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Good Morning! My Elderly Mother (85) Is Self Isolating At

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Posted on Fri, 17 Apr 2020
Question: Good morning! My elderly mother (85) is self isolating at home during this Covid19 outbreak - but I have just spoke with her and she is worried as she says she has been experiencing "chills" which seem to co-incide with her feeling that she is seeing things as "yellow" (or though a yellow lens) - She says this passes as fast as it comes but has been happening for a few days now. It is scaring her. She says she has no cough and no fever so hoping its nothing to do with Covid19.... Do you have any advice? Very much appreciated! XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
Good morning! My elderly mother (85) is self isolating at home during this Covid19 outbreak - but I have just spoke with her and she is worried as she says she has been experiencing "chills" which seem to co-incide with her feeling that she is seeing things as "yellow" (or though a yellow lens) - She says this passes as fast as it comes but has been happening for a few days now. It is scaring her. She says she has no cough and no fever so hoping its nothing to do with Covid19.... Do you have any advice? Very much appreciated! XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
She is unlikely to be a COVID 19 suspect.

Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

Though the global situation of COVID 19 is still evolving but the usual cardinal symptoms of it are high grade fever,dry cough,muscle pains and severe fatigue.
Other less reported symptoms are soreness of throat,diarrhoea,loss of sensation of taste and smell and decreased appetite.
The community spread of this disease is still not rampant and patients usually have a travel history,history of contact with someone who had a travel history or are health care workers who have been in contact with COVID patients and their secretions.

The symptoms of your mother do not fall in any of these brackets so there is hardly any suspecion of COVID 19 in her.

Usual saying is "Prevention is better than cure "but for COVID 19,prevention is the only cure.
As your mother is elderly so it's good that she is on self quarantine.
Give her psychological support,ask her to de stress herself and avoid overthinking.

Hope that I have answered your query.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
She is unlikely to be a COVID 19 suspect.

Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

Though the global situation of COVID 19 is still evolving but the usual cardinal symptoms of it are high grade fever,dry cough,muscle pains and severe fatigue.
Other less reported symptoms are soreness of throat,diarrhoea,loss of sensation of taste and smell and decreased appetite.
The community spread of this disease is still not rampant and patients usually have a travel history,history of contact with someone who had a travel history or are health care workers who have been in contact with COVID patients and their secretions.

The symptoms of your mother do not fall in any of these brackets so there is hardly any suspecion of COVID 19 in her.

Usual saying is "Prevention is better than cure "but for COVID 19,prevention is the only cure.
As your mother is elderly so it's good that she is on self quarantine.
Give her psychological support,ask her to de stress herself and avoid overthinking.

Hope that I have answered your query.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (29 minutes later)
Hi! First I did pay extra for a geriatric specialist Not a general practitioner? Will I hear from the specialist?? also I am not concern about covid19 but would like more detailed information of your opinion of her current symptoms as described. Please advise thanks
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
Hi! First I did pay extra for a geriatric specialist Not a general practitioner? Will I hear from the specialist?? also I am not concern about covid19 but would like more detailed information of your opinion of her current symptoms as described. Please advise thanks
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (6 hours later)
My sister is with her now - Mum describes it as "feeling a little sick / nauseous, then she feels tingly and her arms become cold, and then she is fine again.
And she feels she is looking through a yellow lens.....
Could this be a sign of early stroke / heart attack?
What else could this be a sign of?
I appreciate your fast response thank you! XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
My sister is with her now - Mum describes it as "feeling a little sick / nauseous, then she feels tingly and her arms become cold, and then she is fine again.
And she feels she is looking through a yellow lens.....
Could this be a sign of early stroke / heart attack?
What else could this be a sign of?
I appreciate your fast response thank you! XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She might be having nerve irritation secondary to hypovitaminosis.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

Kindly share if she has some co morbities like diabetes,hypertension or hypothyroidism etc.

Xanthopsia (yellow vision) is usually seen in severe vitamin deficiency,uncontrolled diabetes and as a complication of some cardiac medicines like digoxin toxicity.

These symptoms are unlikely to be a presentation of stroke or heart attack.
Stroke presents with slurred speech,inability to lift the arms or facial deviation.

There are many causes of tingling and numbness of arms.
A pressure on nerves,pinched nerves,irritation or inflammation of the nerves top the list.
Loading doses of Vitamin B12 are helpful for such patients.

