My brother who is 35, passed out on Sunday. His wife was unable to get a response for approximately one minute during which time his left arm turned blue. When he did
open his eyes the first time they rolled back and then he slowly came to. He was very out of it and he was then transported to the hospital by ambulance. In the ambulance they did an ekg, all he remembers is that the paramedic said he had never seen one like that. At the ER he complained of chest pain in the middle of his chest radiating to his back, extreme shortness of breath and increased coughing recently with some blood in it. He had also been sick the last week and lost around 10 lbs. His oxygen level was around 80-81 so they put him on oxygen. As they ran tests, CT, EKG's, bloodwork and they all came back normal they tried to take him off the oxygen and his oxgen rate dropped to the 80's again. He was admitted because of his low oxygen levels and they performed several more CT scans, not finding anything. His arterial gas test showed low levels of oxygen to his heart through his blood. His oxygen levels continued to drop the following day and with the oxygen he was at 85-90 on the pulse ox. After receiving the electrocardiogram results, they said all they found was a problem with the blood pressure around his heart being too high and that he needed to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist within the next week. They're diagnosis was that he was out of shape and they thought small parts of his lungs were collapsed and he is a shallow breather which was not allowing his lungs to expand and therefore his heart was not able to receive enough oxygen. He is home awaiting the appointment with a cardiologist and has trouble completing a sentence because of the shortness of breath. I am questioning the diagnosis made because of the quick deterioration in his oxygen level, his back pain, continued weakness and worsening cough. I asked him what about
his oxygen level dropping from 98-100 while on oxygen to between 85-90 in one day and the doctor said it was to do with sitting in bed.
I know this is long but any feedback would greatly be appreciated.