orthostatic hypotension

Baldytyke88

I fell over this week, I was assuming that I tripped over my own feet, as I could not remember, but that may not be the case.

Dizziness after standing up is usually a brief drop in blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension, which happens when gravity pulls blood into your legs and your body takes a moment to adjust.

I will book to see the doctor next week. I drive for a living, but if the above is the cause, I don't think that they will let me work?

I am 64 and I put my notice in a few months ago, to quit in Dec. It was my intention to see how things go, I might work, might not, I really still need a small income.

I wasn't intending to sign up for job seekers or anything. But will I be able to work?

I fear I won't be allowed to work for my present employer, once I have seen the doctor.

vacheron

I think you may be significantly overthinking things at the moment.

It sounds from your post that you have experienced a single event of this, yet you appear to have already Googled yourself into a chronic diagnosis that will result in a long term inability to work?

I can't imagine there are many people who haven't, at some time, experienced a bout of dizziness after suddenly standing up. I sometimes have slightly low blood pressure (which I consider far preferable to the alternative), and it is something you can easily accommodate simply by not shooting from relaxed sitting to sudden activity in a very short space of time. This has not affected my working life in any way.

Is this the only time you have experienced this, or does it happen regularly, or with increasing frequency?

StewedApple

I will book to see the doctor next week. I drive for a living

This is the practical thing to do - Google self-diagnosis may leave you speculating and worrying unnecessarily.

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82150310#Comment_82150310

I have experienced small bouts of dizziness on standing up, nothing significant. As my employer is a large local authority, they do tend to play things safe. So I am not ruling myself out of all future employment.

When I fell over I had just climbed 3 steps and turned, so not very much at all. I landed on my right shoulder and with no outstretched hands to stop me from falling, it could have been worse, just a few grazes.

vacheron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82150342#Comment_82150342

This is exactly the issue. It is simply that your heart was at rest and hadn't had time to realise that the expected demand had increased.

Just standing up slowly and just maybe having a gentle stretch is enough to let your brain realise that rest time is over and your heart will raise it's rate a little which will build a little more pressure in your circulatory system.

As you are a professional driver, getting up from rest and quickly ascending stairs is akin to starting a car on a cold morning and immediately slamming it to the redline without waiting for the oil to start circulating in the engine first.

lincroft1710

Wait until you have seen your doctor, they are (or should be) qualified to advise on whether you can continue working or not, forum members are not.

Tabieth

As others have said, wait to see your doctor. If you do get a diagnosis you can take it from there.

ohreallƳ

Who diagnosed hypotension?

Be prepared for your GP informing you not to drive, that may also result in DVLA being notified. I'd also expect your GP to consider a referral to cardiology with perhaps a 24hr Holter recording.

Why don't you go off sick and look if you qualify for statutory sick pay.

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82151228#Comment_82151228

It is just what I think it could be, it is not a diagnosis yet. After my fall, I didn't realise that I had a blackout and I have been doing everything that I would normally do.

No GP appointments left today; I will try again tomorrow.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82151228#Comment_82151228

The OP diagnosed it using the internet.

DRS1

The DVLA thing is a consideration (especially as losing your driving licence may well restrict what jobs you could do in future as well as killing off your present job). I think the issue which would concern them is whether there is a possibility that you could pass out without warning while driving.