swollen ankles, pain, sweating...

[Shannon]

I was just video chatting with a friend who lives in a different state. He is c5/6 incomplete, 15 years post. He said his ankles are swollen, he has really bad pain in his legs that he's never had before, he's sweating, and he's acting delirious. I told him I think he should go to the ER, but he says he'll be fine. He said he is going to go lay down for a while. Any idea of what could be wrong with him?

[SCI-Nurse]

Anyone who is having a change in their mental status and acting delirious should seek medical attention immediately. This could be caused by any numbaer of things such as his medication, AD, infection, heart failure, dehydration or malnutrition.

I would continue to encourage your friend to go to the ED, as delaying diagnosis and treatment could contribute to a poorer outcome for him.

AAD

[Shannon]

Ah, sorry, but I'm freaking out....

He's got a tilting chair that allows him to lay back. I was just talking to him on the phone and his speech is slurred. He still refuses to go to the ER. He said he needs to close his eyes for a bit. I'm supposed to call him in 10 minutes to wake him up. How do I convince him to get his ass to the ER? :agog:

[Shannon]

Thank you AAD. We were posting at the same time. I'll see how things are going when I call him back in a few minutes. Hopefully he will answer his phone.

[metronycguy]

if he doesnt answer , i would call the local pd or fire department to make a wellness check

[sjean423]

The swelling and pain sound like they could be blood clots. But I am more worried about the ad symptoms and the delirium and slurred speech. I hope you can convince him to go. And I agree wit metro, if he doesn;t answer, someone needs to check on him.

[Shannon]

He answered his phone. His mom is actually in town visiting him right now, but she is in the other room. I asked him if I could speak with his mother, but he said no, he'd be fine, he just needed a 10 minute power nap. His mom doesn't have any idea what is going on. I said "Okay, but promise me you will tell your mom what is happening BEFORE you take your 10 minute nap. He said he would, but he seems so out of it and I don't know if he actually will. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I think if he was home alone I'd call to have them do a wellness check, but with his mom there, he should be okay. Right?:confused:

[Liz321]

I'm going out on a limb here and being totally skeptic (not that he's a quad) but can he be doing this for your attention?

If his mom is there she'll call an ambulance if needed.

[Shannon]

Nah, I give him plenty of attention.

Although his mom is there, she is in the other room. He's in his bedroom with the door closed. She probably just thinks he is taking a nap.

I talked to him again. He says he is feeling better. His speech is still slurred though and sometimes when I ask him a question, he doesn't answer and I have to ask again.

Something is weird, that's for sure. I don't want to invade his privacy by insisting on talking to his mom or by calling the police/fire department. At the same time, I'm afraid he's delirious and doesn't really know whats going on.

I'm giving him 20 more minutes. If I don't either talk to his mom or see him in video chat, I'll call the police/fire department.

Thanks to all for the support. I'm glad I'm not dealing with this on my own.

[Liz321]

Nah, I give him plenty of attention.

.....

Something is weird, that's for sure.



I hope your friend is okay...then again I think something else maybe going on....but I hope that it's just my own weirdo feelings @ people one meets on the Internet you can't feel.

In any event tell him you won't talk to him till he sees a doctor as his symptoms sound quite serious.

[Timaru]

Shannon, it sounds like he could be over heating.

If he's in his bedroom with the door closed and his mother is in the sitting room feeling a bit chilly is it possible that she could turn the central heating up without him knowing?

[SCI-Nurse]

I would always err on the side of safety. Is it possible alcohol or drugs are an issue in this situation? Again, I would encourage him to go to the ED. Slurred speech and delirious feelings do not improve with a nap.

AAD

[Shannon]

Argh. Okay, I believe the situation is under control. I threatened to call the police department if he didn't go tell his mom what was going on. He finally agreed but I stayed on the phone while he got his mom. Now she knows what is going on. I could hear her talking to him. Hopefully she will get him to the ER.

[BeeBee]

Is he okay?

[Shannon]

Yes, he is, thanks.

I'm pretty sure it had to have been really bad AD. His heart was racing, he was stuffed up, he was sweating a lot. Last night he started to feel bad again, so he went to bed early. He slept like a rock all night and now today he is totally fine. No more pain, no more swollen ankles, no more sweating.... all that is gone.

Even though he is okay now, I think he should have gone to the ER yesterday. With that said, I'm sure that if I were in the same situation, I wouldn't have gone to the ER either. :o

[darrel]

we can be so stubbern at times.. weather it is for our own good or not.. two years ago if I had gone in and had that damn "cold/flue" checked out, I probly wouldn't have had the heart attack and fell..shoulda, coulda but didn't..

[BeeBee]

Very glad he's okay. Was the ankle swelling causing the AD maybe? Just thinking "outloud". Not an expert on AD, by any means.

[Shannon]

Stubborn is my middle name Darrel!

BeeBee, I'm not sure. I think everything was probably somehow related, although I don't know how.

[sjean423]

Glad he is ok. At least someone else is aware there was an issue.

[SCI-Nurse]

Beebee,

Please make sure your friend (and his mother anad doctor) are knowledgeable and have a copy of the information sheet on AD, signs and symptoms and treatment. Every SCI person should be familiar with this and how to take their blood pressure. This is a very serious emergency situation and common occurence. Having this information could save their lives.

AAD