What causes sudden abrupt fall and lips to turn blue?

Question

Hi doctor,

This is for my son, who is 30 years old. He has gained a lot of weight and has been to a doctor because he could not breathe properly. The doctor told him he had to lose weight. Last week, he just fell asleep at the wheel of his car, but we could not wake him up. His lips were blue, so we took him to the hospital, and they thought he had sleep apnea.

So he had to go back to spend two days at the respiratory clinic. He generally cannot breathe through his nose, and he will not admit it to himself. He is a cocaine addict, and he has not told the doctors this. I am afraid they are treating him for the wrong thing. He is killing himself slowly. I am at my wits' end. We are all concerned bout him.

He falls asleep at the drop of a hat, and his lips are blue. He has had this problem since he was a baby. He has been using only the inhalers Ventolin and Becotide. He is getting confused coming out and cannot breathe as he sniffs that much cocaine. They took an X-ray of him and said he had a blood clot. Then it was settled that he had not had pneumonia a few months ago.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The probable causes of his condition could be due to multiple reasons. Breathlessness, weight gain, and sleepiness in a cocaine addict asthmatic patient who is on an inhaler. Well, as far as breathlessness and sleepiness are concerned, it could be due to a cocaine overdose.

Other symptoms include confusion, an increase in rate and depth of breathing, cyanosis, seizures, palpitations, vomiting, etc. However, an X-ray, as you mentioned, is not an appropriate method to exclude blood clots or pulmonary emboli, common in cocaine toxicity and complications of secondary manifestations of asthma or other lung conditions, such as pulmonary edema.

Breathlessness or shortness of breath, although common in a blood clot in the lung, can only be confirmed with a CT (computed tomography) scan of the lung or an angiogram. First of all, it is imperative to mention cocaine dependence or use by treating physicians to overrule addiction-related issues and overdose possibilities. Asthmatic patients with mild depression are more prone to gain weight.

The complete investigation, laboratory tests, and proper medical and drug history should be taken by the physician, and a multidisciplinary (general physician, psychiatrist, chest physician, radiologist) team would probably work together to help your son. Investigations suggested are CT of the thorax, angiogram, CBC (complete blood count), biochemistry, and TFT (thyroid function test). Preventive measures include rehabilitation.

I hope this makes things clear for you.

Please feel free to refer to us in the future for any queries.

Regards.