Medical Question

Poststructural Pub
1

OK, I’ve been looking for the answer through the internet, but I’m obviously now wording my request properly because I have not found the answer, so I had a little talk with myself. “Self”, I said, “why not go to the one source that you know will have the answer.” I replied, “Self”, I replied, “where is that.” I then laughed at myself and answered myself- “self”, I answerd, “the answer lies at teh Chiff and Fipple Poststructural Pub. Your friends there will have the answer.” Of Course!!, I shouted, causing myself to jump back in surprise. I also slapped myself on the forward, and let me tell you, myself was not too happy about that.

So, here it is-

I won’t go into too much background on my dad’s medical conditions, not because I don’t want to but because I’m typing this at work. I will however, say that he is on dialysis. He does periotoneal dialysis at home during the night.

Last night, he was in the bathroom. He was there for quite some time so my mom went to check on him. He told her that he “could not stand up” because he was so weak. His voice was also very weak. Mom called the ambulance, they took him to the local hospital. While there, he regained his strength. The hospital sent him home and said that there is a farily common condition that some folks have, I assume older and not well folks, that causes them to become too weak to stand after sitting on the toilet. I have been looking for this condition on the web, because of course, my mom does not recall the name of the condition.

So, if any of you know what this might be called, I would appreciate any information you can provide.

Yes, I know that MOST of you are not doctors, and don’t play them on them on the internet, but if you have knowledge of this, it would be helpful to me.

Thanks, as always.

Tom

2

Tom, I spoke with my local (at the breakfast table) professional (RN at local hospital) who wasn’t aware of this sort of ‘condition’. He spoke of a ‘vaso-vagal’ response of passing out if you strain too hard, but that isn’t what you describe.

My suggestion is to have you father call or write or go to the hospital and get a copy of his chart or call his regular doctor for a complete explanation that satisfies you.

Tyg

3

Although Tyghress had the best suggestion, in the meanwhile, you might try googling “syncope” and see if you get anything that matches.

I would stress that I am not a doctor, but I did (really) stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

4

It could be (partially) something as simple as poor circulation into the legs; the seat pushing against the backs of the thighs. One of my relatives had a ‘soft’ toilet seat instead of a hard plastic or wooden one, maybe that would help.

5

Tyg: Yeah, I’m sure if my brother does not find out, that I will speak with the doctor- although don’t get me started on his GP. :imp: :devil:
Also, as far as the condition you mentioned, I don’t think that’s it, either. I had that, some years ago, I believe. Thanks.


Gonzo: Syncope sounds a lot like what Tyg was describing. It may be it, but he doens’t pass out and he’s not standing when it happens. Not to say that it isin’t it, and with the name syncope it may lead me in the right direction at any rate, so thanks very much.

Tom

6

Just bumping!


Where is Dr. Amar???


Calling Dr. Bombay, Calliing Dr. Bombay, Come right away!

7

playing doctor with his patients :smiley:

8

Really! Where is he when you need him??? He wasn’t around to help poor Ad with her sad little toe yesterday, either.

Well, no matter. We have the internet . . .

Read about orthostatic hypotension in glorious outline form at http://www.fpnotebook.com/CV92.htm .

Read about it in more detail . . . just search for orthostatic hypotension when you get to the front page . . . http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/home.jsp .

If you want a more user-friendly version, use their home version or the one for the elderly, both on this page . . . www.merck.com/pubs .

9

From the TMI department…

My folks have very rounded toilet seats… sort of a “comfort fit” if you will. They put my legs to sleep if I sit on them for even a few minutes. (a situation worsened by their well stocked magazine rack in the down stairs powder room :laughing: )… But I never encounter that anywhere else on regular toilet seats. Perhaps a flatter toilet seat is a solution? or one of those cushy jobs that Avanutria mentions

My thoughts and hopes for your family in any regard.

10

Also from the TMI dept…
I got a splinter from a toilet seat once… :angry:

11

My Mother in Law’s house! She has the wooden seats! have you ever been pinched by one of those at the seams when the wood starts to dry from age and shrink a little…? I’d rather have the splinter!

12

Yup, that’s TMI, for sure!

I got a splinter once from a wooden teeter-totter. Yup. I was 5. My end went down, I slid backward, and right onto a huge splinter . . . about the size of a lead pencil . . . which wedged itself in my backside to a depth of about 1.5 cm. And broke off. People two blocks away heard me screaming.

13

And what did they do to silence the lambs, Clarice?

14

Yes, both my mom and I have had that odd experience of being pinched by a toilet seat :laughing: . It is so strange because you know you felt something but the crack is so tiny that you have no idea what happened and you think it’s your imagination. And it closes up when you stand up. Then you keep noticing this teeny pinch every time you sit down there and think you are really going insane. Finally you reach the only possible conclusion and you find a microscopic little crack where the pinching has been happening.


No wonder you were screaming, Lamby. That sounds horrible!!! The things that happen to poor little kids.

15

My mom pried it out, a process far more painful than the original injury. I think she used a clawhammer.

The neighbors were begging her to just take me to the emergency room! The doctor! The fire station! Anything! They have anesthetics!

“You can’t DO that to her! She’ll have a hole in her ____ for the rest of her life!”

She just scoffed and went off to find a kitchen knife with which to assist the clawhammer. The neighbors considered kidnapping me for purposes of obtaining proper medical treatment.

It was, but it paled in comparison to the time I was riding on the back of my brother’s bicycle and stuck my little foot in the spokes, which dragged my foot and half my leg under the chain and chain guard.

Wanna hear about that?

She took me to the doctor for that one, but refused to allow a skin graft. She thought it sounded dangerous. In desperation, he phoned one of our neighbors and asked them to go look on the road for the missing skin.

16

Tom,
Thought I’d get back to the original question. What happenned does not sound like syncope because he didn’t lose consciousness and it’s not postural hypotension because that happens with a sudden change in position, like sitting to standing. People with chronic renal failure often develop problems with their nerves or arteries. It seems to me that either an artery or nerve in the pelvic area is being constricted when he sits down. Something to try would be having him sit in a way that he doesn’t bend his hips all the way to 90 degrees. That can be accomplished with a couple of firm cushions when sitting on a chair and a toilet seat extender that would be available at any medical supplies store.

But I’m not a doctor (only an RN) and from this distance it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on. Best to let his primary physician sort it out or talk to the dialysis doctor.

Some other keywords to search might be peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, and “leg numbness when sitting”. Sometimes the simplest queries work best.
Mike

17

Nope, She’ll have two… :smiley:

18

Poo-poo.

19

Pooh

20

Ya gotta say it twice. (Two holes, remember?)