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What Causes Sporadic Episodes Of Flushing, Weakness And Sweating?
Question: Hello,
My Mother is a 78 year old widow, who coded in 1991 after a knee replacement. Other than that and a very mild arythmia; all of her heart test have been negative. In the past she has twice had ulcers when she complained of pain in the center of her chest. This time She has had all of the heart tests which were negative; and an endoscopy which showed only minor evidence of reflux, no ulcer. For the past few years, in addition to the sporadic chest pain, she has also been having sporadic episodes of flushing, weakness, and sweating which last about 15 to 30 min before subsiding. Occasionally those episodes are accompanied with the feeling of needing to use the bathroom. She also complains of a mild sore throat often. She Has a history of HTN, GERD, high cholesterol, Dementia, arthritis, Hypothyroidism, fatigue and depression. Non of the doctors we have seen have been able to tell us what is causing the problem and in fact treat us as if we are wasting their time asking about symptoms she has already complained of. However she is understandably upset because she cannot understand why she feels so bad. Do you have any ideas about what is wrong? Does she need further testing? Thank you for your assistance.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
My Mother is a 78 year old widow, who coded in 1991 after a knee replacement. Other than that and a very mild arythmia; all of her heart test have been negative. In the past she has twice had ulcers when she complained of pain in the center of her chest. This time She has had all of the heart tests which were negative; and an endoscopy which showed only minor evidence of reflux, no ulcer. For the past few years, in addition to the sporadic chest pain, she has also been having sporadic episodes of flushing, weakness, and sweating which last about 15 to 30 min before subsiding. Occasionally those episodes are accompanied with the feeling of needing to use the bathroom. She also complains of a mild sore throat often. She Has a history of HTN, GERD, high cholesterol, Dementia, arthritis, Hypothyroidism, fatigue and depression. Non of the doctors we have seen have been able to tell us what is causing the problem and in fact treat us as if we are wasting their time asking about symptoms she has already complained of. However she is understandably upset because she cannot understand why she feels so bad. Do you have any ideas about what is wrong? Does she need further testing? Thank you for your assistance.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Existing condition causing this problem
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your query and would try to help you in the best possible way. I'm sorry that your mother is suffering from these problems. I would suggest that you do not undergo any further testing at the moment. First we need to take care of existing problems. As you mentioned that she is suffering from HTN, GERD, high cholesterol, Dementia, arthritis, Hypothyroidism, fatigue and depression so these conditions first need to be controlled. All of them could be done step by step. Similarly her age is also a contributing factor. Is she taking any medication for any of the above mentioned conditions? If not then i would suggest you following things to control the symptoms:
1. Psychiatrist:
Consult him to get medication for dementia & depression. Medications for these condition are prescription only drugs so i can not prescribe you here.
2. Medical Specialist:
He will prescribe you medicines for hypertension(HTN), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), high cholestrol & hypothyroidism.
3. Rheumatologist:
He will prescribe her medication for arthritis. If you are unable to find a rheumatologist then even a medical specialist will be able to prescribe.
- I'm sorry for mentioning like this but her symptoms will only improve if these conditions are controlled and they can only be done if you keep a regular follow-up with above mentioned doctors.
- You need to take extra care for her. Although it is very difficult but you will have to manage for her. You need to assure her that she will be fine. Try to keep her happy. Don't stop her from anything as she is suffering from dementia so she may forget and ask again & again.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
Existing condition causing this problem
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your query and would try to help you in the best possible way. I'm sorry that your mother is suffering from these problems. I would suggest that you do not undergo any further testing at the moment. First we need to take care of existing problems. As you mentioned that she is suffering from HTN, GERD, high cholesterol, Dementia, arthritis, Hypothyroidism, fatigue and depression so these conditions first need to be controlled. All of them could be done step by step. Similarly her age is also a contributing factor. Is she taking any medication for any of the above mentioned conditions? If not then i would suggest you following things to control the symptoms:
1. Psychiatrist:
Consult him to get medication for dementia & depression. Medications for these condition are prescription only drugs so i can not prescribe you here.
2. Medical Specialist:
He will prescribe you medicines for hypertension(HTN), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), high cholestrol & hypothyroidism.
3. Rheumatologist:
He will prescribe her medication for arthritis. If you are unable to find a rheumatologist then even a medical specialist will be able to prescribe.
- I'm sorry for mentioning like this but her symptoms will only improve if these conditions are controlled and they can only be done if you keep a regular follow-up with above mentioned doctors.
