Diagnosis Needed

[Anonymous]

I would post this on the health/Medicine forum but I want some quick replies, and this seems to be the most visited of all forums on DCUM.

My friend is experiencing a health issue/s...she is at a loss, docs are puzzled and just as confused. she is going in for a colonoscopy in 3 weeks.
What does this sound like to you?

1) 44yr old female. Mother and wife. Caucasian.
2) unexplained weight gain - about 10lbs. Avid exerciser and careful about what she eats. no alcohol intake.
3) exhausted all the time. Has to muster up energy just to leave the house. This is a person who is always on the go.
4) constant diarreah (sp)? for the past month
5) dizzyness. so bad at times that she must lie down.
6) very low red blood count - docs said she is losing blood but they don't know why or where it's coming from.
7) chronic migraines (she's had migraines for the past 20 yrs)
8) although she's exhausted, cannot get a good night's sleep.

I think that covers it.

TIA!!

[Anonymous]

Any abdominal pain? Has she had a CT scan or ultrasound on her abdomen? The tired + diarrhea + low red blood count makes me wonder if she has some bleeding in her gastro tract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would post this on the health/Medicine forum but I want some quick replies, and this seems to be the most visited of all forums on DCUM.

My friend is experiencing a health issue/s...she is at a loss, docs are puzzled and just as confused. she is going in for a colonoscopy in 3 weeks.
What does this sound like to you?

1) 44yr old female. Mother and wife. Caucasian.
2) unexplained weight gain - about 10lbs. Avid exerciser and careful about what she eats. no alcohol intake.
3) exhausted all the time. Has to muster up energy just to leave the house. This is a person who is always on the go.
4) constant diarreah (sp)? for the past month
5) dizzyness. so bad at times that she must lie down.
6) very low red blood count - docs said she is losing blood but they don't know why or where it's coming from.
7) chronic migraines (she's had migraines for the past 20 yrs)
8) although she's exhausted, cannot get a good night's sleep.

I think that covers it.

TIA!!

How about a bleeding ulcer. I had one last May and most of the above symtoms but lost weight rather than gaining. Maybe she also has chronic fatigue syndrome. She needs to find another MD because she needs to stop the internal bleeding immediately. Can't understand why they can't find cause. Good luck to her.

[Anonymous]

Have they tested stools for blood?

[Anonymous]

Some of the symptoms sound like low thyroid/anemia.

[Anonymous]

Does she take aspirin?

[Anonymous]

Is she in a position to go to a doc that doesn't take insurance? If so, I could recommend someone downtown who is really good at figuring weird things out. He loves, loves, loves to test and is very expensive himself, but if she is coming up empty it might be worth a shot.

[Anonymous]

These were my symptoms and I have thyroid disease, my tsh level was 7.14 - have her go see an endocrinologist.

[Anonymous]

These symptoms are relevant to so many things (IBD or perimenopause, to name just two) - she needs to get under the care of a doctor who can "quarterback" her through to diagnosis. I think a gastroenteroligst is a good place to start, although I agree with some of the PPs that sounds like thyroid may be an issue, too, so if she strikes out at the gastro possibly her gyno could help (I think gyno's are good "quarterback" doctors b/c they have to become familiar with so many problems related to women's health - thyroid, heart, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Endometriosis

[Anonymous]

I am with the endometriosis poster- for god's sake she should go to the doctor!

[Anonymous]

I would wager a guess they think she has GI bleeding if they ordered a colonoscopy. My housemate went through this earlier in the year and was diagnosed with colon cancer. There are too many options to assume that is her problem. His RBC was being monitored and dropped too fast. He was admitted and given blood transfusions. They did the colonoscopy a few days after his admission. They did surgery and oral chemo, as a precaution. He's cancer-free now.

It could be something like a bleeding ulcer. The look of her poo should help determine the location of the bleed. If it resembles coffee grounds, it is closer to the colon. If it is dark and tarry, it is higher up.

I'm not sure I'd be willing to wait 3 weeks for the colonoscopy. She should seek a second opinion.

[Anonymous]

Has she had a blood test for Celiac Disease?

[Anonymous]

Does she have a heart murmur?

[Anonymous]

OP Here:
1) she has been under the care of two docs - Her internist and gastro.
2) "poo" test has been done, and there is bleeding. Also tested for bacteria - nothing. They were hoping it was a bacterial infection
3) Not tested for celiac, but this is something I have been pushing her to do. I also suggested an ulcer to her. I think she is going to ask the doc (she is seeing her today) about the ulcer possibility.
4)No heart murmur
5)She is worried about colon cancer, doctor said that CANNOT rule it out.
6)She does not take aspirin.
7) There has been abdominal pain, off and on.