Health Care Happenings

Are you ready for “What’s Up Doc” Part IV?   You get to diagnosis a condition I give you and I’ll let you know the answer the following week.

Last week’s symptom:      Sadness plus fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, and/or muscle aches or stiffness

You’re Diagnoses:
• Depression
• Narrow down the possibilities:
        – Depression  –>  (sadness plus fatigue, weight gain, insomnia.)
        – Consider symptoms above and you may have:
                  * Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  –>   (muscle aches or stiffness.)
        – You as the physician with little time to see this patient must also  consider this first before pulling your prescription pad:
                   * Patient History?  Soldier, veteran, family member.  What medications is this patient currently taking? What doctors are seeing this patient?  Is this patient having a medication reaction to possibly an anti-cholesterol drug?
        – This case screams of drug reaction and the patient should physically bring to you all medications he is taking for a review. Giving this patient a script for an antidepressant is not the answer.
        – In the dawn of socialized medicine, patient teaching is the key to protect your patients. Bless you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be their teacher.
• My initial reaction would be depression based on the symptoms described, though the insomnia may be the ‘mcguffin’ since I recall that the opposite (lethargic, always drowsy/sleepy) is an indicator of depression. You are tricky, René! Can’t wait to see the answer.  
• Mood disorder, probably clinical depression, rule out bi-polar, rule out fibromyalgia syndrome.

The Answer:
          The Doctor Says:      Depression
          But It Could Be:        Hypothyroidism (Webster’s Definition: deficient activity of the thyroid gland; also: a resultant bodily condition characterized by lowered metabolic rate and general loss of vigor)

You all are good! You were spot on with ‘Depression.’ YOU ROCK!

          Now, for Symptom 4:      Headaches and/or ringing or aching ears, plus aching  back, neck, and/or teeth
          Your Diagnosis Is: ???????

Come back next week—same time next Wednesday, same place for the answer.   I’ll tell you more about what’s behind the answers these last few weeks.   See you then!