DD - Health Issue

[ols386]

My dd27 is having a health issue. She's been pretty healthy most of her life. She has had a couple bouts with kidney stones, but hasn't had a problem with that in probably a year and a half. She's been dieting over the past 8 months, and has lost 30 pounds. She lost the weight via exercise and changing her eating habits. Since she's an adult, I'm not with her all the time, so don't know her exact eating habits over the past several months. I do know that she doesn't really like vegetables or fruit, so she probably has not been eating as healthy as I'd like.

About 3 weeks ago, just all of a sudden, she started with the symptons: fatigue, increased appetite and eats about every 2-3 hours but still feels hungry, shakey, clammy hands at times, and sometimes her feet sweat, and the back of her knees sweat. That constant feeling of nervousness, and as stated earlier, shakiness.

She's been to the dr. and they've run a series of blood tests, and everything has come back normal, except for her electrolytes, and they came back low. I don't think they are dramatically low, but somewhat low. Sodium and potassium were both low. So the dr. has started her on nutritional iv fluid treatments. Each treatment lasts about 45 minutes, and she is scheduled for two this week, three next week, and three the following week. So hoping this does the trick for her.

Anyone else ever have these type of symptons, or have any thoughts as to what is going on. My real concern right now is that I hope nothing has been overlooked, and maybe the dr. should be looking for some other underlying reason for her symptons.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[erincon23]

Hypoglycemia? some of this sounds like what I go through -- the nervousness, sweating and shaking. I'm not necessarily more hungry (although how could I tell... lol), and I'm pretty tired most of the time (stress, don't ask), but it could be. When she starts to feel like this, she could try eating some kind of protein -- cheese, slice of deli meat, etc. Sugar helps immediately (juice, candy bar) but can rebound -- follow up one of those quickly with protein. If this helps, she should probably be tested (fasting sugar test). Good luck! It can be scary having symptoms that aren't easily classified.

Erin

 

[Rafiki31]

did they check her sugar?

 

[redlight]

Do you know kind of diet she has been following? Is she taking any diet pills?

 

[ols386]

She's had low blood sugar for several years, but has pretty much learned how to keep it under control. She eats about 6 small meals a day to try and keep things at an even keel. They did check sugar and said it came back just a bit high, not much...but it wasn't a sugar test where you fast for so many hours, before being tested. She may need to have that test.

 

[ols386]

Do you know kind of diet she has been following? Is she taking any diet pills?

I don't think she's taking diet pills. If she is, she hasn't told me.

 

[golfgal]

Did they check her thyroid?

 

[ols386]

Did they check her thyroid?

Yep. They said thyroid is normal. That's actually what I thought it might be. And according to lab results, they say no.

 

[minkydog]

DH takes various drugs for his heart, one of which is Lasix which depletes sodium and potassium. From time to time he gets real low and he has the same symptoms your daughter has. Severe fatigue, nausea, shaking, chills, and increased anxiety. He describes is as feeling like something terrible is about to happen. So, of course, that gets his adrenaline going (fight or flight response) which makes the shaking, anxiety and fatigue that much worse. He has been to the doctor several times with this, although he has not been hospitalized specifically for low electrolytes(usually when this happens he's so sick with his heart or lungs, THAT's what they put him in for.)

One other thought--do you think she could be controlling her weight by purging(vomiting or taking laxatives)? It's very common among young women, and not just teens. a LOT of women purge in secret and it can lead to critically low electrolytes. If she's doing this, she likely won't tell anyone. Have you ever suspected an eating disorder in the past 15 years?

 

[ols386]

DH takes various drugs for his heart, one of which is Lasix which depletes sodium and potassium. From time to time he gets real low and he has the same symptoms your daughter has. Severe fatigue, nausea, shaking, chills, and increased anxiety. He describes is as feeling like something terrible is about to happen. So, of course, that gets his adrenaline going (fight or flight response) which makes the shaking, anxiety and fatigue that much worse. He has been to the doctor several times with this, although he has not been hospitalized specifically for low electrolytes(usually when this happens he's so sick with his heart or lungs, THAT's what they put him in for.)

One other thought--do you think she could be controlling her weight by purging(vomiting or taking laxatives)? It's very common among young women, and not just teens. a LOT of women purge in secret and it can lead to critically low electrolytes. If she's doing this, she likely won't tell anyone. Have you ever suspected an eating disorder in the past 15 years?

I can't imagine that she would be purging or anything like that, but I can't say for sure that she's not. Have never noticed any kind of eating disorders. She's always been a picky eater though. I would be totally shocked if she were purging. I hope that's not the case. I'm hoping the nutritional iv treatments will help.

 

[ols386]

Thanks everybody for your input! I appreciate it.

Any additional input from anyone, is welcome!

 

[paintnolish]

Is she a caffiene drinker? After I lost quite a bit of weight (a little too much), I still drank caffeine like I was heavier and it would give me all of those symptoms, especially on an empty stomach. I felt really tired, too, and had my thyroid checked, but the dr. didn't find anything. Suprisingly, when I started eating more, most of these symptoms disappeared (along with my ability to fit into a size 6)!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Is she simply trying to loose too much too fast or trying too hard to keep it off? If she is needing the nutritional IV and low on electrolytes, it sounds like she is sweating out more than she is taking in.

Is she trying too hard to keep her weight down or steady? How much is she eating and drink in comparison for the amount of time she is exercising?

I know that I have to make an effort to eat and drink and do what is right though it freaks me out thinking I could gain back some weight. It's hard to find that right balance after losing the weight but still wanting to have what is "normal." Talk to her about what she is taking in and what she is putting out food and drink wise.

 

[ols386]

Thanks guys! I'll keep all of this in mind regarding her. At this point in time, she's also feeling stressed out about the fact that she doesn't know definately that the entire problem is low electrolytes. The dr. thinks that's what the problem is, but in the back of my dd's mind, she isn't 100% sure. I think the dr. has her going in the right direction with the nutritional iv treatments, but it will take a few treatments before she can feel the results. And at this point in time, she wants results now. But I understand why she is getting very frustrated. When a person is feeling bad, it causes extra stress.

Anyways, thanks again.

 

[JessicaR]

Make sure a full thyroid panel was run. TSH alone isn't always a good indicator especially if her symptoms are recent. What you describe sounds like Graves or another form of hyperactive thyroid.

Here are some symptoms but there can be others.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/graves-disease/symptoms.html
Anxiety

Irritability

Difficulty sleeping

A rapid or irregular heartbeat

A tremor in the hands or fingers

Sweating

Heat intolerance

Weight loss, despite normal food intake

Brittle hair

Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)

Change in menstrual periods

Frequent bowel movements

I hope they get to the bottom of it and she starts feeling better quickly!