These episodes seem to come on quickly usually between 10 am and noon. They last anywhere from one to three days. She has a difficult time explaining how she feels but some of the common statements are that her eyes and forehead are heavy, she feels "terrible" and isn't hungry. She was hospitalized last October when it happened and had an MRI, blood work, CT scans, etc. Everything was normal. I took her to her PC another time during an episode and, again, blood work and a urine test were fine. She had a B12 shot that day which didn't do anything either. She recently had another MRI and there was no change from the previous one. I started tracking the days it happens to see if I can come up with some kind of pattern but am at a loss. It's usually about a month in between but this past time, it was only three weeks (I thought it might be a chemical reaction to hair color but ruled that out now). I also considered that it might be something with her morning pills but when it happened this time, she had forgotten to take them so I ruled that out. She's taking a number of different prescriptions but, when this started, nothing had changed for quite a long time. I'm stumped and so are the doctors. Has anyone else had experience with something like this and found an answer? I would really like to get this figured out so she can be OK!
My mom suffers panic attacks that take her to the ER, feeling sick, like she dying. She's been diagnosed, but, refuses to take a daily med. She gets better as soon as she takes an anti anxiety med too. She's been tested extensively and there is no other cause. These spells happen often during severe weather conditions or family crisis. She worries a lot and I can tell when one is coming on.
I'd discuss it with her doctors. After ruling out actual medical causes, the psych referal was a godsend. A consult with a psychiatrist was very beneficial for my Lo's. At least we know what we are dealing with. I hope you can find answers for your mom. I know how stressful this can be.
The "crash" (as we called it) was very rapid. In only a minute she would suddenly be unable to stand, hold her head up, or anything. She would be "gone" for 2-3 days after each episode.
We tried increasing her heart meds. The thinking was that she was experiencing wild heart rate that was causing the blood to move so fast through her system there was no time to pick up enough oxygen in the lungs as it rushed madly by.
On one occasion her doc actually saw this happen right in front of him! He immediately did a blood oxygen level on her...and sure enough....oxygen deprivation!
After a couple of months free from the crashes...it started again. Doc didn't feel it made sense to up the meds again as the risk far outweighed the possible benefit.
This was sort of like mini-strokes. Oxygen deprivation in her brain for very short "bursts".
I think that was what did it in the end. Sooner or later those mini-strokes were going to kill off brain cells that are critical to some vital organ..... like throwing a dart at the board blind folded. Sooner or later you are not going to miss.
I like your father's cute metaphors and descriptions of T-storms!
Last few years, chocolate would make me have a row of sneezes. Same with cola drinks.
Another aspect that could affect her are preservatives or compounds in foods, including caffeine, but also including insecticide residues (look up the Dirty Dozen foods which are contaminated by pesticides) or preservatives such as sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, used sometimes on fresh strawberries as well as in lunch meats (there are a few brands of preservative free lunchmeats now). MSG is also an offender, but in my experience, it causes shortness of breath, more like an anaphylactic reaction.
Seasonal changes and especially pollen can affect the sinuses as well. For the first year, we've had pollen alerts nearly every day. And with less rainfall in our area, the pollens aren't diluted or washed out. I have to wear a mask when I mow the grass.
Allergic rhinitis is another condition that responds to seasonal as well as hot and cold changes in the weather.
I'm wondering if seeing an allergist might be helpful, or perhaps an endocrinologist (to determine if there are any vitamin, mineral, etc. deficiencies).
As to prescription meds, examine the bottles and labels (if you still have them), or receipts, labels or data kept for tax purposes (I keep all of these, especially the receipt printouts with script number and manufacturer). One of the reasons I switched to a real pharmacy was because they'll advise me when I ask if the manufacturer is off shore.
I had to change suppliers once when the pharmacy switched to a supplier with vertical manufacturing in India. I'm aware that along the vertical chain of suppliers, there often are offshore manufacturers, but it's my understanding that domestic (or reliable European pharmas) check drug accuracy, safety, etc. when using imported ingredients.
Also, keep a food diary to see if there is any common food item eaten the day or two before. Such as an item that has caffeine.... or a dairy product which can cause mucus.