What Causes Anxiety, Weakness And Fluctuating Body Temperature?

Posted on Tue, 6 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 6 Dec 2016 Answered on

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Yes, my husband has had these spells for 6 YRS. Dr's can't find the cause. He has these spells like anxiety, gets weak, goes from hot to cold, no pain. Comes on regularly every 3 weeks.lasts 4 or 5 days then goes away until the next time. He is 84.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Spells

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your husband's bothersome symptoms.

Episodes like these can be challenging to diagnose.

It may help to rule out potential causes such as thyroid problems, pheochromocytoma and carcinoid.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:

CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH (checks your thyroid)
Plasma Free Metanephrines
24 hour urine serotonin and creatinine
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
Correct diagnosis and treatment requires the opportunity to examine the patient so you must see an endocrinologist in-person.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar