Hi everyone,
I have a very good friend who has been undergoing tests since January. Symptoms are extreme fatigue (not just tired) which commenced October 2011, upper stomach pain after eating, (commenced mid January) which progressed to prolonged pain and is now almost constant, lack of appetite and insomnia.
He has high cholesterol as a result of long term high dose steroids for a kidney condition when he was a child, managed with statins, so he does have regular blood tests.
The first round of general blood tests produced higher than normal liver function tests, but they had been elevated for a couple of years, apparently, and the GP didn't tell him. His GP then ordered the full gamut of liver-type tests and anything which could be wrong with it. All were within normal levels. Stomach pain had worsened by the time he went back so he was given Omeprazole. This helped slightly. There followed a CT scan and an endoscopy. CT scan all clear, "slightly inflamed" was the only observation with the endoscopy. Now on Lansoprazole, which is helping a bit. During the course of all the appointments, waiting, try this, try that approach, he's had a number of general blood tests to assess his general health - never been told anything was out of line, other than the liver function. Consultant prescribed an anti-spasmodic gastro medication (which I don't know the name of), plus Lansoprazole, possibly long term, and closed the case, referring him back to the GP.
Change of GP (original one retired) resulted in the new one calling him in to discuss results. New doctor said he was a "whisker away from being diagnosed with diabetes" as one of the results was 6.9 (don't know when this one was done). Was was told to start a no-sugar diet and see doctor again in a week to get the results of HbA1c done before the visit. Told to suspend the stomach medication as well to see what happened. The week ended Friday and he feels no better at all. Been to the surgery today and GP is "sort-of pinning everything on Pre-Diabetes", although he's not actually diagnosed that yet. He's 37, has a BMI of 26.1 and has lost about 8lbs due to lack of appetite. HbA1c result is 49. He's been told to leave things another month and stay on the "diabetic diet" (ANOTHER month!) and Lansoprazole and anti-spasmodic has been re-prescribed as leaving them off caused worsening of cramps and discomfort. Referral to a chronic fatigue clinic has been mentioned, but that isn't possible while he's undergoing the possible/rule out of diabetes/pre-diabetes.
I've advised he buys himself a blood glucose monitor, which he's going to do now, so that when he goes back to the GP he can produce results, whether he feels better or not.
If you've got this far, well done!
My question is: Can anyone throw any light on why he might feel so debilitatingly fatigued, and why would having pre-diabetes cause such stomach pain?
He can't even drive to get his daughter from school any more and is unable to work. He's effectively housebound, which is having a detrimental effect on his mental wellbeing as well as everything else.
Any opinions would be gratefully received.
Dawn x
I have a very good friend who has been undergoing tests since January. Symptoms are extreme fatigue (not just tired) which commenced October 2011, upper stomach pain after eating, (commenced mid January) which progressed to prolonged pain and is now almost constant, lack of appetite and insomnia.
He has high cholesterol as a result of long term high dose steroids for a kidney condition when he was a child, managed with statins, so he does have regular blood tests.
The first round of general blood tests produced higher than normal liver function tests, but they had been elevated for a couple of years, apparently, and the GP didn't tell him. His GP then ordered the full gamut of liver-type tests and anything which could be wrong with it. All were within normal levels. Stomach pain had worsened by the time he went back so he was given Omeprazole. This helped slightly. There followed a CT scan and an endoscopy. CT scan all clear, "slightly inflamed" was the only observation with the endoscopy. Now on Lansoprazole, which is helping a bit. During the course of all the appointments, waiting, try this, try that approach, he's had a number of general blood tests to assess his general health - never been told anything was out of line, other than the liver function. Consultant prescribed an anti-spasmodic gastro medication (which I don't know the name of), plus Lansoprazole, possibly long term, and closed the case, referring him back to the GP.
Change of GP (original one retired) resulted in the new one calling him in to discuss results. New doctor said he was a "whisker away from being diagnosed with diabetes" as one of the results was 6.9 (don't know when this one was done). Was was told to start a no-sugar diet and see doctor again in a week to get the results of HbA1c done before the visit. Told to suspend the stomach medication as well to see what happened. The week ended Friday and he feels no better at all. Been to the surgery today and GP is "sort-of pinning everything on Pre-Diabetes", although he's not actually diagnosed that yet. He's 37, has a BMI of 26.1 and has lost about 8lbs due to lack of appetite. HbA1c result is 49. He's been told to leave things another month and stay on the "diabetic diet" (ANOTHER month!) and Lansoprazole and anti-spasmodic has been re-prescribed as leaving them off caused worsening of cramps and discomfort. Referral to a chronic fatigue clinic has been mentioned, but that isn't possible while he's undergoing the possible/rule out of diabetes/pre-diabetes.
I've advised he buys himself a blood glucose monitor, which he's going to do now, so that when he goes back to the GP he can produce results, whether he feels better or not.
If you've got this far, well done!
My question is: Can anyone throw any light on why he might feel so debilitatingly fatigued, and why would having pre-diabetes cause such stomach pain?
He can't even drive to get his daughter from school any more and is unable to work. He's effectively housebound, which is having a detrimental effect on his mental wellbeing as well as everything else.
Any opinions would be gratefully received.
Dawn x