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Brother in serious shape but no one knows whats wrong.... HELP!!!
My brother is 18 years old and up until about 6 months ago was in pretty good health. We suddenly started to notice some extreme changes in him such as extreme weight loss, losing around 50 or more pounds in about a three months time period. He had started running everyday and eating better so at first we contributed it to that. (But to look at him I was worried about an eating disorder or something). then one day we get the call that he had been in a car accident. he was very out of it and disoriented and didn't know how the accident had happened. he was rushed to the er and the doctors performed many tests. there were no drugs found in his system, only ephedrine was apparently he had been taking some diet pills. so at first we thought ok, he was pushing himself way too hard. a few weeks later we got another call from his job. an ambulance had been called because a customer had found him unconscious on the floor. this time no ephedrine found in his system. since then he has "blacked out" a total of 6 times. one of those time included another car accident, totalling a second vehicle of his just a week ago. This morning made for the 6th time when he was found at work again unconconsious. the doctors have no idea why this is happening. we have suggested they test him for diabetes, hypoglocemia, etc.... they will not do it. I am unsure why and my parents are very upset. Also, he was bitten by a black widow spider about 6-7 months ago and we've been told this can cause long term neurological damage in rare cases. i can't find anything online about this. the doctors have talked about everything from nuerological disorders, cardiac problems to even putting in a pace maker. (HE'S 18!!!!!) He's gone through some stressful situations over the last year but nothing i don't think he could really handle. (who hasn't right?) I'm terrified that one day we will get the call that he is dead because he wasn't diagnosed in time and he wasn't treated or that he was in a fatal car accident because he won't stay out of a car and the doctor's won't take his driving priveledges. Does anyone have any suggestion or theories? Could it possibly be from the Widow's bite not being treated properly (btw, he was not given antivenin)? Someone Please Help......
UPDATE: short run down here. License was suspended last I heard which was Saturday. They finally ran the glucose tests and he tested negative for Diabetes. The good news is we finally got the referral we needed. He went to a different doctor and had some tests ran. After the visit this particular doctor actually filed for a referral and even stated that the doctor who had previously been seeing my brother had proven incompetent and was not giving the proper medical care to my brother and referred him to a neurologist at Vanderbilt Hospital. My brother was once again admitted to the hospital last night and with proper testing done it was determined that he has epilepsy. Finally, a diagnoses! Now we just have to take the proper steps in treatment as he is progressively getting worse and is what would appear to be "wasting away". The hope now is that since we know what is going on we can get it under control. I don't know a lot about epilepsy but I'm sure I will soon. Once again Thanks for all of your help and all the advice!
Perhaps the reason they aren't testing him for diabetes is because his glucose levels were already checked with a metabolic panel (similar to what webcrystal suggested)...can you type up some of his bloodwork? What is his latest WBC count? How about his RBC count? Was a metabolic panel actually performed? Has anyone in your family experienced anything similar?
I'd look into adrenal fatigue--fainting brought on by low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension that results from him standing up or even standing too long, as well as narcolepsy, which is a bit of a stretch. As for the black widow bite--this can cause fainting, but usually it occurs at some point immediately following the bite, not several months later. Was he certain it was a black widow (i.e. did someone observe the spider biting him, running away, or kill it? Was it only your brother?)? It sounds like some of the spider's neurotoxins may have remained in your brother's system, though I can't say I know much about this. He might want to see a specialist to look into this, as a heavy course of antibiotics could help him out, if this is the case. Otherwise, given how long it's been since the bite, any effects are likely to be permanent at this point. What is your brother's job, if you don't mind me asking? Does he have to stand a lot for it?
In any event, I wish you, your brother, and your family the best of luck in figuring out what's going on with him. Just don't give up and keep getting additional opinions until you find the answer. I wouldn't recommend having any drastic medical procedures done just yet, like getting a pacemaker...unless cardiologists can isolate an irregular heart rhythm. Has your brother done a 24-hr EKG? Perhaps this will help them better understand what's happening to him while he's at work and he faints.
I'd look into adrenal fatigue--fainting brought on by low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension that results from him standing up or even standing too long, as well as narcolepsy, which is a bit of a stretch. As for the black widow bite--this can cause fainting, but usually it occurs at some point immediately following the bite, not several months later. Was he certain it was a black widow (i.e. did someone observe the spider biting him, running away, or kill it? Was it only your brother?)? It sounds like some of the spider's neurotoxins may have remained in your brother's system, though I can't say I know much about this. He might want to see a specialist to look into this, as a heavy course of antibiotics could help him out, if this is the case. Otherwise, given how long it's been since the bite, any effects are likely to be permanent at this point. What is your brother's job, if you don't mind me asking? Does he have to stand a lot for it?
