Question: I am a 72 year old female. I have had amazingly good health all my life, except for a bout of breast cancer in 2000, which was treated properly, and has never returned. Now, about 4 times in the last year, I have had the following symptoms:

Headache, awful joint and muscle aches, feeling of burning up, and last night I felt that I was going to faint. I had to call my husband to help me. He told me my skin was very hot and he used cool wet paper towels to try to cool me down. During that time, I vomited. After a few minutes of wetting me down, he was able to get my skin cooled off. After a few minutes rest on the floor, I was able to get to my feet with help, and get myself back to bed. This morning I woke up, without symptoms. This is the same pattern this has followed in each episode in the last year. I have spoken to my family doctor about it, but he doesn't really have any suggestion as to what could be the trouble.
These episodes last only about 2-3 hours, and then the next day, I feel fine.