Are Severe Night Sweats, Chills, Dizziness, Blurred Vision, Upset Stomach, Gas, Muscle Aches And Lower Left Back Pain Signs Of Deteriorating Heart Function?

Posted on Fri, 14 Jul 2023

Question: Male 62 with controlled Type 2 diabetes and a prior triple bypass. Worsening over app. 6 days, severe night sweats with alternate chills, dizzy, blurred vision, stomach upset with gas, muscle aches, pain in lower back on left side. Swab for flu was negative. EKG was normal, no fever. Blood pressure slightly elevated.
No one has any idea what it might be. Prescribed Doxy Hycl 100 mg 1 PO BID. We appreciate any feedback.
Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I passed carefully through your question and would explain that it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis between different possible causes that may lead to this clinical situation: a metabolic disorder, a chronic infection, a viral infection, a connective tissue disorder, vitamin D or vitamin B12 deficiency etc..

For this reason, I would recommend performing further tests:

- a chest X-ray study
- an abdominal ultrasound
- PCR for inflammation
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- cortisol plasma levels for possible adrenal gland dysfunction
- urine analysis for urine infection
- vitamin D and vitamin B12 plasma levels.

Further tests may be needed (blood bacterial culture, urine bacterial culture,etc.)

You should discuss with his doctor on the above tests.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist

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