Concerns About My Grandfather's Health
Over the past few months, my grandfather has encountered some serious health challenges. At 74 years old, standing at 6 feet and weighing 250 pounds, he experiences episodes of intense shaking and chills accompanied by a high fever. Remarkably, he remains fully conscious during these episodes, which can last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Following these incidents, he often feels breathless and unusually tired for the next day or so. More recently, these occurrences have increased in frequency, particularly during the night, yet they seem to happen without any consistent pattern. His blood pressure has been measured at 94/68, and his hemoglobin levels are within normal ranges. He has a history of kidney stones and has undergone gallbladder removal in the past. Although he has been diagnosed with a fatty liver, he has abstained from alcohol for several years. Despite undergoing various medical evaluations—including blood tests, MRI and CT scans, as well as a sleep study—all results have returned normal. I feel quite helpless and am seeking ways to support him during this difficult time.
Answers (1)
7/15/2025, 4:20:43 PM
OpenHealth AI
I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather's health challenges. His symptoms are concerning, and I understand why you're feeling helpless. Based on what you’ve described, it sounds like he is experiencing episodes that need careful evaluation, especially given his age and medical history.
Main Points:
- Symptoms of Concern: Intense shaking, chills, high fever, breathlessness, and fatigue could suggest several medical conditions that require further exploration.
- Potential Causes: Given that previous tests have returned normal, conditions like infections (including recurrent urinary tract infections), metabolic issues, or other underlying conditions such as autonomic dysfunction might be worth considering.
Explanation:
The episodes of shaking and chills with high fever, along with breathlessness and fatigue afterward, could indicate various issues. These might range from infections (even if tests are normal), metabolic problems possibly related to kidney health or liver function, to other rare conditions that may not readily show on standard scans or blood tests. The fact that they occur more frequently at night may suggest a connection to circadian rhythm or other physiological changes.
Next Steps:
-
Symptom Tracking: Keep a detailed diary of his episodes, noting the time, duration, related activities, and any other symptoms he experiences. This can help in identifying patterns or triggers.
-
Infection Checks: Consider asking about a urinalysis to rule out a urinary tract infection, especially since these can present with shaking and fever without localized pain. Also, monitoring for any signs of respiratory infections could be valuable.
-
Hydration and Nutrition: Ensure he stays well-hydrated and maintains a balanced diet to support his overall health, especially considering his history of kidney stones and fatty liver.
-
Follow-Up: Regular follow-ups with his healthcare provider are essential for managing his symptoms. If he has not already seen a specialist such as a neurologist or infectious disease expert, encourage exploring those options given the complexity of his symptoms.
-
Support and Reassurance: Emotional and physical support from family can be very beneficial. Encourage him to talk about his experiences, and ensure he feels supported during these episodes.
If new symptoms arise — such as changes in mental status, worsening breathlessness, or persistent fevers — seek immediate medical attention. Remember, you're doing an important job advocating for your grandfather's health. Let me know if you have any more specific questions or concerns!
Related Questions
Seeking Insights: My Journey with Undiagnosed Neurological Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 34-year-old female grappling with neurological symptoms that first appeared in October, and I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have faced similar challenges. My journey began with unexpected migraines, blurred vision, and an ongoing sensation of being off-balance or intoxicated. Gradually, I began experiencing mainly sensory-related symptoms, such as tingling and burning sensations, feelings of extreme heat and cold, sharp pains radiating in my arms and back, as well as discomfort in my hands and toes, alongside intermittent numbness. I also endure varying degrees of weakness and heaviness in my right side, specifically my arm and leg, although I haven’t suffered complete functional loss. The nature of my symptoms is erratic; they fluctuate rather than consistently deteriorate. An MRI revealed mild, scattered lesions in the white matter, which were deemed nonspecific. Further tests from a lumbar puncture returned normal results, showing no markers of inflammation, and the oligoclonal bands were not present. A thorough range of lab tests yielded no significant findings. After evaluating my case, the neurology team suggested a possible diagnosis of MS and administered a three-day course of intravenous steroids. While I noticed a slight improvement in some sensory pain, my symptoms persist and continue to vary day by day. I still experience headaches and pressure in my head along with episodes of blurred vision, but there have been no new deficits since treatment. I am reaching out to connect with others who have had similar experiences. I would like to learn about the insights or diagnoses you encountered and what treatments proved beneficial (such as those related to migraine disorders, dysautonomia, or sensory neuropathy, for example). If you have navigated a similar path, I would greatly appreciate your sharing your story. Thank you!
Unusual Heart Sensation
I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.
Mass on the Glottis
Patient Details: 63-year-old male, height 165 cm, weight 66 kg, Asian descent. Lifestyle Factors: No history of smoking or alcohol consumption. Medical History: Diagnosed with asthma and angina. Current Medications: Uses a Symbicort inhaler and takes Concor tablets. Main Concern: A mass was detected during a gastroendoscopy carried out a year ago. There is no report of pain, but the patient experiences mild hoarseness. What might be the diagnosis?
Post-Gallbladder Surgery Concerns: Potential Infection Three Weeks Later?
Subject's Age: 35 Gender: Female Height: 5 feet 4 inches Weight: 160 pounds Ethnicity: Asian Duration of Symptoms: Last Three Weeks Geographic Location: United States Relevant Medical History: Almost three weeks ago, I underwent gallbladder removal surgery. In the last few days, I have observed a small amount of cloudy discharge emerging from my incision site. Recently, I noticed what appears to be pus leaking from the area. While there is no significant pain, I do feel a mild soreness when I touch or move the site. I have not experienced any fever or chills, and there’s no unpleasant odor coming from the wound. Should I continue to clean the area with soap and water, or is it advisable to seek medical attention at the emergency room for further evaluation?
Should I Seek Medical Attention for a Possible Spinal Injury?
Greetings! I’m a 20-year-old male, and while I’m not overly anxious about my situation, I've been experiencing enough discomfort to consider it. Three days prior, I went snowboarding and attempted to navigate a box, which is essentially a flat metal structure with a slight ramp at the end. Unfortunately, I lost my balance close to the end of the box and landed squarely on my backside. This caused my back and head to make hard contact with the ground. At first, I didn’t perceive much pain in my back or head; instead, the primary source of pain seemed to be my rear, which felt as if it had developed a noticeable lump. However, I dismissed it at the time. The following day, the soreness persisted, alongside generalized discomfort throughout my upper body. Every time I coughed, I felt pain that radiated from my neck down to my abdomen, which was tender to the touch. I asked my girlfriend to check for any visible injuries, and although my butt showed no bruising, I did notice around five bruises along my spine. I’m questioning whether I should consult a physician. I usually avoid going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary, having only visited twice in the last four years (excluding vaccinations during my teenage years). I tend to prefer toughing things out to save on medical expenses, but if the situation warrants it, I wouldn’t hesitate to seek help as I did last year for an ear infection. What do you think – should I consider getting checked out?