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Excessive sweating, dizzy, air deprivation, raised haemoglobin and hematocrit.
My husband aged 58 has recently experienced some new and worrisome symptoms.
He has a past history of chronic sinusitis and psoriasis but has otherwise been in excellent health.
For the past two years approx. he has experienced extreme heat intolerance, excessive sweating and redness of face.
In the past two months he has complained of dizziness quite often and low -grade headaches. About four weeks ago he started to experience - in his own words, "unable to get enough air", a feeling of restriction around his chest like a tight band and worsened feeling of air deprivation on lying down to sleep. This has eventuated in him, some nights being unable to sleep at all. Sometimes he is about to fall asleep while propped up with several pillows but then he is jerked to full consciousness. He has also experienced a pounding heart on a couple of these occasions which has also prevented him from sleeping.
These are completely new symptoms which he has never complained of before.
A few days ago he had a blood test which showed mainly a raised Haemoglobin level (18 plus something) and a raised Haematocrit level (.53).
Can you shed any light on his symptoms?
He has a past history of chronic sinusitis and psoriasis but has otherwise been in excellent health.
For the past two years approx. he has experienced extreme heat intolerance, excessive sweating and redness of face.
In the past two months he has complained of dizziness quite often and low -grade headaches. About four weeks ago he started to experience - in his own words, "unable to get enough air", a feeling of restriction around his chest like a tight band and worsened feeling of air deprivation on lying down to sleep. This has eventuated in him, some nights being unable to sleep at all. Sometimes he is about to fall asleep while propped up with several pillows but then he is jerked to full consciousness. He has also experienced a pounding heart on a couple of these occasions which has also prevented him from sleeping.
These are completely new symptoms which he has never complained of before.
A few days ago he had a blood test which showed mainly a raised Haemoglobin level (18 plus something) and a raised Haematocrit level (.53).
Can you shed any light on his symptoms?
Thank you Caryopteris.
Polycythaemia sounds very possible but causation is less clear - from my recent swatting! Sleep apnoea is not something which has been typically evident from my observation but I guess it would be worthwhile asking for a sleep study!
He is having an Echocardiogram on Monday and other lung function tests over a period of some days. A chest, abdo and pelvic CT scan and more blood tests, including an arterial blood gas to come.
Thanks again.
Polycythaemia sounds very possible but causation is less clear - from my recent swatting! Sleep apnoea is not something which has been typically evident from my observation but I guess it would be worthwhile asking for a sleep study!
He is having an Echocardiogram on Monday and other lung function tests over a period of some days. A chest, abdo and pelvic CT scan and more blood tests, including an arterial blood gas to come.
Thanks again.
He seems to have polycythemia, and I suspect it is caused by sleep apnea. He is not getting enough oxygen, so get him to the doctor quickly. That is very bad for his heart and needs to be corrected.
http://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/article.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/page5.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/article.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/page5.htm
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