For nauseating feeling ,she can take a PPI like Pantaprazole 40 mg empty stomach.
Tab Zofran 4 mg thrice daily can also be taken.
She should eat soft,easily digestible diet and drink plenty of water and fluids.
She should de stress herself and should not be sleep deprived.

If the symptoms do not improve,visit your clinician for evaluation,clinical examination and further management.

Hope that I have answered your query.

Happy living.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
She might be having nerve irritation secondary to hypovitaminosis.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

Kindly share if she has some co morbities like diabetes,hypertension or hypothyroidism etc.

Xanthopsia (yellow vision) is usually seen in severe vitamin deficiency,uncontrolled diabetes and as a complication of some cardiac medicines like digoxin toxicity.

These symptoms are unlikely to be a presentation of stroke or heart attack.
Stroke presents with slurred speech,inability to lift the arms or facial deviation.

There are many causes of tingling and numbness of arms.
A pressure on nerves,pinched nerves,irritation or inflammation of the nerves top the list.
Loading doses of Vitamin B12 are helpful for such patients.

For nauseating feeling ,she can take a PPI like Pantaprazole 40 mg empty stomach.
Tab Zofran 4 mg thrice daily can also be taken.
She should eat soft,easily digestible diet and drink plenty of water and fluids.
She should de stress herself and should not be sleep deprived.

If the symptoms do not improve,visit your clinician for evaluation,clinical examination and further management.

Hope that I have answered your query.

Happy living.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (31 hours later)
After some research it seems she is having "cold flashes" - this is happening every 20 minutes or so - and then disappears. Do you have any insight into what these cold flashes might signify? Some sites suggest it is linked to anxiety but my mum assures me she is not feeling anxious. It also suggests there may be a problem with the thyroid? As she is unable to go out or get to a doctor or anything right now, can you recommend anything she might be able to do for a thyroid issue? Thanks, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
After some research it seems she is having "cold flashes" - this is happening every 20 minutes or so - and then disappears. Do you have any insight into what these cold flashes might signify? Some sites suggest it is linked to anxiety but my mum assures me she is not feeling anxious. It also suggests there may be a problem with the thyroid? As she is unable to go out or get to a doctor or anything right now, can you recommend anything she might be able to do for a thyroid issue? Thanks, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism may cause Cold flashes.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

You are right in that thyroid dysfunction can cause such symptoms.
Has she been tested for thyroid in the past ?

A hypo functioning gland causes cold flashes.
A hyper functioning gland causes hot flashes.

Before treating any thyroid insufficiency,we need to procure and document her thyroid function tests.
This might be difficult right now but can be done as soon as the scenario improves.

Time being she can have more of the food stuffs which have been linked with optimal thyroid health.
These include eggs (specially egg yolk),yogurt and other milk products,seaweeds,fish,nuts and tofu.

I also want to add here that a patient might be anxious with out having an evident cause and without knowing about it.
It may be sub clinical and may be clinically overt.
The presentations might range from palpitation,pounding heart,perspiration,sweating,nausea,vomitings,emotional labitity,headache,blackouts,insomnia,feeling bad,irritability to other somatic symptoms.

Warm regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism may cause Cold flashes.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

You are right in that thyroid dysfunction can cause such symptoms.
Has she been tested for thyroid in the past ?

A hypo functioning gland causes cold flashes.
A hyper functioning gland causes hot flashes.

Before treating any thyroid insufficiency,we need to procure and document her thyroid function tests.
This might be difficult right now but can be done as soon as the scenario improves.

Time being she can have more of the food stuffs which have been linked with optimal thyroid health.
These include eggs (specially egg yolk),yogurt and other milk products,seaweeds,fish,nuts and tofu.

I also want to add here that a patient might be anxious with out having an evident cause and without knowing about it.
It may be sub clinical and may be clinically overt.
The presentations might range from palpitation,pounding heart,perspiration,sweating,nausea,vomitings,emotional labitity,headache,blackouts,insomnia,feeling bad,irritability to other somatic symptoms.

Warm regards.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. AJEET SINGH

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 2151 Questions

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Good Morning! My Elderly Mother (85) Is Self Isolating At

Good morning! My elderly mother (85) is self isolating at home during this Covid19 outbreak - but I have just spoke with her and she is worried as she says she has been experiencing "chills" which seem to co-incide with her feeling that she is seeing things as "yellow" (or though a yellow lens) - She says this passes as fast as it comes but has been happening for a few days now. It is scaring her. She says she has no cough and no fever so hoping its nothing to do with Covid19.... Do you have any advice? Very much appreciated! XXXXXXX