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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Lots of symptoms with not a lot of answers!
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Lots of symptoms with not a lot of answers!
by erinarcher, Jul 31, 2006 12:00AM
I am a 29 y.o. female 5'4" 195lbs
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Sept 2002
Surgery to remove cyst & became pregnant two weeks later. Still have some pain in my ovary, mainly on the right side.
Flushing-Triggers-Heat, Alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks, when I’m upset/nervous. Started about 4 years ago.
Colitis-Sept 2005
Colonoscopy done. I get horrible pain in abdomen/back despite medication I’m on. Stools still 4-10 x's a day. Sometimes blood.
Heartburn-Sept 2005
Started after I started the meds for colitis. It is pretty severe.
Severe Venous Pooling-Oct 2004
Diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic. Hemodynamic blood volume test done. Blood pools in legs/abdomen at 48%
Tachycardia-Feb 2003
First event of recorded heart trouble. I passed out at church, taken to the hospital where I had a run of Ventricular Tachycardia. I was 6 months pregnant. Event recorder was placed chest for 1 year. Events of a-fib and a-flutter were recorded. Lots of Tachy heart rates.
High Blood Pressure-2005
It seems to be getting. My blood pressure fluctuates a lot. For ex., one minute I’m standing with a pressure of 90/52 and then I sit & take it 30 seconds later & it’s 140/90. My latest pressure after passing out was 220/117 & I had a horrible headache.
Syncope-Feb 2003
First episode happened. Things that trigger an episode are: heat, exertion, right after I eat and being in a room without circulating air. I find correlation in my stomach & the feeling I get before I pass out at times. After I sing I sometimes feel faint or do faint.
Allergies
As long as I can remember. Very sensitive to perfumes, flowers, lotions and candles.
Right Arm Pain and leg pain
My right arm aches a lot and sometimes becomes tingly. My legs get a really heavy feeling in them. I attribute that to the pooling in my legs, but I’m not sure.
Damaged Vestibular System-Fall 2002
They did testing and told me I had this. That’s all that was ever said about it. I still get really dizzy occasionally and have to try to make it stop.
Migraines
Brought on by changes in the weather, especially when it’s going to rain or snow. Extremely cold weather can also bring on a migraine.
3 months after the birth to my daughter I started having severe bleeding. I had to go the hospital & have a procedure done to remove all of the blood. Was told it was a massive amount of blood. Labs were lost so we never got any results.
I had an octreotide scan done last week that showed small abnormal uptake either in the ureter or small intestines. Everything else was fine. Nothing has yet been done with that test, as a geneticist ordered it on a whim thinking something may be way out of wack in the way of hormones in my body.
5-HIAA (urine and blood), testosterone, and a few other labs have come back normal. MRI of brain ruled out MS and Chiari 1 Malformation.
Any ideas of possible causes? Thanks so much. I am at a loss!
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Sept 2002
Surgery to remove cyst & became pregnant two weeks later. Still have some pain in my ovary, mainly on the right side.
Flushing-Triggers-Heat, Alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks, when I’m upset/nervous. Started about 4 years ago.
Colitis-Sept 2005
Colonoscopy done. I get horrible pain in abdomen/back despite medication I’m on. Stools still 4-10 x's a day. Sometimes blood.
Heartburn-Sept 2005
Started after I started the meds for colitis. It is pretty severe.
Severe Venous Pooling-Oct 2004
Diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic. Hemodynamic blood volume test done. Blood pools in legs/abdomen at 48%
Tachycardia-Feb 2003
First event of recorded heart trouble. I passed out at church, taken to the hospital where I had a run of Ventricular Tachycardia. I was 6 months pregnant. Event recorder was placed chest for 1 year. Events of a-fib and a-flutter were recorded. Lots of Tachy heart rates.
High Blood Pressure-2005
It seems to be getting. My blood pressure fluctuates a lot. For ex., one minute I’m standing with a pressure of 90/52 and then I sit & take it 30 seconds later & it’s 140/90. My latest pressure after passing out was 220/117 & I had a horrible headache.
Syncope-Feb 2003
First episode happened. Things that trigger an episode are: heat, exertion, right after I eat and being in a room without circulating air. I find correlation in my stomach & the feeling I get before I pass out at times. After I sing I sometimes feel faint or do faint.
Allergies
As long as I can remember. Very sensitive to perfumes, flowers, lotions and candles.
Right Arm Pain and leg pain
My right arm aches a lot and sometimes becomes tingly. My legs get a really heavy feeling in them. I attribute that to the pooling in my legs, but I’m not sure.
Damaged Vestibular System-Fall 2002
They did testing and told me I had this. That’s all that was ever said about it. I still get really dizzy occasionally and have to try to make it stop.
Migraines
Brought on by changes in the weather, especially when it’s going to rain or snow. Extremely cold weather can also bring on a migraine.
3 months after the birth to my daughter I started having severe bleeding. I had to go the hospital & have a procedure done to remove all of the blood. Was told it was a massive amount of blood. Labs were lost so we never got any results.
I had an octreotide scan done last week that showed small abnormal uptake either in the ureter or small intestines. Everything else was fine. Nothing has yet been done with that test, as a geneticist ordered it on a whim thinking something may be way out of wack in the way of hormones in my body.
5-HIAA (urine and blood), testosterone, and a few other labs have come back normal. MRI of brain ruled out MS and Chiari 1 Malformation.
Any ideas of possible causes? Thanks so much. I am at a loss!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Aug 01, 2006 12:00AM
, Aug 01, 2006 12:00AM
You have had a pretty comprehensive evaluation for your symptoms. The colonoscopy, MRI, 5-HIAA, event monitor etc. would rule out many of the major causes.
For the episodes of atrial flutter/fibrillation, you want to ensure that appropriate rate control medications are used to control the tachycardia. A referral to a cardiologist can determine whether cardioversion or ablation can be considered.
Evaluation of the upper digestive tract can be considered to evaluate any epigastric discomfort or heartburn. An upper endoscopy or 24-hr pH study can be considered for further testing.
The arm and leg tingling should be evaluated by a neurologist. Metabolic diseases like diabetes or thyroid disorder can be ruled out first. Otherwise electrodiagnostic testing can be done.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
For the episodes of atrial flutter/fibrillation, you want to ensure that appropriate rate control medications are used to control the tachycardia. A referral to a cardiologist can determine whether cardioversion or ablation can be considered.
Evaluation of the upper digestive tract can be considered to evaluate any epigastric discomfort or heartburn. An upper endoscopy or 24-hr pH study can be considered for further testing.
The arm and leg tingling should be evaluated by a neurologist. Metabolic diseases like diabetes or thyroid disorder can be ruled out first. Otherwise electrodiagnostic testing can be done.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
Member Comments
by paigiesmom, Aug 16, 2006 12:00AM
i have never posted on this forum before BUT when I read this thread it hit me... I have MANY of these symptoms and have spent weeks at MAYO in MN having all kinds of tests. Autonomic dysfuntion plays a huge part in my gasto problems and it looks like you could have many of them as well.. check out www.ndrf.org if you can or email me with any question at ***@**** there are answers out there.. not always a cure but things to help. Im 33 and started all of this with the flushing and tachycardia out of nowhere... well a few months after the birth of my third child. Im so sorry i wanted to post but I have already taken my ambien for tongiht so I need to get off here before I sound crazy. keep in touch and good luck, kristin
