I wish somebody could help

That's lovely to hear, Gangy5!

Here I am again with good news to report. DH and myself went to stay with BIL for a week. I think that by this time his medication was kicking in and with our arrival to take his mind off the problem he steadily improved. We got him out on little trips and he was OK - finishing the week with coping in a busy restaurant for dinner.
This week he is on his 2nd hypnotherapy treatment - the 1st going rather well.
My thanks to you all for your input and suggestions. It's comforting to know where to come for support.

It has been wonderful having your thoughts and input. I arrived here with sister and BIL yesterday lunch time and am staying till Sunday. I'm pleased to say that he had a good day yesterday - I think a little sympathetic company took his mind off things.
As many of you say, I think the GP's are rather hard pressed and take the easy way out where possible. Although after saying this he did have a visit a couple of days ago from 2 psychiatric nurses (one a trainee), who are coming again next week.

My thanks to all- I will certainly keep you updated as this sort of thing seems to be quite common in old age!

A thought went missing: a list of symptoms, yes - but also a list of ideas and questions.

mumofmadboys I think you should be correct.

Unfortunately many busy tired GP miss symptoms or patient doesn't tell all their symptoms - nothing is diagnosed. I like to go with questions and thoughts of my own. Many times I have pointed out things that have been ignored.

A well accomplished list is quite helpful.

Good post mumofmadboys I can't believe all the diagnosis on here please don't take too much notice of what people think (the poor blokes now got Alzheimer's to add to all the other findings )

Just encourage them to the Docs for further advice and hopefully tests
If it happens again and he goes unconscious A and E

I am a retired GP. I think it would be best to help your sister and BIL to make a list of the problems he is experiencing and go back to see a GP you like. Seek their advice which may involve further investigations and then go back and see them until the problems improve. I am a bit horrified at some of the advice on this thread when we know little about the 'patient'. The GP will refer on to secondary care if that is appropriate. Wishing your BIL well.

Agree with those who are suggesting a GP appointment and further tests.

Does seem like dementia could be on a list to think about.

My late mother had dementia and she would not stay out for a meal always wanted t go home after being out for a few minutes

So far in this thread he's had panic attacks, heart problems, anxiety and depression, reaction to pills .... if he hasn't had tests get him back to the doctor ask for him to be referred to a consultant and if it happens again get him straight to A and E, if he was really 'out for some time' something is going on that shouldn't be
Don't try to second guess you need to know what is causing his low blood pressure

I well remember my dad didn't want to leave his comfortable home after he was around 80. Maybe he's just too old to get out and is happier at home where life is predictable and pleasant?

Mr Eggy almost passed out while we were out walking - we found out later (from our pharmacist) that the pills he had been prescribed for prostate problems had the effect of lowering blood pressure and as he was already having blood pressure lowering pills the combined effect was disastrous!
Prostate pills had been prescribed by hospital who obviously hadn't double checked for other medication. Worth checking out?

IMO GPS can't deal with complex issues. My BIL had a by pass, then a heart valve and a pacemaker but then some time later developed low blood pressure problems resulting in the scenario you outlined

Their strategy was to train him to recognise what was happening so he could warn my sis, and importantly get him down to the floor so that he wouldn't keel over and hurt himself.

It's worked thus far. He remembers never to get up from the chair too quickly.... And suchlike.

But the point of my post is to suggest that he sees a consultant cardiologist.

I'm a retired nurse. I think your BIL needs a further medical assessment. I recommend you get another GP appointment not necessarily with the same GP. If the situation is not resolving then clearly the problem/treatment hasn't been identified yet. Tell the receptionist that a bossy nurse on Gransnet
sent you !

He has my sympathy as I felt like this after a fall, I felt very reluctant to go out on my own and fearful of falling again and causing not only myself but the family a lot of problems. Low blood pressure is difficult to deal with and usually by the time your blood pressure is taken all has returned to normal and nothing untoward is found. I have had an occasional missed heartbeat for over 30 years but not requiring medical intervention everything looked into and nothing found, obviously this is good but does make you feel vunerable. For me time took care of things a bit and I try to carry on as normally as possible. Your BIL at 84 may have got to a point where he doesn't want to go out as much anyway but he is suffering anxiety does he really need antidepressants which will bring their own problems.

If he has not had thorough tests I would go back and pester the gp to check his heart , and possibly do a brain scan, as I think when you get older you are just fobbed off . He could ask to be referred for a heart monitor for a week

I'm so sorry you have this worry.

It sounds as if he might need a pacemaker and if this has not been assessed your BIL should be tested - insist if need be.

My DH was treated for several years for asthma which he had had had diagnosed correctly years before but never reassessed, though I knew that heart failure had developed. He chose - understandably - to believe the asthma till he had a heart attack - luckily in France with excellent care and the required stent.

Please don't let your BIL wait for an emergency.

A GP's surgery can monitor blood pressure, but can't give a definite reason for low blood pressure. He really needs to be referred to a hospital unit, which is equipped to do specialist tests.

There's no need for private tests, although some foot stamping to get a referral might be needed.

It honestly sounds exactly the same as I had and isn't that uncommon.

I've just realised that the first episode occurred at a family get-together. One possible reason for the fainting might have been overheating and lack of oxygen in a crowded room. It can also be caused by postural hypotension, which sometimes happens when standing up from a sitting position.

My partner and I were coming back on the bus from a lunch out when he 'fainted'. It turned out to be one of his blood pressure pills which is well known to cause this, so he was taken off them. He is still on another one, but I wonder if medication was the cause?

See another doc in the surgery if you are not happy with that GPs assessment. Different docs have different points of view. I did this with my back... as my regular GP just said it was bog standard sciatica and I needed physio. NOT... I had a herniated disc that had been two years in the making.

I also sometimes think that when people get over a certain age, they are 'expected' to be unwell. If this is out of character for your BIL per his past decent health, a different opinion might ease his anxiety on top of it all. And the real cause might be diagnosed.

Sorry to hear about this. I'm laid up with a badly broken ankle. I've had to remain on a bed with it elevated, I've done one month & have another to go. I suffer with low blood pressure. My husband was wheeling me back to the bed in my wheelchair when I suddenly felt extremely dizzy. It lasted for about two minutes. I was frightened that I would faint & fall out of the chair. As it happened I got safely on my bed. It has unnerved me & I completely understand why he would have panic attacks. I hope things improve for you. Let us know.

Just had a thought ... how does he feel about the not going out thing? If he's motivated to do something about it, you're halfway there.

I have low blood pressure too, which can lead to similar episodes, but I'm a bit concerned that he was 'out' for a while. I thought fainting was the body's way of equalling blood pressure so the fainter comes around almost instantly. Having said that it does sound like panic attacks, which I've also had. Does the GP offer any CBT - that can work wonders. Good luck.

It definitely sounds like an anxiety reaction to his experience. His GP has offered the cheapest obvious treatment and it can take a few weeks for the body to get used to antidepressants. That doesn't help him in the short term and won't at all if he stops taking the antidepressants.

You must try to persuade him to go out though even for short periods. It's so easy to end up like me and become unable to go out. The more he puts off going out the harder it will be.