All fall down... | Arthritis Information

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 Believe it or not, I think this is the first thread I've ever started!

My pain specialist changed my sleeping med from Restoril to Ambien yesterday. I took the first Ambien last night about 11:00 pm. Around 2:30 am I woke up to go potty, as usual, and started toward the bathroom with my rolling walker. I'm not sure what happened, but I fell, hitting my r. upper arm on the walker,ending up on the floor against the cedar chest at the end of our bed.

My poor husband was terrified (he always is when I fall), and stood there talking to me soothingly as I composed myself enough to try getting up. Finally got up, with his help and we took inventory of my injuries. Very large dark bruise on r. upper arm. Big spotted reddish "old lady" bruise on my forearm. Took the skin off my knee from the carpet. Knee cap quite swollen. My whole back feels bruised, but isn't visibly.

I wanted to know if anyone else has had falls while taking ambien? One of my big problems is that I fall frequently, anyway, but I don't want to knowingly take something that is going to make it worse.

The restoril was keeping me too sleepy all day, where I could even nod out standing up. But I couldn't stay asleep all night. I haven't slept thru the night in 20 years.

Thanks for any info you can give me. Or suggestions for other sleep meds.

Yes ma'am. Anything that puts you to sleep can make you do that. When I take my Flexril (a full dose to knock me out) and I get up to potty I make sure to grab the wall the WHOLE way.

And I'm 23. And the bathroom is about 10 feet from my bed. So don't feel bad!!!!!

Just be careful. Those kind of meds can really mess with your perception, and throw you off balance.

Linda

It sounded like a rough night. I will practically jump out of my skin if my wife makes any unusual noise during the night. Is RA the cause of your falling often? No sleeping aides for me so I can't help you there.

Not trying to be a smarty but can we just stop drinking earlier in the night so Potty trip are not needed?

Jay, us women *have* to have our trip to the potty. [QUOTE=RAJay]

Linda

It sounded like a rough night. I will practically jump out of my skin if my wife makes any unusual noise during the night. Is RA the cause of your falling often? No sleeping aides for me so I can't help you there.

Not trying to be a smarty but can we just stop drinking earlier in the night so Potty trip are not needed?

[/QUOTE]

Easier said than done, Jay.

I take Restoril and I've never had a problem with it. I usually wake up once to go to the bathroom but I've never fallen.

I'm glad you didn't break anything. Bless your heart!

Nini - any chance you could re-arrange furniture, etc to give you a shorter and/or clearer shot to the bathroom?

I have a habit of stumbling/tripping over absolutely nothing at all, without the help of mind-altering meds.  I try to make sure there's a clear path. JasmineRain39319.673900463And nightlights!! Have nightlights. They're so helpful. I'd die without mine. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to make the stupid cats NOT run in my path as I stumble drugged up to the potty at 2am......They just DON'T get it. arriscolwell39319.6755902778Nini,

I am so sorry you had a fall. I had one last year and broke my elbow...not good.

For ages I was on a big dose of valium (I hope it is called that over there) 60mg per night as a sleeping medication. it was pretty good and not too disorienting either during the night or in the morning.

Jay, stop being male.

Poor Jay we've beat up on him. We love you Jay!!!

 

Nini how are you feeling today? Does your back still hurt from the fall?

Ladies,

Thanks for the education in being female. If I take enough credit hours can I get a degree?

[QUOTE=arriscolwell]And nightlights!! Have nightlights. They're so helpful. I'd die without mine. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to make the stupid cats NOT run in my path as I stumble drugged up to the potty at 2am......They just DON'T get it. [/QUOTE]

Ah yes, I didn't even think of nightlights.  My room is illuminated by the glow of all the computer peripherals, so I do not need/want ANY more light in here!

Wow, bad night for you.  It sure sounds like you have keeper in that husband of yours.  Feel better.  And that's an order.

Yeah, I know that was a ridiculous post.  I just don't want you to hurt for long.  Well, the husband part wasn't ridiculous, he sounds like a good man.

Nini, hope that you're feeling better. I don't take any sleep meds as I'm afraid of falling while I'm on them.

Katie, I, too, have cats and they like to get in my way when I'm getting up to go potty at night. I've rolled over their tails a few times. Now I just go beep--beep---beep and they move.

 

Oh, you are all so sweet! Thanks for your concern!

It looks like 2:00 am seems to be our collective "potty" time

Jay, that was really an obvious suggestion, but in addition to being a woman, I also have Sjogren's. Dry mouth, must drink! But it looks like I am in good company, with all of our ladies here

Cordy, I'm so sorry you broke your elbow! The worst I've done during a fall was to fracture a wrist, which happened to be in a cast at the time. It was healed by the time my cast came off. That's when they saw it on the x-ray. Did your elbow heal well?

I do have a light on all night, for that very reason.

The last time I fell in the middle of the night, was in the kitchen, pouring some juice and I literally fell asleep standing up, and fell down very hard. Lots of bruises that time too.

Thanks again for your concern

Be well, all. Hugs, Nini

Jay, you know we love you...as for your education...I think you are only capable of being an honorary one.

My cat...Cupcake...tortoiseshell...becomes extremely indignant if stood on...somehow she manages to get her little paws under my feet...and mother is definitely in trouble.

Hope you recover well from the fall, Nini.
Hehehe s'ok. And that's a good idea, splitting them up a bit. You may need to sit at the edge of your bed and wake up a bit before you head off to the potty too. Make sure you're good and awake before you head out.  I have to do that A LOT.The falls can be really scary, hey. I have fallen a lot for no obvious reason with the RA. Usually, I had landed on my bottom...about four times that happened and then with that one last year, I fell sideways onto my hand and broke the elbow. They didn't realise it was broken for three weeks...fab...so I went through six/seven weeks of hell. Not nice.

not only us girls need to get up for early morning toilet visits. when guys get to 40 or over their prostate starts to enlarge causing frequent toilet visits. my partner gets up more times than me now to go to the loo.
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