In any event, I wish you, your brother, and your family the best of luck in figuring out what's going on with him. Just don't give up and keep getting additional opinions until you find the answer. I wouldn't recommend having any drastic medical procedures done just yet, like getting a pacemaker...unless cardiologists can isolate an irregular heart rhythm. Has your brother done a 24-hr EKG? Perhaps this will help them better understand what's happening to him while he's at work and he faints.
you don't seem to understand, it's not what the doctors have told me... it's what has been told to my parents and him. and maybe i'm not getting every detail told to me but my parents are strong understanding people and do not over react to these type things. i'm stating here what i've been told and that's all i can do. at this point we are trying to look outside the box and no possibility is worth overlooking to us. you don't have to believe my "story" if you don't want to. the truth is i'm not here to lie. me and my family want to know what's going on with him. the doctor's have in fact stated, they are at a loss. my brother and his mom have both said the diabetes tests have not been done. i've gone through this before with doctors not following up on things and lost my grandmother because of it. we live in Tennessee. i'm not exactly going to brag on the medical proffession here. there are only a few facilities that have an impressive name for themselves and unless you have great insurance those facilities are reserved for extreme emergency cases, like vanderbilt hospital for example. i don't want the doctors to tell me everything. i just want them to find out what's wrong with him before it's too late. i'm genuinely concerned for him. i may not have all the details but nothing with his case seems to make sense. i do appreciate all the advice, special thanks to Dr nee and will print off everything here and show to my parents so they can ask the proper questions and make inquiries regarding what has, will or can be done. as of right now he is without driving priviledges so no one need worry about that anymore. if anyone has any further suggestions i would be happy to listen. and once again thanks
One if he had a work up at the hospital from the accident (and I imagine he did I couldn't imagine otherwise) they would have pulled a CBC and glucose level there. So even if the docs won't do anything it surely would have been done at the hospital. That being said you don't have to wait on a doc to get tested for diabetes - there are online labs tests you can order yourself for it (just take it to any lab) - you can also just buy a glucose meter and test it yourself with that (no prescription required) - or have your friend test it if they have a meter. But diabetes is usually quickly ruled in or out (generally). And as one person pointed out the docs can't tell you legally what's been done/not done.
Don't know about the spider bite - but generally not the symptoms you describe six months later.
Other quick tests he could consider is for lyme disease or west nile virus (if you live where there are tics and/or mosquitos (not sure if all the symptoms fit there but there are always exceptions - I know a friend that had both at same time and he's had a terrible time).
Frankly there are many things that can cause these type symptoms (many mentioned earlier posts) including behaviors that he has (not eating anorexia/bulemia, drugs, etc.) - and for those it's doubtful the person would admit it (sometimes not even to themselves - living in denial). I would personally get a second opinion from a doctor in an unrelated medical group.
Don't know about the spider bite - but generally not the symptoms you describe six months later.
Other quick tests he could consider is for lyme disease or west nile virus (if you live where there are tics and/or mosquitos (not sure if all the symptoms fit there but there are always exceptions - I know a friend that had both at same time and he's had a terrible time).
Frankly there are many things that can cause these type symptoms (many mentioned earlier posts) including behaviors that he has (not eating anorexia/bulemia, drugs, etc.) - and for those it's doubtful the person would admit it (sometimes not even to themselves - living in denial). I would personally get a second opinion from a doctor in an unrelated medical group.
The "proper direction" for the "license thing" is for you to report this to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the State Police. It's very hard to do something like this when you are a relative, but having your brother dead or a quadraplegic after he slams into a tree after a blackout won't be a very pleasant thing to live with.
You are undoubtedly a caring nice person, and I don't want to come off as a monster or the "internet police", but there is a high probability someone will be in an accident and suffer horrendous consequences because someone failed to act.
Diabetes is one possibility, however I simply do not believe your story that "the doctors won't act". It's not reality. But it could be true. I don't know what your brother told the physicians in the privacy of the examination room. You may not have a health care proxy and they may simply do not wish to discuss details of his evaluation with you. As critical as I am of physicians, I suspect they have indeed ruled out disbetes.
Needles to say he need either a fasting glucose test of an insulin clamp. On the surface, my gut feeling is that the situation may be due to abnormally high or low blood sugar levels.
Certainly diabetic coma is one reasonable possibility to acount for the "blackouts".
Dr.nee was providing good advice in suggesting you get a "second opinion", however I suspect your brother wants to maintain complete control over his medical evaluations. I also suspect there is a big "missing piece" to this story.
For a diabetic "poor eating", as Dr.nee pointed out, could cause a "blackout", Diabetic blackouts are generally slower in onset, and not "sudden".
Request your brother to sign a release to you for his medical records and sign a medical proxy for you to interface with his physicians. Without these documents they probably won't talk to you.
Then, determine if in fact he has had a diabetic screen, and if not, why not?
Good luck with this.
You are undoubtedly a caring nice person, and I don't want to come off as a monster or the "internet police", but there is a high probability someone will be in an accident and suffer horrendous consequences because someone failed to act.
Diabetes is one possibility, however I simply do not believe your story that "the doctors won't act". It's not reality. But it could be true. I don't know what your brother told the physicians in the privacy of the examination room. You may not have a health care proxy and they may simply do not wish to discuss details of his evaluation with you. As critical as I am of physicians, I suspect they have indeed ruled out disbetes.
