How Are Extreme General Fatigue, Weak Appetite, Inability To Gain Weight, Swallowing Difficulty And Breathlessness Treated When Diagnosed With Acid Reflux?

Posted on Fri, 8 Jan 2021

Question: extreme general fatigue, weak appetite, inability to gain weight. [I lost 30 pounds during cancer treatment 3 years ago for a periodic gland tumor and follow-up 32 radiation sessions],muscle weakness, numbness in both forearms and hands [neuropathy?], shortness of breath, some vertigo symptoms and some hand shaking, all with onset within the last six months, sleep issues [good night is 4-5 hours sleep], strong intermintent tinnitus.

I have acid reflux, but no physical discomfort, have trouble swallowing and must be careful eating and drinking. Throat will constrict and make breathing verydifficult, or I may all but choke if I miss wallow.
I have spoken with my primary physician: shows little or no concern, says it's aging.

I am trying to decide priorities now: whether to see a Pulmonary specialist, and ENT [again], or a Gastroenterologist. I'd like to find the energy to get back to exercising, breath better, gain a little weight, deal with the slowly increasing numbness in arms and hands, and establish myself as capable of getting through an average day without feeling exhausted all the time.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
ENT specialist would be the better choice

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

With statins use an eye should be kept on liver function tests and CPK as rhabdomyolysis can present as an adverse effect of statin. Even though its not very common but when it occurs the patients presents with extreme fatigue and body/muscle aches.

I would take it by periodic you meant parotid gland tumor. And since chemo was advised, local invasion and spread would have been there. An ENT consultation would be helpful. The throat can be examined to see if there is any obstruction that is responsible for the choking sensation that you stated.

Regarding GERD, PPIs and prokinetics should be advised for 2 weeks initially to see for improvement. Complete blood count with basic metabolic panel should be advised to look for any abnormality that can be addressed.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D