Well as far as diet goes, fresh fruit and veggies are never a bad choice. But come on, you’re 73! You must be doing something right. I vowed to myself a while ago that if I’m still truckin’ at 70 (odds aren’t good based on family history), I’m going to start smoking again and eat whatever I want all the time. And maybe skydive.
True, but it sure beats the alternative.
My sister started passing out, without warning. She’d fall hard and wake up right away. It took over a year for them to figure out what it was. As it turns out, it was triggered by eating, and it’s completely managed with a pacemaker.
They went through a lot of possibilities before hitting on the real issue.
Definitely get another opinion, and figure out ways to test various theories. I don’t like your doctor’s suggestion because it’s untestable, and you might have something seriously wrong which would go undetected. Or you might have something easily treated, but fall and kill yourself.
The part that strikes me is going down like a shot. That doesn’t sound like a typical case of losing balance.
Even if you are just losing your balance, you could have something like Lyme’s disease (and if so, you’re likely to start adding new symptoms).
For what its worth, I have gone back to smoking cigars after nearly fifteen years of not smoking at all. It may not be good for me but I’m a hell of a lot easier to get along with.
Yay sin buddy! 
This happened to a friend of mine. Turned out to be a slow growing benign mass at the base of his brain. A delicate surgery, but he recovered well and no longer falls down like a puppet with his strings cut. That growth had probably been there for thirty years the surgeon said, and it had just reached that critical mass so that at times it put pressure on the brain in a certain way and interrupted his motor functions. It took a few falls in the bathroom and shower before he took it seriously enough to insist on a full checkup.
We’re glad he did, because we like the old fart. Even a benign mass can cause problems if it’s in the wrong place.
Enjoy,
Steven
Do you keep track of your blood pressure?
My dad had a few episodes like that - stood up and down he went. The official verdict was his blood pressure, low already, dropped drastically every once in a while.
Take care of yourself.
Just to bring this up to date: I have lost about ten pounds and I am forcing myself to drink more water instead of Coke. I am also going to buy one of those canes that have four feet----I have been made aware that I sometimes actually kick my cane out from under me. I don’t think that is the whole problem but it can’t hurt to give the new cane a try. My blood pressure is “good” but I can’t remember the numbers. Anyway I take Lisinopril to keep my blood pressure under control. During the month of July I haven’t fallen a single time so I hope things are looking up. Thanks for all the inputs and best wishes-----I think that about the time I solve all my problems I will die and I can’t solve that one.
And I thought Joni Mitchell was the OP…