Chapter 111 - Agatha Christie Solves PD Problem

Perhaps a little too early to acknowledge Agatha Christie's role in our PD puzzles. This is how matters came to a head yesterday. Tuesday night she did not sleep well due to her old problem of her feet not wishing to stay in bed. At 6am she felt she needed to keep her feet pressed to the floor and by 6:30 she was sitting outside in her chair and took 2 Panamax. By 7:30 her shakes had calmed enough for her to shower & dress without my assistance yet by 8:30 she needed to return to bed to sleep. She woke at 10am for her meds. At noon another 2 Panamax to calm the shakes. We had planned some grocery shopping today but her increasing unease and stress prevented that, and the state she was in I did not wish to go on my own. She was unstable on her feet, perspiring around her head and had difficulty rising from her chair. She was feeling much like she did when she had a chocolate binge a few months ago. Around 3pm a friend rang hoping to come over for coffee, but she discouraged her by fibbing that we were about to go shopping. In chatting, the matter of green tea was raised and the friend said "Be careful about how much green tea you drink because it can cause hallucinations etc etc", and referred to the plot of "Murder on the Orient Express". Not having read the book, saw the movie ages ago, I could not comment, but she immediately searched the big library in the sky to find at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/greentea/#cautions where she read

Side Effects and Cautions

• Green tea is safe for most adults when used in moderate amounts.
• Green tea and green tea extracts contain caffeine. Caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, or frequent urination in some people. Caffeine can also raise blood pressure, and in very high doses, it can cause seizures, delirium, or irregular heart rhythms.
• Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K, which can make anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, less effective.
• Tell your health care providers about any herbA plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots. or dietary supplementA product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs. you are using, including green tea. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Now since I was giving her at least 3 large mugs of green tea each day for the past month then perhaps she was overdosed with caffeine. When I mentioned the green tea to her caring physician a week ago he made no comment. Any way, green tea is now off the menu. It will be interesting to see the outcome.

Late yesterday afternoon she was very sweaty, stressed, aggravated, unable to sit in one position in her chair for long. By 7:30pm after a light meal she became calmer and was able to rise from her chair with a little difficulty. She was too wobbly on her feet, her balance too poor, so at 8pm I went shopping on my own for half an hour. When I returned she said the tremors were easing but a short time later she had to call me on the CB to help her out of her chair. She was reading and shaking until 11:30pm when she went to bed. Once there she needed help to get up from a sitting position. Her head was very hot yet her arms & legs were cool. She had me remove the doona, only having a sheet cover her, although later while I slept she got up & pulled the doona over her.

This morning she was up following her 6am meds, unable to keep her feet in bed, sat in her chair to where I brought her breakfast. Then after 8am she showered & dressed herself. She says she is feeling better.

I went to sleep last night reading Agatha Christie's famous novel without reaching any mention of green tea.