My sister needs your help, please?!
Question: My sister suffers from something strange. She gets these weird headaches and gets tunnel vision type symptoms...then she goes into this weird seizure type activity (its not seizures though..) where she cant focus on anyone in the room and breathes really hard(like she's not there..?). We have taken her to every type of doctor that we know of. She has had MRI's, catscans, xrays, bloodwork, everything!! They still cannot treat her. They think it may be Migraines, but Ive never seen anyone go into this type of spasm with a migraine. Any ideas??
Answers: My sister suffers from something strange. She gets these weird headaches and gets tunnel vision type symptoms...then she goes into this weird seizure type activity (its not seizures though..) where she cant focus on anyone in the room and breathes really hard(like she's not there..?). We have taken her to every type of doctor that we know of. She has had MRI's, catscans, xrays, bloodwork, everything!! They still cannot treat her. They think it may be Migraines, but Ive never seen anyone go into this type of spasm with a migraine. Any ideas??
It sounds like this is a very stressful time for you, which is perfectly understandable. I don't have a degree in psychology or anything like that, but I know quite a number of people who suffer from panic attacks and the like.
When does your sister typically experience these symptoms? Perhaps the reason why the doctors cannot find anything wrong with her, is because it isn't a physical problem, it's an internal, emotional issue. Has she been going through a rough time? Stress? Depression?
The only possible thing I could think your sister is going through is a panic attack/seizure of some sort. Is she diabetic?
The heavy breathing seems to resemble hyperventilation, which is the state of breathing faster, or more deeply than necessary. Other signs include: rapid pulse, shooting chest pains, dizziness, and dry mouth. Stress and/or anxiety are things that typically induce the hyperventilation syndrome. If you are with her while she experiences these symptoms...
- Try to find the source of her anxiety. Talk her through it in a soothing manner. If you are calm, she will find it easier to relax as well.
- Coax her to take slower breaths. Explain that even though she feels like she's suffocating and needs more air, the pain she's feeling is caused because she's getting too much of it, and that the symptoms will fade away as she slows her breathing.
- Instruct her to take inhale deeply through her nose, while exhaling through her mouth. Repeat this several times between alternating. Measure her pulse routinely until they slow down.
Might I recommend some yoga classes? Or perhaps pilates? An easy, stress relieving class to get her mind off things. And also, consider paying a visit to the local psychologist, who would be more than willing to evaluate your sister. Like I mentioned previously, it might not be a physical ailment, but rather a mentally induced one.
I hope that helps you. All the best for you and your sister...good luck.
check out these links and then make an appointment to see a doctor. These links will give you good, free information from medical professionals
http://symptoms.webmd.com
http://medicinenet.com
http://health.discovery.com