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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

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Give her the Xanax. It will help the panic attacks that are associated with shortness of breath. If you skip doses there is a nasty rebound effect. If the Rx says twice a day, give it twice a day.
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Go to the pharmacy and buy a pulse oximeter. Check her oxygen now and then, and especially when she's having these spells. Should be in the 90's. If it's not? Something's going on. Maybe she needs oxygen....?
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Anti anxiety meds take a while (weeks) to start working properly, and once they've got going it is essential to give them consistently or your mother will start climbing the walls. Her doctor wouldn't have prescribed them if he wasn't confident she'd be okay with them.

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.
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As a R.N., working, a caregiver too, who runs into this issue so often. Give her the Xanax as prescribed. It is called "medication compliance" & so many issues could be cleared up with just doing this one simple thing.
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Agree with everything above. This is too complicated a subject to answer here.
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
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Difficulty breathing is not a good thing, no matter what the cause.

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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Xanax is short acting and to my knowledge works immediately. So give if she's anxious. She could have fluid build up around her lungs. If you are just going to let things be, it might be time to call Hospice so that she can be comfortable.
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Consider a doctor visit to discuss the symptoms and a plan to relieve the discomfort - knowing that outpatient testing is expensive and uncomfortable for your mom. A pulse oximeter and stethascope could be purchased at the drugstore to have on hand when she complains. A quick check of her lung sounds and oxygen level in the blood will let you know what steps to take next. It may be reassuring to both of you to know "everything is alright." this time. A cool washcloth for her forehead, an oscillating fan on low or medium and a few minutes with her talking calmly may do wonders for her and help her relax and get the rest she needs - as well as you!
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I am an R.N. & you really need to give her , her Xanax. It is called medication compliance & is a large reason that others in the care of untrained people have so many problems. Just giving he medication as ordered, you will see a difference. If she wishes to sleep, let her.??
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When my mother complained of breathing difficulty and "huffed and puffed" when climbing stairs she was examined by her heart doctor. After everything checked out fine, and increasing the anti-anxiety medication didn't help, we later learned from mom that she was no longer taking her water pills because she didn't want to be running to the bathroom all the time. Dad now gives her a water pill each day and she no longer has breathing problems. The huffing and puffing was caused by excess fluid around the heart. Luckily it was an easy fix.
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