Fix my Friends Head

post by MatthewBaker · 2011-11-26T00:13:10.616Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 8 comments

I may not have the community Karma of our dear Alicorn to make a top level post asking about a dear friend of mines illness that so far has remain undiagnosed but I would appreciate any discussion level support on these Symptoms.

She has high white blood cell and neutrophil count and low lymphocytes, akaline phosphatase and sodium.
One doctor says this is iron deficient anemia
She is on antidepressants.
She gets digestion problems and muscle and joint issues and she fees she has terrible memory and impaired learning
She's very sensitive to temperature as well and her bones start to hurt and joints as well as her chest.
She feels like she's always had eating problems but lately its been getting worse and she's started throwing up.
She always wakes up with body aches and/or cramps and air bubbles in her chest (pressure).

I submit to your collective donated wisdom and google-fu for mine has failed me.

EDIT:
I appreciate all your kind rebuttals mixed with your useful theories. She is currently being treated for iron deficient anemia and she will continue seeking help from medical professionals as well as random friends who have people to ask :)

8 comments

Comments sorted by top scores.

comment by daenerys · 2011-11-26T01:54:54.209Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

This sounds to me like not the sort of thing you should be asking a rationalist blog about. Self-diagnosing isn't safe. Asking a bunch of non-medical-professional strangers to diagnose via a symptom list on the internet is even worse.

Go to the doctor. Do what they say. See what the results are. Repeat as necessary. If one doctor seems to not be working, go to a different one.

Replies from: MatthewBaker
↑ comment by MatthewBaker · 2011-11-30T19:52:11.680Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

She has been utilizing this technique, I was just hoping to sacrifice a bit of karma for the a possible perceived worldview gain if one of you stumbled on a useful hypothesis.

comment by [deleted] · 2011-11-26T01:54:30.557Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Please seek qualified medical help. This forum is not the place to be posting medical issues. We are not Doctors. Take care of yourself. Get well soon.

comment by ahartell · 2011-11-26T00:40:46.595Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I can't help, sorry. But so you know the post switches between first and third person.

She gets digestion problems and muscle and joint issues. i also have terrible memory and impaired learning.

She's very sensitive to temperature as well and my bones start to hurt and joints as well as my chest.

Replies from: ArisKatsaris
↑ comment by ArisKatsaris · 2011-11-26T19:01:22.345Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Obligatory TV tropes reference: I Have This Friend

Though I think it's also likely that Matthew copy-pasted a portion from his friend's email, and just missed changing some of the pronouns.

Replies from: ahartell
↑ comment by ahartell · 2011-11-26T20:06:28.698Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

The latter also makes sense given that one instance of "accidental first person-ness" is also the only instance of "accidental incorrect capitalization".

comment by Douglas_Knight · 2011-11-26T01:29:48.316Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

One doctor says this is iron deficient anemia

Do I really need to look at anything else you've written? Test the hypothesis! Surely she's had a blood test, and she really does have anemia. It is worth fixing, even if it isn't the only problem. Once it is fixed, she'll have fewer symptoms, which is helpful if there are unrelated problems. Anemia is usually easy to treat, with supplements. If they don't work, a blood test will indicate whether they're getting into the blood.

comment by Kevin · 2011-11-26T06:54:26.847Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Check for hypothyroidism, and seriously, take the iron supplements, or more deliciously, start cooking with a cast iron pan.