What happened to my sister? (Unable to wake up properly)

My sister is 16 years old and has no known medical problems other than PCOS. She has been under a lot of stress the past week and cut the top of her hand with a razer blade (she has no history of self harm). After several days of talk she appears fine and acting her usual self.

We both went to bed at 4am Friday and at 3pm the Saturday, she was still asleep. I tried waking her up the usual way e.g. calling her name, shaking her but she didn't respond. Her mum came in and tried to wake her but she didn't respond. Our brother threw water over her face but nothing. We tried sitting her up and even tickle her but nothing. I placed an onion under her nose and she smiled briefly but her eyes were always shut. When my brother put water on her 30 minutes later, again she smiled, then rubbed her eye but didn't do anything else. It was if she was sleeping!

We called the ambulance, they checked her breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and all was fine. She was able to sit up on her own and walk downstairs (aided) but her eyes always closed. She did not communicate in any way in the ambulance. At hospital she responded to questions asked by nurses with head movements and shoulder shrugs. She spoke only a few words, eyes still closed. She could follow commands to move her legs and arms but she acted like a zombie. She had a pregnancy test which came back negative.

Shortly after returning home she returned to her normal self. She said she doesnt know what has happened other than a few small parts. She says she remembers going to bed and when she woke up she was in hospital. What could be the cause of this? stress?

What did they say at the hospital? Did they do any blood work?

crincrin wrote:What did they say at the hospital? Did they do any blood work?

They didn't say much to me, I was in the waiting room a lot of the time. They did do blood work to check for overdosing but nothing was found. To be honest, the hospital was more like a care home, not much was done and nothing of why this has happened was spoke of.

I'm sorry to hear that. It may be psychological, or perhaps a heavy metal toxicity. Maybe something to do with blood sugar levels, but, I'm guessing here. Hopefully someone here with more experience could chime in.

Sounds serious. Advice here might be good, but rather than rely on an internet forum, take her to the doctor.

Primary care first, see what they say.

May have to take her to a couple of doctors for an opinion. I wouldn't completely reject the possibility that it's psychological, but I would remain cynical. Usually the say the P word when they can't figure out what's going on.

I second that.

Took her to a GP, she was completely useless. She didn't have access to the hospital records on my sister (the tests they performed) so she recommend my sister come back to her in 1 week as the test results may have come in by then. The doctor really offered nothing of value to my sister, she had no idea what caused this.

Your sister is 16 and had a pregnancy test?

I assume therefore she is sexually active - is she on some sort of 'pill' ?

goten574 wrote:Took her to a GP, she was completely useless. She didn't have access to the hospital records on my sister (the tests they performed) so she recommend my sister come back to her in 1 week as the test results may have come in by then. The doctor really offered nothing of value to my sister, she had no idea what caused this.

I would hesitate to use negative adjectives like "useless." It's not like they don't want to help your sister. If you maintain a helpful attitude with them (staying firm if they try to run up your medical bill) your sister will benefit in the long run.

I suggested a GP/primary care physician first because they can help "triage" patients to get them to specialists. If she offered nothing, not even a possible psychological diagnosis, I suppose that's troublesome. What tests did she run - what were her suspicions?

Strange things happen to people under severe stress, remember that. Your brain has a powerful effect upon your body.

gbp2000 wrote:Your sister is 16 and had a pregnancy test?

I assume therefore she is sexually active - is she on some sort of 'pill' ?

It's complex but to tell you blunt, she was seeing a boyfriend behind her parents back and had sex against her parents beliefs that she should lose her viginity at 18, not 15. She was sexually active in October but has not been since. I asked for a pregnancy test because she hasn't had a period since October (she likely has PCOS but I am trying to get this officially confirmed as her old doctor said she MAY have this). She does not take "the pill"

I would hesitate to use negative adjectives like "useless." It's not like they don't want to help your sister. If you maintain a helpful attitude with them (staying firm if they try to run up your medical bill) your sister will benefit in the long run.

I suggested a GP/primary care physician first because they can help "triage" patients to get them to specialists. If she offered nothing, not even a possible psychological diagnosis, I suppose that's troublesome. What tests did she run - what were her suspicions?

Strange things happen to people under severe stress, remember that. Your brain has a powerful effect upon your body.

Sister is on the NHS, healthcare is free, so she is welcome to visit the doctor at anytime at no cost to herself or parents. I visited the doctor with my sister and I had a good attitude towards the doctor but felt very disappointed.

I am not sure what exact tests she had done but she had a pregnancy, heart and blood test (pressure and toxication). This is likely stress but she will visit the doctor again next week hopefully.

It seems like the PCOS is going to be your best starting point. I'd also suggest that emotional stress might be in some way responsible. The lack of a period at that age, is it PCOS or lack of nutrients / eating?