What Causes, Fatigue, Lightheaded Feeling, Loss Of Appetite, Nausea And Vomiting?

Posted on Wed, 11 Mar 2015

Question: My daughter and grandsons, 16 and 11' all have all the same symptoms of fatigue, slow, light headed, loss of appetite, nausea, some vomiting, hard to stay on task, feeling off. My daughter is insulin defendant. They have been ill off and on since Thanksgiving. They live in upper Iowa in a small town. They live in a house that was built in 1901and we are slowly remodeling it. We have checked carbon monoxide and is okay. They have a dog and cat and they are okay. We have cleaned and sanitized the house but keeps reoccurring. My daughter has falling spells. Has to lean when walking and losses her balance. Could it be something in the house.? They have gone to a general doctor but thought it was the flu and did have sinus infections. Something is wrong

Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
get their blood sugar tested

Detailed Answer:

Hello XXXX,

Thanks for posting your query on HCM.

From your description, it is apparent that your grand sons have generalized weakness. They do not seem to have any symptoms in particular which point towards their respiratory system.

However, your daughter is diabetic. Hence juvenile diabetes needs to be excluded as it may run in the family and can cause all the symptoms mentioned by you.

I suggest you get their blood sugar tested. In fact they should take up a general health check which will help in ruling out other ailments also like thyroid disorder, low hemoglobin, vitamin deficiency, some chronic infections etc.

They should first consult their PCP who can examine them , get basic tests done and then if required, more sophisticated tests can be done subsequently and concerned superspecialist consulted.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Shashi Dangwal (2 hours later)

Thank you for your response and they do have a Drs appointment for Monday and I will forward this to her. Could it possible lead paint since the house is so old? I cjphecked on symptoms and with her immune weakness, she was the first one to get the sumptoms and is the worst.

Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, get the blood level of lead tested.

Detailed Answer:

it will be worth while to get the blood level of lead tested as they are staying in a very old house and earlier the wall paints used to contain lead.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju