Just a Little Dizzy

About 6 months later we were alerted for a patient feeling faint. The address sounded familiar, and sure enough it was the same trailer. I walked into the front door and the patient immediately recognized me. “How are you doing?” I said with a big grin, really happy to see her out of the hospital and home. “I am ok. I did break my hip but they pinned it together.” “Why did you call us today?” “I just feel a little funny, a little dizzy.” Her son barged through the front door, panicked. “What’s going on?!” “She is ok, just feeling a little faint.” I said. “Ma’am when was the last time you checked your sugar?” “Oh I don’t know. Yesterday maybe.” “Ok, can I check it now?” “Yes.” I swabbed her index finger with an alcohol prep, and waited for it to dry. Stings less that way. As I prepared the glucometer and lancet I spoke with her son. “Is she taking her medication as prescribed?” “I don’t know. She is becoming less reliable about those things. She fell twice last week.” His voice shook a little. “You know the drill Mrs Smith. On the count of three you will feel a little prick on your finger one two three.” click. The lancet pierced her skin and a small drop of blood formed. I placed the glucometer strip into the drop and waited for the machine to analyze the sample. I wasn’t sure what was causing Mrs Smith to feel dizzy. Her sugar was normal. Her blood pressure and pulse were good. I wanted a paramedic to do a 12 lead EKG to look for any cardiac problems. We placed Mrs Smith on our stretcher and put her in the back of the ambulance just as the county paramedics were arriving. I heard her son say “Mom you can’t live alone anymore” as I briefed the paramedic on what our assessment found. I was happy to see my patient out of the hospital, but sad to witness the beginnings of her loss of freedom.