What's causing my near BlackOuts, nausea, hot flashes, chills, dry mouth, dizziness, etc.?

[MS1994]

Here's what I've been experiencing (it all started Sunday morning while I was taking a shower):  I felt like I was not completely conscious, but still standing and showering, then all at once I began blacking out, feeling extremely nauseus, and hot--like I was burning up.  My mouth and throat became very dry, and I felt dizzy.  This lasted for approximately 1-2 minutes and then subsided, followed by feeling extremely cold (chills).  My husband helped me to the bed.  About  10 minutes later the same thing happened, only this time I also felt pain in my chest and down my arms.  I became really hot again except for my feet remained very cold.
I had these episodes throughout the day lasting 1-2 minutes at a time, and reoccuring every 15 - 30 minutes.  My first one was @10am and the last @4:00pm.  My husband took me to the ER.  They put me on an EKG monitor, did bloodwork, a urine test, took my temperature and said everything looks normal.  They sent me home with no answers. Has anyone had this happen to them?  I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 1994, but have never experienced anything like this before.  I am desperate to know what caused this.  The ER docs just wrote it off as being an anxiety attack.  I know better.  Something else is going on.  I have not been particularty worried or anxious about anything lately.  What's causing my anxiety NOW is doctors telling me everything is fine, when I know it is NOT.  Please, if anyone knows anything about this, or has suggestions of what I could look into, I would be so grateful!  Thank you!

[kindd]

Hello,

For syncope/fainting to occur, either the reticular activating system in the brain needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose.

So it can be due to fall in BP,hypoglycemia, dehydration and inadequate electrolytes in the body, postural hypotension(orthostatic hypotension),, blockage of arteries supplying blood to the brain esp. the carotids,anemia,vasovagal attacks or underlying neurological conditions(like MS and motor neuron disease)

Sometimes, there are partial or complete blockages in the arteries that supply the brain with blood.  These blockages can cause a temporary loss of blood flow (called transient ischemic attack, or TIA for short), or permanent loss of blood flow (called stroke; also called cerebrovascular accident).This can lead to impaired blood flow through these arteries and so dizziness. In such cases CT brain can be useful.I feel that you seem to be having TIA.Pls consult a neurologist for complete neurological examination as predisposing factor of MS is also present in your case.

Get yourself examined by an eye specialist and ENT specialist too as dizziness can also be caused by refractory changes and changes in the power of accommodation of the eyes. Ear infections and other causes like Meniere’s disease or inner ear diseases can also lead to dizziness.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[whittaker]

hi sorry to hear about what you have been going through.but im sorry to tell you it is anxiety the reason i knw is im going through the same thing at the moment iv had all tests done and scans all clear. iv had panic attaks for 3 years now thats orfull but anxitey is worse honest i thought everyday i was ill had cancer or somet this last month has been the worste ever the sytoms i get is cheast pain.dizzy a so im going to pass out.shake.sweat.bad thoughts.muscle spasams.the feeling i get i can not explain its orfull iv started waiking 1 hour aday with my little dog while my daugher is at school try nt to go to far untill you ready cos ull panic and is there anyone you can talk to about how you feeling cos that helps alot. and try not to think of how you feeling to much cos you,l get worse you not alone in this belive me i knw how you feel its orfull im getting a bit better now but still not myself yet try not to worry all my love emma

[redkim]

I had a panic/anxiety attack that felt the same.  I had just got a new tattoo and was washing it in the shower when all of a sudden I felt really light headed and nauseous and I told my H I needed to get out of the shower.  I step backwards and fainted for a split second.  He sat me down and i still felt light headed and dizzy and I couldn't breath.  I just looked up and said, "I think I am having a panic attack" and like that it was over.

Thoughts of doom are very comman.  I have laid in bed and told my H I thought i was dying and I really thought that.  Physically I would feel okay but mentally I thought I had an illness and was going to die.

Good luck with everything!

[tsham]

I have also experienced the same symptoms. It all began about a month ago, when I started feeling lightheaded, dizzy and sort of detached , like you do when you have a panic attack. Then my stomach would "flip" and I would have diarrhea. I went to my family doctor who increased my thyroid meds (the were low) and started me back on Paxil for panic attacks which I've had in the past. The next morning at 4:30am I was awakened with a wave of dizziness and a hot flash traveling from my mid back down both arms and settling in my chest, last about 1-2 minutes and then recurring every 10 minutes, with nausea, weakness, sweating,
The ER did an EKG and cardiac enzymes (both normal) and other blood work (I am anemic) and chalked it up to anxiety. It happened the next day at work from 11:30-7pm, with another trip to the ER and no sympathy. I was sent home and it happened again at 5:30am the next day and lasted all day. The only respite I got was sleeping from the xanax they prescribed me, then it would come back. I was told it was a reaction to Paxil, but I know better because I took it before for over a yr. My family doc thought early menopause and did labs (which were neg.) and I am 42.  He started me on Effexor for panic and I have been on it for about a week with some Klonopin to help with the anxiety until the full effect of the Effexor, and I have had no episodes- YET.  I am really anemic and have to take 650 mg of iron/day. I have really heavy periods with some clots. I am scared of the anemia and fear I may have some cancer of the GI or uterus or ovaries and no one believes me, and that I'll die before I am properly diagnosed or it will be too late to fix me.