Less than six months after his previous illness he was attacked by another, probably caused by exhaustion and anxiety. The main symptom was an extreme difficulty in breathing. Eirene Doukaina summoned the best doctors and demanded that they examine him closely and report in detail. They could not agree on anything but the obvious seriousness of the situation. His inability to breathe in any position meant that he could not sleep, while eating, even taking medicine, became increasingly difficult. No medicine brought relief for long. Eirene tried constantly and desperately to make him comfortable, without success. He was moved to the south-facing part of the palace and then to the Mangana, for movement brought some relief. Eirene was driven to rely on divine aid, praying fervently herself, and enlisting by her alms the supplications of thousands of others. His stomach and feet swelled up, as did his throat, raising the spectre of starvation. Anna, responsible for food, had to provide it in an easily digestible form. This awful situation lasted eleven days, completely dominating the lives of all involved. As they reached the fateful August 15, all were trying to make sure that Eirene herself got some food and sleep, for she had been totally absorbed in her nursing. They were supported by Alexios himself, who with his last speech to her told her to think of herself, and he was assisted by their daughter Eudokia