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What Does This Blood Report Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 16 Aug 2017
Question: Hello
Yesterday, my wife who is a healthy 33 year old, passed out and fell to the floor. A day earlier she had been complaining that she was weak, tired, dizzy and nauseous. She was also going through a tiresome and stressful week. That night, she went to the bathroom to vomit, and as she walked out of the bathroom she just collapsed. I ran to her aid and put her head on my lap. She wasn't speaking, seemed unconscious. She stayed in this state for about 7 minutes until I sat her up and lifted her to the couch. She gradually felt better, but still weak, and I was able to take her to the hospital. She later mentioned that after vomiting, she felt a rapid heart beat, her vision became blurry and then she collapsed and doesn't remember much after that.

At the hospital they did various tests with the following results:

ECG: Normal
WBC: 7.4
RBC: 4.88 (slightly elevated)
HGB: 123
HCT: 0.38
MCV: 77 (slightly low)
Blood Sugar: 4.8 (slightly low)
NA: normal
K: normal
CL: normal
TCO2: normal
Urea: 7.8 (slightly high)
Troponin I: normal
Pro Time INR: normal
....everything else seemed ok.

Doctor said it was probably a combination of fatigue, stress and malnutrition.

I don't know if this is relevant, but since her brother passed away 2 years ago, every time she gets excessively stressed, anxious and depressed, she would feel numbness and weakness on her whole left side, sometimes almost resulting in her passing out. We had her checked out, fearing it could be a stroke or TIA. Doctor said TIA is suspected but not diagnosed. We have realised a pattern of her having these sorts of episodes when she is feeling down, stressed, depressed.

Her family doctor believes that she is having anxiety attacks and her condition is stressed related. She believes it is a form of a light depression. I am seeking a second opinion. I could be mistaken but I'm having doubts.

My wife had been through greater stress before and not had any episodes or symptoms. This only started after her brother's passing 2 years ago, which was extremely hard on her by the way. Could this terrible event (her brother's passing) have triggered her body to respond to stress differently now??

Could it be that she has some sort of deficiency? Vitamin B12, Iron, Blood Sugar?

Could it be stroke or TIA?

Your opinion is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bhanu Partap (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Too Much of stress can lead to such kind of episodes...

Detailed Answer:
Hello

After going through the medical details provided by you i would like to tell you that Yes Stress could be one important factor playing a role in all this.

Stress could also trigger other issues like cardiac arrythmias which can lead to sudden collapse or unconsciousness. As her brother also passed away at a young age so these symptoms need to be take seriously and require further evaluation especially cardiac.

Its advisable that you should personally take her to cardiologist and get few basic cardiac tests done like 24 to 48 hrs HOLTER Monitoring, Stress Test, Echocardiography so as to understand the underlying cause of her unconsciousness.

We cannot deny the possibility of having a TIA as of now. Yes low blood sugar can also be a possibility for unconsciousness.

But first cardiac arrhythmia need to be ruled out as they can be life threatening. So kindly consult a cardiologist personally and discuss these points with him.

I hope this information will guide you on a right path.

Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bhanu Partap (18 hours later)
We have an appointment with the cardiologist on Wednesday.

Her brother didn't pass away due to illness. He had an accident. But his passing did result in severe stress on my wife and since then she has been having these symptoms when stressed out.

It's been almost 48 hours since she passed out and she still feels very weak and nauseous. She hasn't been eating well, vomited a couple of times. I'm going to the pharmacy to get her multi vitamins maybe that will help. Anything particular you suggest?

Her family doctor is away until August 8 so there isn't much we can do before then.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bhanu Partap (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Hello Again

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the correction.

Along with multivitamins, get ORS also ( Oral Rehydration Solution ) to restore the electrolyte levels getting lost with vomiting.

To prevent vomitings add a tablet of Ondansetron which is a anti emetic to prevent vomiting.

However as per the condition I would like to suggest you to take her to an ER considering her weakness and vomitings.

Hope to have been helpful.

Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Bhanu Partap

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 4732 Questions

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What Does This Blood Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: Too Much of stress can lead to such kind of episodes... Detailed Answer: Hello After going through the medical details provided by you i would like to tell you that Yes Stress could be one important factor playing a role in all this. Stress could also trigger other issues like cardiac arrythmias which can lead to sudden collapse or unconsciousness. As her brother also passed away at a young age so these symptoms need to be take seriously and require further evaluation especially cardiac. Its advisable that you should personally take her to cardiologist and get few basic cardiac tests done like 24 to 48 hrs HOLTER Monitoring, Stress Test, Echocardiography so as to understand the underlying cause of her unconsciousness. We cannot deny the possibility of having a TIA as of now. Yes low blood sugar can also be a possibility for unconsciousness. But first cardiac arrhythmia need to be ruled out as they can be life threatening. So kindly consult a cardiologist personally and discuss these points with him. I hope this information will guide you on a right path. Kind Regards Dr Bhanu Partap