Question Title: Excessive fatigue

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Pain

Posted by CCF Neurology MD on February 17, 1998 at 17:08:30:

In Reply to: Excessive fatigue posted by Dave on February 08, 1998 at 09:51:46:

: My wife has been suffering from the following symptoms for the last two years: excessive fatigue; excessive sweating; diarrhea; swelling of the hands and feets; a rapid heart rate at rest (as much as 160 bpm); heart palpitations; high blood presure; lower back pain; and more recently nightmares so real she wakes me with her eyes open, but doesn't remember it the next day; and she passed a kidney stone.

She is on Propranalol (160 mg 2 times a day) and Amytriptyline (25 mg 3 times a day). The Propranalol has helped reduce the heart rate and control the high blood pressure, but the Amitriptyline, although it has helped, has not completely eliminated the diarrhea.

My wife gave birth to our daughter 14 months ago. Her symptoms seemed to begin shortly after getting pregnant. Our endocrinologist does not believe it is an endocrine disorder due the the fact that the blood work came back normal (sometimes slightly elevated), as did the chest x-ray, abdomenal x-ray, the pituitary CT-scan and the abdomenal CT-scan. We have also seen a cardiologist who believed it was mitral valve prolapse, but the echocardiogram came back normal.

In short, having ruled out a heart condition and an endocrine disorder, are my wife's symptoms indicative of a neurological disorder, and if so what is it called?
Thank you for your time.
=Dear Dave, It is unclear by the limited history you provide to develop an accurate differential diagnosis over the internet. The following comments may be of some benefit:1.The medication your wife is on can cause hallucinations(inderal plus elavil) and delerium (elavil) which may be contributing to the nightmares. 2.Many of the symptons you present (e.g.sweating, diarhea, elevated heart rate/blood pressure) would suggest an autonomic disturbance and therefore needs to be evaluated (unless already done so by the cardiologist). 3.Her excessive fatigue may be related to poor sleep(from or related to the the nightmares) and/or cardiac intolerance. I would address the aforementioned comments with the physicians taking care of your wife and also address the issue of the need for a neurology evaluation. "This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition."

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