Hot flashes

[Jaeffbee]

I’m at a loss. Just got mom home from the hospital. She has aspiration pneumonia. They put her on some antibiotic called pipercillan via an IV while in hospital, but sent us home with Augmentin. She has a PEG tube and we now have to give all meds and liquids orally. Nothing oral. They won’t even allow her to suck on an ice chip.

Mom has been having episodes where her head gets really hot, and she sweats profusely. It’s not a fever. Her neurologist tells us the PSP is affecting her hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. During these episodes she becomes very stiff and writhes around. We had been giving her a low dose of Clomazepam to try and relax her ( although these episodes with overheating tend to completely overcome any effects the clonazepam could have on relaxing her). She has had two episodes of the overheating and writhing around in the last three days. The episodes start around bedtime and last the entire night. Needless to say neither of us sleep. I’m concerned because I can’t get her to relax and the much need sleep she needs to recover from her pneumonia, and I was told by the nurses at the hospital the clonazepam would tend to suppress her breathing which is the worst thing for her already weak lungs. I know there’s no answer, I’m just at my wits end.

[Zeberdee]

Wish I could write something that would help unfortunately it is a very challenging time and my thoughts are with you.

[easterncedar]

My sympathies. The temperature fluctuations are very difficult to deal with, and the sleeplessness is the worst. No advice, sorry, just sending good thoughts. Hang on.

Peace, Ec

[Marie_14]

I've not heard oif the antibiotics you have mentioned. My husband was given Vancomycin when he suffered from pneumonia and later when he suffered from aspiration pneumonia.

Marie x

[Jaeffbee]

Thanks. I often lurk on this site. I realize there isn’t answers for everything, but it helps to talk and to read the experiences of others. I continue to be amazed at how much and at the same time how little Doctors know. ❤️

[Spiralsparkle]

Sorry to hear your Mum is having such a tough time.

I don't have any answers really for you.

Have you tried a tepid cloth on her forehead to help cool her?

My Mum also has episodes of temperature spikes and makes her feel awful.

Do you have a contact within the neurologist team that you can talk to about your worries or do you have any hospice support?

[Jaeffbee]

We have cooling migraine patches we put on her head and cold compresses we lay by her head when she has these episodes. Her neurologist didn’t seem surprised by the hot flashes. He told us it was the disease affecting her hypothalamus. He told us we were doing the right thing by cooling her down. We haven’t called hospice. She’s not in pain she indicates that to us. Just uncomfortable at times.

Thank you so much for your input. This community is awesome!