I wish somebody could help

That's a concern for you, I'm sure.

I'm wondering whether, since the original collapse, your BIL is now having anxiety or panic attacks when he goes out, in case it happens again? It is very scary to end up being ambulanced to hospital and so on.

Does sound like panic attacks maybe with more time he'll feel more able to tackle 'outings' could your sister not go out without him until he feels more able to join her?

Gangy, I too would be concerned if this was my sister and BiL. It sounds miserable for them at the moment and of course making you anxious as well. You don't say how old he is and that may be significant.

I'm not a medic, so these are just random thoughts of what I would do to try to help my sister. I would be encouraging them to go back to the GP. As the Dr has prescribed ADs be aware that they can take a while to work. Have they discussed the bouts of sickness with the GP? He might be better on a different medication. I hope the GP is monitoring the low blood pressure anyway, especially with the sickness and general feeling of malaise.

I'd try to persuade them to look into other things, like counselling. They could ask the GP for a referral. Your sister is doing the right thing by trying to get him to go out, but clearly he's not feeling well enough.

I'd suggest some anti-nausea tactics like massaging pressure points (Google it) or wearing an anti-sickness bracelet like for travel sickness. Try drinking lemon juice in water or ginger tea if he'll have it. I had acupuncture for anxiety which worked well for me, if you think he would try that.

Are they are having a healthy diet?

I do hope someone with medical knowledge reads your post and can help.

I can understand how he feels - I had an acute episode of severe pain that caused me to faint - looks like it was stones in the bile duct - but having something like that happen out of the blue does sap your confidence about venturing forth, as you feel you have no idea if or when it might happen again.

As long as GP has ruled out anything serious I think the only way forward is to gently but firmly encourage him to venture out and get back into the swim of life. It is a bit of a slippery slope I know as my OH is very reluctant to go out at all because of his health problems, but I get a bit pushy now and again , and - guess what? - he has a great time...viz this afternoon when we have been to a stately home to hear Mozart - we both loved it.

Gangy I have sent you a pm.

You don't mention him having any further tests after the original collapse which was put down to low blood pressure Have they checked why his blood pressure is low ? There must be a reason if he's been healthy before
If tests haven't been done I would ask for them before going down the anti depressant/panic attack route as obviously that wasn't the original reason as you are not 'unconscious for some time' without a problem

My thanks to you all for your sympathies and suggestions. It is a great help to hear what other people think. I am off to stay with them for a few days in the hope of maybe helping things along and giving them a bit of light relief. BIL is 84 and has had no major problems up until this point. The two of them do eat healthily.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in time things will improve.

gangy likewise I'm not a panic, but my DD has had problems with anxiety and panic attacks, and I wonder if it would be helpful for him to have some CBT? I believe this can be done online so he wouldn't need to go out, but I think the GP needs to refer him. All the best x

Sorry that should be "I'm not a medic", not "I'm not a panic"!

I was also wondering if he has had blood tests. My husband needs monthly B12 injections due to a similar symptoms but not the unconscious for some time.

At 84 he may well be finding it difficult to enjoy the pace of the modern world and would rather stay home. If so take the pressure off him and let him stay home whilst you all go out. When he feels he is not presurised he might change his mind.

What kind of antidepressants in your BiL on Gangy5? If he's on the very 'old fashioned' sort, like Amitryptilene, they can leave you feeling sick and doped up. My husband had some of those when he had a bad bout of tinnitus some years ago which left him feeling depressed, and he said he'd rather have had the depression than feel as bad as the Amitryptilene made him feel. Perhaps he needs to ask his GP for some of the newer drugs (SSRI's). They'll take about 2-3 weeks to kick in, but he won't feel ill with those.

The same thing happened to me a few years ago. I was driving when I felt faint, so stopped the car. I felt sick, so got out of the car and fainted and was unconscious.

I was taken to hospital, where my blood pressure was unusually low and I had every test imaginable.

Fortunately,there was nothing much wrong with me. The official diagnosis was 'vasovagal syncope'. I was told to go straight to a doctor if it happened again. My biggest concern was whether I would lose my driving licence.

If your BIL hasn't had heart and brain scans, I would encourage him to ask his GP to refer him. Hopefully, they will put his mind at rest that there's nothing serious.

Secondly, if he becomes unconscious again, he really should get to a doctor or A&E.

The Wiki page on vasovagal syncope is quite good and consistent with the advice I was given.

PS. SSRIs are recommended for treatment.

I'd be asking the GP to find out why his BP is so low, and adding salt to his food to help bring it back up.

Years ago I had a friend in Spain whose doctor told her she had low BP and so she should drink a glass of cava (champagne, basically) a day to help bring it up a bit!

Said it was her favourite prescription ever!

It depends whether the low blood pressure is permanent or a temporary reaction to some trigger. Don't overdo the salt, if blood pressure is usually normal.

The best thing to do if he feels faint is to get him to lie down flat, which forces blood and oxygen to return to the brain.

I wonder if they can afford a private top to toe medical for home to make sure what is going on. I do find GPS seem to go for the easy option.

Buy a blood pressure testing kit? I had counselling when I was scared about going out after a heart problem developed some years ago. A friend developed Menieres last year and was in and out of A and E..For months. Now got the pills sorted and she is fine
Hope u find a solution.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.