Shaking, rigidity, and profuse sweating

Jeanne C. · February 25

We spent the morning in the ER because overnight my husband had 4 episodes where he was shaking so hard, holding his limbs rigidly, and eventually sweating like crazy. No fever. Just got over covid (no real symptoms left...not even a cough).

At the ER they did labs, pushed some fluids, and did a chest xray. Nothing. They sent us home with a dx of fatigue, deconditioning, and weakness (well duh). I'll follow up with his pcp tomorrow.

I feel like I'm losing my mind. It was so scary to see. And when nothing was wrong I feel like I was overreacting.

Does anyone know if these are symptoms of dementia? Or covid? Dr. Google gives me everything from seizures to menopause.

gampiano · February 25

Hi Jeanne,

This happened to my husband in stage 7, and it was scary to watch. It looked like a seizure of some kind, but by the time the hospice nurse came he was calm and resting. The nurse used the term "convulsion" but it never happened again. These incidents that come out of the blue are un nerving to say the least. He was on a downward path and this was yet another indication , but certainly not the last one. He also became very shaky with certain medications. Holding you in my intentions.

Maureen

trottingalong · February 25

My DH does that sometimes with a UTI. He gets horrible, debilitating chills and then sweats. I’m assuming they checked for that though.

Pat6177 · February 26

You said when nothing was wrong, you felt like you were overreacting. You know there was something wrong, it’s just that the medical folks can’t figure it out. We read on here all the time about the shortcomings of the medical community, especially around dementia. You’re taking good care of your DH. It’s just so difficult.

ImMaggieMae · February 26

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/199690#Comment_199690

I agree. It was probably one of those neurological things connected with dementia that isn’t easy to explain. I don’t think you overreacted. My husband has had episodes of sweating during evening hours that are unexplained. They come and go within an hour or two with no fever. He is often shaky at the same time, but perhaps not shaking as hard as what you described. His other vitals are normal. If the symptoms don’t stop on their own they do after he takes his evening meds. If any of his vitals, like BP, oxygen levels, or heart rate would have way off I would consider taking him to ER.

ButterflyWings · February 26

@Jeanne C. This sounds similar to the vasovagal episodes my DH has had occasionally. The first one scared me to death. Thought he was having a seizure and dying. The uncontrollable jerking and profuse sweating followed by seeming like nothing happened, sounds so familiar. It is a little different every time, for example he does not always have the seizure-like spasms with limbs and does not always lose consciousness, but mainly he seems like he's going to go into a trance and pass out (and might actually do that) -- or he may just lock his legs when standing and start blanking out on his feet, which gives me enough time to get him seated or to the floor safely before he eventually recovers. Sometimes there is lots of yawning afterward, to restore oxygen. And breaking out in a cold sweat. The waterworks are not always a feature, but most of the time.

These are related to his regular blood pressure being quite low/normal, and ifhe strains too much while toileting or over-exerts himself walking a long way or climbing stairs too quickly -- these are a couple of the apparent triggers for the vasovagal response here. It also has happened out of the blue when he stood up too fast.

We have oxygen at home due to in-home hospice, so I have used this and also kept a rollator nearby to help alleviate these otherwise harmless episodes from causing something more serious (a dangerous fall, etc.).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vasovagal-syncope/symptoms-causes/syc-20350527

https://www.verywellhealth.com/vasovagal-cardioneurogenic-syncope-1746389

SSHarkey · February 26

Something similar happened to my DH. The uncontrolled shaking, out of the blue. He was in bed. I held him closely and he began to relax. Never knew what caused it. Hasn’t happened since.