Unidentified near fainting spells/collapsing

[countryrose]

Dear forum
Yesterday marked the 7th stressful return to the hospital for my brother with no diagnosis. He has had 4 heart attacks in the last 10 years with severe damage and had a  bypass last year. He can be doing okay then suddenly he gets a strange sensation like the air gets sucked out of his lungs then he starts to gasp for air and feels like his life is draining out of him. He collapses and tries to stand and continues to fall again while unable to breathe. He has to be pounded on the back to get him to breathe. He becomes pale and his oxygen level is very low. After these episodes, he is very weak for sevreal weeks. All his heart related tests ffrom the hospital checked out normal, so once again we are left in the dark on the edge of our seats wondering what it could be. It is a nightmare for him and all of us.

Please help if you recognize any of these symptoms and have suggestions to test for.

thank you

[countryrose]

Thank you I will look this upQ

[dolfnlvr]

I'm including a link to a site that describes the disorder (at the bottom of this post).  It is called Thrombophilia.  It's really weird...the only way I know about this thing (which is apparently somewhat rare) is that my friend was diagnosed with it about 8 months ago.  My friend is much older (70) and lost her son about 20 years ago to a mysterious heart attack.  They never explained the heart attack.  He had no signs, symptoms or blocked arteries, then one day after stepping off an airplane....

When my friend was diagnosed 8 months ago when she had a heart attack due to a clot that did not dissolve immediately, the doctors figured out that it was likely the same thing that killed her son.  A blood thinner regimen and a small filter screen (hard to explain) in each leg makes her MUCH less likely to suffer thrombosis.  Your description sounded like it could have been the same sort of thing.  

I certainly hope this helps you find more information to help your brother.  While it would not be the best diagnosis...at least there would be a direction for treatment.

Good luck.

http://www.theuniversityhospital.com/adultgenetics/blood.htm

[countryrose]

Thank you for your response. You bring up an interesting point about the clotting. I have another sibling who mysteriously developed a blood clot that caused him to have a massive heart attack and we almost lost him. His readings were normal and had been taking lipitor for a year. What is the name of this clotting disease?

kind regards

[dolfnlvr]

Hello,
    I strongly suggest you post this question on the doctor's forum.  They would have a much better base of knowledge from which to guide you forward.  If nothing else, the doctors can let you know of some possibilities that you may not have known to ask about in the past.

    I do wonder though, whether you are aware of the CAUSE of your brother's heart attacks.  There is a genetic condition that can cause people to develop blood clots.  These clots dislodge and can travel to the heart, neck and/or lungs causing a blockage (heart attack, stroke and/or respiratory arrest.  Often these clots dissolve or are undiagnosed and the patient's medical diagnosis remains a mystery.  A genetic test can determine if this is the cause of your brother's problems, and if it is treatment is available.

Good luck to you,