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What Causes Severe Lethargy, Headache And Red Swollen Face?
Hi, I have an aunt. Her name is Sophia. She is a 35 year old female who has two kids and is a stay at home mom. Recently, she has been feeling very lethargic. She s incapable of getting out of bed. Her diet is very poor and she has lost weight as a result. Her menstrual cycle has shortened to two days. She wakes up in the middle of the night due to a severe headache and swelling / redness to her face. Her sister, my mom, had papillary thyroid carcinoma when she was 39. Do you think she might have hypothyroidism?
Mon, 23 May 2022
Hello,
Symptoms like severe headache, facial swelling and redness may be due to superior vena caval congestion which happens in the following:
1) Mediastinal masses
2) Retrosternal goiter
3) Chest tumors
In all the above cases, superior vena cava gets compressed and leads to
1) Swelling of neck or chest veins
2) Congestion of face
3) Hoarse voice
4) Coughing
5) Headache
This can be diagnosed by chest x ray or CT chest. Other symptoms like:
1) Lethargy
2) Loss of appetite
3) Loss of weight may be due to thyroid gland involvement or due to severe anemia.
As her sister had papillary thyroid carcinoma, there is a possibility of occurrence in her too. so please get all the tests done as soon as possible to evaluate the cause and for appropriate treatment.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
Symptoms like severe headache, facial swelling and redness may be due to superior vena caval congestion which happens in the following:
1) Mediastinal masses
2) Retrosternal goiter
3) Chest tumors
In all the above cases, superior vena cava gets compressed and leads to
1) Swelling of neck or chest veins
2) Congestion of face
3) Hoarse voice
4) Coughing
5) Headache
This can be diagnosed by chest x ray or CT chest. Other symptoms like:
1) Lethargy
2) Loss of appetite
3) Loss of weight may be due to thyroid gland involvement or due to severe anemia.
As her sister had papillary thyroid carcinoma, there is a possibility of occurrence in her too. so please get all the tests done as soon as possible to evaluate the cause and for appropriate treatment.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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