I just figured it was due to the heat we have been having. It appears to go away pretty quickly. She was in the hospital last Tuesday for her jaw and they checked her heart and I told them that this was happening but they said her heart was ok. The problem is that she says it and then when its gone she does not remember it happening. She got up this afternoon and was very wobbly and came out to the dining room and the electricity had been turned off for 30 minutes and it was stifling and then the a/c came on and she said it again and then she forgot about it again. I am so overwhelmed that everyday its something different and she is not faking it at all. But she hates that I would call life alert so I am not sure she is pretending she is ok. Anyone else have this problem? I hope this made sense, oh and she has been up only for 2.5 hours and said that she was going to fall asleep again. The doctor prescribed her a low dose of xanax and my sister wants me to give her some and I not going to do that, especially since she wants to go back to sleep! Thanks
But I don't think they're necessarily relevant to these new dizzy/breathless spells, especially if you haven't even begun her on them yet. Next time she has a "funny turn" that gives you cause for concern, call a doctor to her (i.e. don't risk "white coat syndrome" by taking her to hospital), and get her blood pressure, heart rate, O2 levels and breathing checked over in the peace and calm of her own home.
What's the matter with her jaw? Does she have other major medical conditions that are currently being treated? There could be any number of things going on, but getting advice on the basics might be reassuring - at least you'll know what 'normal' is for her.
Increased fatigue and lack of awareness of her own condition, especially if these are new for her, would bother me too. I'd get her checked out.
When you say they checked her heart. What did they do? if they just listened with a stethoscope that is not enough. Did they do any lung function tests? xrays etc? or did they just ignore it because she is 85 and has dementia. if you have a forceful friend preferably with some medical training have her/him go with you to the Dr and ask some difficult questions that is if you actually want to subject Mom to a lot of tests and investigations. If not and she is not unduly distressed when this happens and the episodes are brief it would not be wrong, though others will probably disagree with me, to do nothing
Agree with the recommendation to buy a pulse-ox meter at the drug store. You can also get them in department stores or online. But even if the reading is above 90%, if your mom is having difficulty breathing, that's technically a medical emergency.
We recommend follow up with your doctor as soon as you can if you don't want to go to the hospital. Where we live, there are doctors who would come to you relieving the anxiety of having to leave the house. They'll also order x-rays that can come to the house.
If a chest x-ray has not been done, then one ought to be to ensure that there's no fluid building up.
Father and FIL died of heart failure, and shortness of breath was one of the symptoms.
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