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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Cure For Multiple Ailments

My mother is 95. She was in good health, driving and living a normal life, until last May. She has high BP but takes Inderal twice a day to control it. she takes Lyrica for neuropathy. She has a heart valve and takes Coumadin. Then these symptoms started: dehydration rash on back, inside of legs and arms, flushed face low sodium nausea restlessness periodic dizziness very weak bronchitis swollen legs urinary tract infection Twice she has gone to emergency room in last 3 weeks with convulsive shaking, nausea, dehydration, low sodium . She has stayed in hospital several days each time on IV. Dermatologist has given steroid shots for rash in June and July and done biopsy, then told her to go elsewhere because he cannot diagnose. Tonight she has nausea and weakness again. Could this be kidney related? We see GP and cardiologist Monday. What should we ask for? Her sister is 99. do not want to write this off s old age. Thanks-
Tue, 27 Jan 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Ask for evaluation of conditions causing a low sodium. People don't just develop low sodium without a cause. Med side effects could cause it, but problems with the brain and endocrine glands can also cause it. Many of the symptoms she is experiencing can occur just with the sodium being low. This sounds episodic so I would be considering conditions where different hormones are abnormally released sporadically. Carcinoid is one such condition that can also cause a rash and facial flushing and is often hard to diagnose. Inappropriate release of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can also affect sodium levels, and can result from brain lesions and abnormalities in the lung. Your doctors should know what the differential diagnosis of low sodium is, and be able to start the appropriate workup to figure this out. Hope this helps.
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Suggest Cure For Multiple Ailments

Ask for evaluation of conditions causing a low sodium. People don t just develop low sodium without a cause. Med side effects could cause it, but problems with the brain and endocrine glands can also cause it. Many of the symptoms she is experiencing can occur just with the sodium being low. This sounds episodic so I would be considering conditions where different hormones are abnormally released sporadically. Carcinoid is one such condition that can also cause a rash and facial flushing and is often hard to diagnose. Inappropriate release of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can also affect sodium levels, and can result from brain lesions and abnormalities in the lung. Your doctors should know what the differential diagnosis of low sodium is, and be able to start the appropriate workup to figure this out. Hope this helps.