- You need to take extra care for her. Although it is very difficult but you will have to manage for her. You need to assure her that she will be fine. Try to keep her happy. Don't stop her from anything as she is suffering from dementia so she may forget and ask again & again.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you for your advice; my mother sees various doctors who are monitoring her conditions. She takes medication for all of the conditions and they are controled at this time. I am most concerned about the episodes of flushing, weakness, sweating which sometimes accompany the pain in her chest and the shortness of breath and some times occur seprately. These concern me because none of her doctors are able to provide an explanation of what is causing the problem, or sugest any treatments. The doctors act as if all of these symptoms are nothing; but they have never seen her during an episode, and they are not the ones dealing with her fears. Every time she has an episode she tells me that she has never felt so bad before in her life and she questions whether or not she should go to the hospital. I try to explain that she has been to the hospital and her doctors about this before and they did not have any treatment for her. She then thinks that I do not care that she is feeling sick. If I sought treatment for her after every episode she would be in the hospital 2 or 3 times a month, because the urgent care centers send anyone with complants of chest pain, weakness, and shortness of breath straight to the hospital. Also if treatment is sought from a doctor's office with those symptoms listed as the chief complant the doctor's officeses recomend that you go straight to the hospital. If I just had a diognosis to explain to her she would be more willing to accept that she has already seen a doctor.
Brief Answer:
Could be Post-Menopausal Syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for getting back with the query. I' sorry about the suffering. There could be two possibilities for the symptoms flushing, weakness, sweating with accompanying the pain in her chest and the shortness of breath.
1. Post Menopausal Syndrome(PMS):
Although it occurs earlier but in some individuals these symptoms appear in late 60s or 70s. Hormonal disturbance causes flushing, weakness, sweating & mood swings.
2. Anxiety:
Now with the PMS if she becomes stressed(anxiety) then it could cause shortness of breath as well.
Suggestion:
Get a baseline ECG to rule out heart pathology as the cause of chest pain & sweating. If its ruled out then get an appointment for a gynecologist for her opinion on PMS.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it. Feel free to contact me directly on HCM by visiting http://goo.gl/fxj9bG
Wishing you both good health !!
Could be Post-Menopausal Syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for getting back with the query. I' sorry about the suffering. There could be two possibilities for the symptoms flushing, weakness, sweating with accompanying the pain in her chest and the shortness of breath.
1. Post Menopausal Syndrome(PMS):
Although it occurs earlier but in some individuals these symptoms appear in late 60s or 70s. Hormonal disturbance causes flushing, weakness, sweating & mood swings.
2. Anxiety:
Now with the PMS if she becomes stressed(anxiety) then it could cause shortness of breath as well.
Suggestion:
Get a baseline ECG to rule out heart pathology as the cause of chest pain & sweating. If its ruled out then get an appointment for a gynecologist for her opinion on PMS.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it. Feel free to contact me directly on HCM by visiting http://goo.gl/fxj9bG
Wishing you both good health !!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thank you for the suggestion. Her ECG was fine a couple months ago. I remember her going through Menopause in her 50's. Then she had the flushing and sweating but not the weakness or chest pain. As I remember her hot flashes lasted for only about 5 years. She never took estrogen and they eventually stopped. Can symptoms reoccur so many years later? Also would that account for the episodes of chest pain and SOB without the flushing etc.?
Brief Answer:
Yes symptoms may appear later in life
Detailed Answer:
Hello
You are most welcome. Thank you for getting back with the queries.
If ECG was clear then most probably stress/anxiety could be main cause behind this. A sitting with psychiatrist will help if current dose of anti depressive medicines are not working.
Yes, it is possible to get the symptoms in late 60s or 70s. In some individuals symptoms appear later in life. As i mentioned earlier an appointment with a gynecologist will further confirm it. If clinically indicated then she will prescribe some hormonal therapy as well.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health!!
Yes symptoms may appear later in life
Detailed Answer:
Hello
You are most welcome. Thank you for getting back with the queries.
If ECG was clear then most probably stress/anxiety could be main cause behind this. A sitting with psychiatrist will help if current dose of anti depressive medicines are not working.
Yes, it is possible to get the symptoms in late 60s or 70s. In some individuals symptoms appear later in life. As i mentioned earlier an appointment with a gynecologist will further confirm it. If clinically indicated then she will prescribe some hormonal therapy as well.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health!!
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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