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Undiagnosed symptoms

Hi, my girlfriend has a few problems and we're wondering if anyone has any idea's about what it could be. She has minute siezures. Not full siezures but basically muscle contractions throughout her body, which sometimes cause her to pass out. They usually last roughly a minute to around 5 minutes. 90% of the time she is responsive directly after but sometimes she is unable to speak loudly enough to understand. She also complains of fuzziness in her head as well as nausea. She also feels very jittery and heavy breathing. Blurred vision is also a common symptom she experiences. Also overheating seems to be common as well. She is 19 years old, female, she is hypoglycemic and has asthma. If you could share what you may think it is that would be great!

She has already been to the hospital and had a ct scan. She is waiting for results but have been waiting for some time. Thank you in advance for the help!
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144586 tn?1284666164
One should never provide food to a hypoglycemic patient who is semi-conscious. If they are reasonably alert and only feeling weak food is aceptable.There is significant danger of airway compromise. Glucose paste, usually sold in toothpaste tube, may be spread on the mucosa inside the mouth and under the tongue. If you provide a sugary drink it should be held in the mouth and "swished" before swallowing. There is significant absorption in the mucosa. A small amount of powdered refined sugar may be placed under the tongue.  If unconscious give nothing but call for help. A caveat is that a glucose enema is the drill in the wilderness. Carbonation has nothing whatsoever to do with treating hypoglycemia, so selection of a "fizzy" drink is meaningless. If unconscious place a pillow under the shoulder blades and allow the head to fall back, in hyperextension. This will prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. In chronic hypoglycemia the issue is not eating properly but excess production of insulin.
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144586 tn?1284666164
Actually, the correct drill in cases of hypoglycemnia is to use a glucose paste (obtained from the drug store) on the mucosa of the mouth or drink a glass of orange juice, which contains a simple sugar, which goes rapidly into the bloodstream. . Not to drink a fizzy drink or eat cake. Not  a refined food which has complex sugars. The siognificant issue is the reason for the hypoglyzemia. As Dr. Rynne pointed out the problem could be insulionoma, generally caused by a tumor (usually benign) on the pancreas.  If there is a condition of hypoglycemia, the cause should be determined. The patient needs a consult with an endochronologist.
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Avatar universal
Jemma git it corret! Hope you read her advice its very helpfull. Goodluck with it all :)
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9197017 tn?1429016816
Ditto what Jemma posted.
Helpful - 0
4851940 tn?1515694593
If your girlfriend does suffer from hypoglycaemia, it is imperative that she eats properly.  Small meals that contains a healthy balance of foods that are eaten regularly spaced out throughout the day is a MUST.  

Foods that are slow release energy foods are the type of foods that she should be eating.  Refined foods like white bread, sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, energy drinks and fizzy drinks will spike up her sugar levels very quickly, only for the sugar levels to plummet down very quickly.

If she experiences a hypoglycaemic attack, it is fine to consume a refined food with sugar (energy sweets, biscuit, sugary foods) to avoid getting into a coma, but she should also eat something that has a slow release of energy too - Protein foods, foods that contain fibre (vegetables, fruit with skin, porridge, nuts, meat).  She needs a steady flow of slow release foods to avoid getting hypoglycaemic attacks.  She must not miss meals or eat a large meal thinking that she can miss the next meal.

Eating a healthy snack in between meals like having an apple, a natural yogurt, some nuts for example may be all that is required to avoid getting a low sugar attack.

Blurry vision is can be a symptom of high sugar levels in the blood stream.
She needs to make an appointment with the ophthalmologist to check her eyes.  Ask to make sure that they do diabetic retinopathy screening and not just vision tests.

Ensure that she also drinks plenty of fluids and especially water.  Getting dehydrated (not drinking enough fluids) can also cause problems.

Has she been checked out for any throat and lung infections?  Having a respiratory infection or a urine infection could also cause some of those symptoms.  If she feels congested a steam inhalation may help.  
Helpful - 0
1950425 tn?1452914516
Sounds like epilepsy has she been diagnosed with it if she hasn't get her to see her doctor as they can run tests to see if it is epilepsy? Sorry that is all I can think of at the moment
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Avatar universal
The question is why is she hypoglycemic. Does she have an insulin producing tumor such as an insulinoma? While you are waiting for that to be established she should carry with her sugary food or drinks so as she can raise her blood glucose levels as required.
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