Malabsorption and my Dr. visit (colonoscopy, thyroid, blood, heart rate)

[Giesela]

As I age I sort of expect things to get different so I just make a note of things that seem like maybe normal aging things, I keep them in the back of my mind in case they snowball or to mention to the Dr. (note: I moved here two years ago and just today had my second annual visit, I need another Dr!)
So I don't want to get into the indelicate details but there was sort of one old age thing, then another, then....what?
So I took these 3 changes and googled them and got a pretty perfect symptom description of malabsorption. The odd a** diseases listed that cause malabsorption I don't think I have. There has got to be a simpler reason. Ok, so that was a couple of months ago and I've just got it in my mind because I know in a few months I'll go in for an annual, Its been a year, make an appt for an annual Dr. visit. Tell him my symptoms - Whoa, never heard of that, "don't even know how to write that up". Since you had a colonoscopy, we won't worry about it.
This on top of me telling him my nails have gone from always pretty strong to vertical splits and almost shredding (may not be related to malabsoprtion I don't know - and neither does he!)

So now what? I didn't bring up the internet thing. He's already a condescending a**. I saw him for the first time (new in town)last year and already knew that if this visit didn't go better I would want to find another Dr.
And I will but frankly I'm willing to try to do some figuring out myself.

[Torrie]

Here's an article that might offer some insight:

MotherNature.com - Malabsorption

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by Giesela

As I age I sort of expect things to get different so I just make a note of things that seem like maybe normal aging things, I keep them in the back of my mind in case they snowball or to mention to the Dr. (note: I moved here two years ago and just today had my second annual visit, I need another Dr!)
So I don't want to get into the indelicate details but there was sort of one old age thing, then another, then....what?
So I took these 3 changes and googled them and got a pretty perfect symptom description of malabsorption. The odd a** diseases listed that cause malabsorption I don't think I have. There has got to be a simpler reason. Ok, so that was a couple of months ago and I've just got it in my mind because I know in a few months I'll go in for an annual, Its been a year, make an appt for an annual Dr. visit. Tell him my symptoms - Whoa, never heard of that, "don't even know how to write that up". Since you had a colonoscopy, we won't worry about it.
This on top of me telling him my nails have gone from always pretty strong to vertical splits and almost shredding (may not be related to malabsoprtion I don't know - and neither does he!)

So now what? I didn't bring up the internet thing. He's already a condescending a**. I saw him for the first time (new in town)last year and already knew that if this visit didn't go better I would want to find another Dr.
And I will but frankly I'm willing to try to do some figuring out myself.

I'm going to guess a symptom is having the runs.
Are you tired as well?
Losing hair?

I've been struggling with my daughter the last few months, she is exhausted.
She's lost 50 pounds (she needed to lose them)
She sees a Dr every month so I've been watching the weight asking at what point do we worry. Then the exhaustion came. Today is the 2nd day in a row I can't get her up for school (it's the last day).

I had her at the general Dr a few weeks ago, he was very thorough.
Blood reveals sugar was very low (68)
Thyroid is hyper
Her B is low, folic acid is low plus she has a rapid heart rate.

Malabsorbsion issue was mentioned.
She has to see a cardiologist, endocrinologist and a stomach Dr.

The runs are also interfering with her schooling.

Go find another Dr to do a full workup. Her Dr also checked Lymes and testosterone.

[GayleTX]

One of the main things you don't absorb when you have malabsorption is protein. It's very helpful to use protein supplements. Everyone needs 50-100 grams of protein a day and it's much easier to do if you will use a good supplement....some taste horrible and are high calorie, but there are many good one ones the market that are very tasty and are low calorie - go to a store where they understand what you are talking about, especially if you don't want the high carbohydrate kind that athletes use. \
Champion brand makes a good chocolate protein powder....mix with 8 oz water and ice and run thru a little peronal blend with ice and you've got a good shake that has about 25 grams of protein...or stir them into warm coffee for a latte. Nectar brand makes a good cappacino flavor that is good in coffee. Nectar also makes a fruit flavored powder that makes a thin protein drink...kinda like Koolaid (23 grams of protein....Fuzzy Navel is my favorite flavor). Or you can buy the ready to drink protein drinks...Oh Yeah is one good brand, Labrada is another....35-40 grams....and you can drink them straight or add them to coffee or make a shake with a little extract or flavoring or fruit in it. These are great for people who are having malabsorption problems, or who are who are lactose intolerant. I cured my 20-yr diarrhea problem by using 2-3 supplements a day for the past 3 years, lost a significant amount of weight, thickened my hair.

It's worth a try........ best wishes to all of you......