Needles to say he need either a fasting glucose test of an insulin clamp. On the surface, my gut feeling is that the situation may be due to abnormally high or low blood sugar levels.
Certainly diabetic coma is one reasonable possibility to acount for the "blackouts".
Dr.nee was providing good advice in suggesting you get a "second opinion", however I suspect your brother wants to maintain complete control over his medical evaluations. I also suspect there is a big "missing piece" to this story.
For a diabetic "poor eating", as Dr.nee pointed out, could cause a "blackout", Diabetic blackouts are generally slower in onset, and not "sudden".
Request your brother to sign a release to you for his medical records and sign a medical proxy for you to interface with his physicians. Without these documents they probably won't talk to you.
Then, determine if in fact he has had a diabetic screen, and if not, why not?
Good luck with this.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
There are many causes of weight loss like worms in stool, depression, anorexia nervosa, AIDS, cancers especially colon cancers, drug abuse, infections and loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can again be due to certain medications, drug abuse, depression, AIDS, acute and chronic infections, cancers and hypothyroidism. Either your brother does not eat well or there is increased metabolism as in hyperthyroid states, HIV, cancer etc. Poor absorption as in irritable bowel syndromes and malabsorption syndromes too is possible. Malabsorptin syndromes are seen in intestinal tuberculosis, HIV, tropical sprue, parasites in stool and Whipple’s Disease. I have enumerated the possibilities that come to my mind right now. MAYBE YOU CAN SEEK A SECOND OPINION. Poor eating can result in low blood sugar and fainting attacks. I have a feeling your bother started the weight loss program on his own, without any medical guidance, resulting in adverse effects on the body.
Serious long term complications of black widows spider are rare especially after 6-7 months of the bite.
Hope this helps. Do discuss this with your doctor and get your brother examined accordingly. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for writing to the forum!
There are many causes of weight loss like worms in stool, depression, anorexia nervosa, AIDS, cancers especially colon cancers, drug abuse, infections and loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can again be due to certain medications, drug abuse, depression, AIDS, acute and chronic infections, cancers and hypothyroidism. Either your brother does not eat well or there is increased metabolism as in hyperthyroid states, HIV, cancer etc. Poor absorption as in irritable bowel syndromes and malabsorption syndromes too is possible. Malabsorptin syndromes are seen in intestinal tuberculosis, HIV, tropical sprue, parasites in stool and Whipple’s Disease. I have enumerated the possibilities that come to my mind right now. MAYBE YOU CAN SEEK A SECOND OPINION. Poor eating can result in low blood sugar and fainting attacks. I have a feeling your bother started the weight loss program on his own, without any medical guidance, resulting in adverse effects on the body.
Serious long term complications of black widows spider are rare especially after 6-7 months of the bite.
Hope this helps. Do discuss this with your doctor and get your brother examined accordingly. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
btw, Lili79 i wonder if your near blackouts are stressed induced since they only happen at work. I have severe panic attacks myself and have had spells as well. what do you do for a living? If it's very stressful that could be your answer. You could be having panic attacks as well.
i appreciate both of your comments but i believe my parents are taking the proper direction in the license thing. as for being properly and competently evaluated, our family feels that if that were true they would not rule anything out without checking for it first. we have a close family friend who is insulin dependent diabetic and experienced most of the same symptoms my brothers has. our friend has suggested the diabetic testing which we have in turn asked the doctors about. But they won't even think about doing it. It just doesn't seem right to me that they can play "God" like that. they can not look at a person and know they do not have that problem. They need to do the tests. but really i'm just wanting others opinions or if they've ever heard of anything like this before and what the results were. Also, the widow's bite is of big question. once again i do respect your opinion on that, i just feel like they should be stepping up their game. but on the subject of the license i do agree fully. will update what happens with that. btw, he works at blockbuster.
I feel for your brother! I have near blackouts at my place of employment only. See lili79. Where does your brother work? I hope you find some answers and keep me posted.
I am very hesitant to recommend contacting the State Bureau of Motor vehicles, but in this case am making an exception.
Physicians are constrained in revealing information to outside authorities.
You have a moral obligation to have his driving priviliges revoked, if indeed, the information you allege is factual. A person who "blacks out" six times has no business behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Be the bad guy and make an official report to (a) The Department of Motor Vehicles and (b) the State Police.
This does not mean he won't be banned from driving forever. After a year of no blackouts, and a physician's letter, driving priviliges can be reinstated.
It appears he is being properly and competently evaluated, taking into acount the constellation of symptoms. Sometimes these problems are hard to pin down.
Physicians are constrained in revealing information to outside authorities.
You have a moral obligation to have his driving priviliges revoked, if indeed, the information you allege is factual. A person who "blacks out" six times has no business behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Be the bad guy and make an official report to (a) The Department of Motor Vehicles and (b) the State Police.
This does not mean he won't be banned from driving forever. After a year of no blackouts, and a physician's letter, driving priviliges can be reinstated.
It appears he is being properly and competently evaluated, taking into acount the constellation of symptoms. Sometimes these problems are hard to pin down.
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