position to keep the blood going to the head and brain. In LBD, this compensation doesn't occur, and BP bottoms out. We all have experienced this, commonly known as " head rushes " (at least from my kids perspective) With a normally functioning autonomic nervous system, you receive a message (blurred vision, seeing stars..) that tells you to sit down, hold onto something and wait. That ability to compensate based on reacting to signals is also gone with LBD. So, our LOs faint. Good thing is, when you are in a lying down position, BP readjusts. > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Another thing about the autonomic dysfunction--we had to stop my Mom's high blood pressure medication because of this issue. She now has a relatively normal BP, with no fainting, falling episodes. I expect we will need to reassess this at a later date, but weighing the benefits and burdens, it made more sense to stabilize her BP. She was more at risk for a fall and hip fracture than she was from a stroke from high blood pressure. The one thing we can be certain of--the LBD brain responds very differently to meds, outside stimuli and physiological changes. Everything is LO specific. The best advice I've seen about meds is start low and go slow and watch the symptoms. You may have to make decisions about what which symptom(s)is/are easiest to live with. > > > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 I have found it interesting through the years that Mom was on medication for high blood pressure for about 25 years. Then we not only stopped it when she went on Sinemet but she ended up having to take a med to raise her BP! In the end we were able to stop all BP meds and even though it fluctuated, she remained relatively stable. > > > > > > I see on the lbda.org site these two supporting features of LBD: > > > > > > Repeated syncope (fainting). > > > Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness. > > > > > > Does anyone know why this fainting occurs? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Thanks Dodie! Your explanations are always so direct, informative, and easy to understand. Your participation is invaluable! > > Hi all, > The fainting is related to the autonomic dysfunction seen with LBD. > It means, practically, that the body can no longer adjust to sudden > changes in position, e.g. sitting to standing. Peripheral > vasculature > usually constricts when changing position to keep the blood going to > the head and brain. In LBD, this compensation doesn't occur, and BP > bottoms out. We all have experienced this, commonly known as " head > rushes " (at least from my kids perspective) With a normally > functioning autonomic nervous system, you receive a message (blurred > vision, seeing stars..) that tells you to sit down, hold onto > something and wait. That ability to compensate based on reacting to > signals is also gone with LBD. So, our LOs faint. Good thing is, > when you are in a lying down position, BP readjusts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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