Medical Analysis...

[HFishbine]

Okay, I know it's pretty lame to ask for medical advice on a message board, but my girlfriend's step mom has a bizzare condition that her doctors cannot diagnose. (She lives in a small town and her doctors are rather defensive about their inability to make a diagnosis.)

Basically, step-mom has a hugely distended tummy -- and it's rock hard. They have done x-rays and an MRI and have ruled out a tumor, swollen organs or hernia. Basically, nothing shows up, but damn if this 70 year-old women doesn't look as if she's 9 months pregnant.

Has anybody had any similar experiences? What was the diagnosis?

[TNDemo]

1. Hmm.

My first thought is ovarian tumor but seems like they could find this on an MRI. A rock hard abdomen is a danger sign usually of peritonitis. What other symptoms does she have besides the distended abdomen?

[HFishbine]

2. She

has Parkinsons disease, which creates a whole host of symptoms itself, but she doesn't attribute anything to her swollen tummy other than the noticeable distension.

One edit: Oh, and WebMD says that peritonitis "in most instances, but not exclusively, FMF affects persons of Mediterranean origin such as Sephardic Jews, Arabs, Armenians, and Turks." She's of Irish decent.

[TNDemo]

4. What's FMF?

I'm not a doctor but have worked in the medical community for 20 years and am now in nursing school but I do know that in a physical exam they always look for a non-distended abdomen and a distended or tight one is an alarm bell. Ovarian tumors can be quite large and quite benign. The surgeon I used to work for removed a 50 pound benign ovarian tumor from a woman who just got used to her big belly. And they come bigger than that.

My mother had Parkinson's and it can cause a good deal of muscle rigidity and maybe that is playing a part. If there is any way you can get her to get a second opinion (in another town where her usual doctors would not refer), that would be my suggestion. Of course, the patient has to be willing and that may be another can of worms.

[HFishbine]

6. FMF

"Mediterranean Fever, Familial" which WebMd describes as synonymous with Periodic Peritonitis Syndrome.

[politicat]

5. Irish? Has she been checked for hemochromotosis?

That can cause an enlarged, firm liver and the iron deposits in the other organs can cause further issues.

Get thee to a doctor outside of town. Tie her into the car seat if needed. You need a second opinion. Last week, preferably.

PCat

[HFishbine]

7. Yep

That's what she should do. Weird family/small town stuff makes the Cleveland Clinic seem like Jupiter.

[Southsideirish]

3. Not to frighten anyone but my mom had a huge tummy and

it was ovarian cancer. Has she lost weight? Have any gastro problems?
Feel tired - sleep later & harder to get out of bed? Its hard to diagnose - better go to a good teaching hospital.

[HFishbine]

8. Some

No wieght loss. Gastro problems - yes, constipation. Tired yes, but that comes and goes. I think a better hospital is the way to go.

[onebigbadwulf]

9. A few things come to mind...

Kidney failure
Cirrhosis of the liver
Hepatitis
Leukemia/ Lymphoma
Parasites in her lymph nodes

OR she could have Kwashiorkor - a protein deficiency which causes edema in the stomach region.


Those are just off the top of my head. =\

EDIT: Forgot to include Wet Beri Beri - a thiamine deficiency.