Any Suggestions?

My father who is 70 years old (white) has been very healthy until about 5 months ago. He is currently suffering from extreme fatique and a low heart rate. His heart rate has been as low as 31. His doctors have ruled out cancer but they still have no idea what is wrong. He has had a battery of test done but no diagnosis has been made. His is on a beta blocker and has been taking iron shots which don't seem to be helping. Some of his test results are: ESR 54, WBC 11.4, RBC 3.83, neut .76, HGB 95, BUN 7.6, ALBUMIN 34 AST/SGOT 13, CK 22, IRON 6, FERRITIN 931, C-REACTIVE PROTIEN 124, D-DIMER DILUTED .25-.5 MG/L, Polychromasia is slightly increased and there are a few target cells present. His urinalysis has BLD 25UL, RBC 10-20/HPF, MUCOUS large amounts, CA OX CRYS 1+, UR AC CRYS 3+. We are all at the end of our rope and are hoping that some one out there can point us in the right direction.
Thank you for your time.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Frednick2002,

Thanks for the post.

Sorry to read of your father's ordeal.

Unfortunately, lab tests are really only useful when examined in proper context -- the implication of a given value depends on the patient from which it is drawn.  A low hemoglobin count is often expected in a young female who has just delivered a baby, but is concerning in someone like your father.

Many, many conditions can cause fatigue in the elderly.  I see 2 potential causes for your father's fatigue based on the information provided.  One potential cause is the slow heart rate, which might be worsened by the beta-blocker.  A second potential cause is the low hemoglobin level.  I need to stress to you that numerous other possibilities exist.

I would strongly encourage you to take your father to see a reputable internist, not a specialist, at a large medical center.  Be sure to take all possible records with you.

Hope that helps.

[FredZ]

Have the Docs considered hemochromatosis? You didn't indicate waht the normal limits for iron or ferritin at the lab that did his lab tests. I hope he feels better soon.

[FredZ]

OOPs didn' notice the HGB; seems pretty high; may be related to excess iron?