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A Friend Of Mine Has Had Several Episodes Where He

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Posted on Sat, 13 Apr 2019
Question: A friend of mine has had several episodes where he gets disoriented and doesn't recognize people around, curls his arms up and complains he can't feel and that he is dying. He then throws up and goes to sleep. The episodes last 10 or 15 minutes. He has had 2 episodes today, which is something new. He doesn't remember the episodes and sometimes can't remember big chunks of the day.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please call 911 for your friend

Detailed Answer:
Your friend needs immediate attention at a hospital and should be seen without further delay. These are serious symptoms that could represent anything from severe changes in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), blood pressure (hypotension), or brain activity (seizures).

Your friend may have also ingested something toxic that needs to be identified and removed if possible from his system.

Your best bet to help your friend is to call 911 at this point and have them come there emergently to assess him with vital signs, stabilize if necessary, and immediately transport him to the nearest hospital.

Do not try transporting your friend on your own because time is very important here and an EMS squad can be in contact with the hospital for advice and instructions while stabilizing him as needed before actually loading him into the ambulance.

You should also search for any thing that might help doctors that your friend might have taken over the last couple of days such as medications (prescription bottles, pills or tablets if any are available, blister packs from where came from), illicit drugs such as methamphetamines, LSD, mushrooms, etc. Also, consider toxic substances in the house or garage that you think your friend could've ingested. Was he depressed for any reason or having trouble at work or at school that could've caused him to drink any type of poisonous substance such as antifreeze, rat poison, or paint thinner?

Does your friend regularly see anybody such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist? If your friend has any copies of medical notes from recent visits, prescriptions from any of these doctors then, this would be very helpful information to provide the the doctors.

You will need to give the EMS crew and doctors as much information as possible of things going on the last couple of days or whenever your friend started acting strangely to give them the best idea of where they can start looking for the problem.

Your first of business is to call 911 immediately please and then, gather as much information and look for things in the apartment/house that could help explain what's going on.

All the best to you and your friend.

Please let me know if there are any other questions while you await the arrival of EMS but for now again, I urge you to make the phone call to 911.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2473 Questions

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A Friend Of Mine Has Had Several Episodes Where He

Brief Answer: Please call 911 for your friend Detailed Answer: Your friend needs immediate attention at a hospital and should be seen without further delay. These are serious symptoms that could represent anything from severe changes in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), blood pressure (hypotension), or brain activity (seizures). Your friend may have also ingested something toxic that needs to be identified and removed if possible from his system. Your best bet to help your friend is to call 911 at this point and have them come there emergently to assess him with vital signs, stabilize if necessary, and immediately transport him to the nearest hospital. Do not try transporting your friend on your own because time is very important here and an EMS squad can be in contact with the hospital for advice and instructions while stabilizing him as needed before actually loading him into the ambulance. You should also search for any thing that might help doctors that your friend might have taken over the last couple of days such as medications (prescription bottles, pills or tablets if any are available, blister packs from where came from), illicit drugs such as methamphetamines, LSD, mushrooms, etc. Also, consider toxic substances in the house or garage that you think your friend could've ingested. Was he depressed for any reason or having trouble at work or at school that could've caused him to drink any type of poisonous substance such as antifreeze, rat poison, or paint thinner? Does your friend regularly see anybody such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist? If your friend has any copies of medical notes from recent visits, prescriptions from any of these doctors then, this would be very helpful information to provide the the doctors. You will need to give the EMS crew and doctors as much information as possible of things going on the last couple of days or whenever your friend started acting strangely to give them the best idea of where they can start looking for the problem. Your first of business is to call 911 immediately please and then, gather as much information and look for things in the apartment/house that could help explain what's going on. All the best to you and your friend. Please let me know if there are any other questions while you await the arrival of EMS but for now again, I urge you to make the phone call to 911.