Posted by Shelley on December 14, 2005, at 15:04:43
Hi
My brother has an eating disorder and has lost a lot of weight over the past years. He denies having a problem and is terrified of anything that has to do with conventional treatment, meds, etc.
Several years ago blood tests revealed that his pituitary hormones are not functioning. The endocrinologist suspected a brain tumor and ordered a CT scan which my brother refused to have done. Now he went to another endo and was told to do an MRI for the same reason. I know he plans to do it and is probably very frightened about the thought of having a tumor, though he refuses to talk to anyone. I heard that people who lost a lot of weight because of eating disorders have malfunctioning pituitary glands, and my brother's doctor does not know of his problem since he flatly denies he has one and probably said that he suddenly lost weight without reason.
My brother has many health problems now and is scheduled for the test only in another month. I am concerned that being stressed may endanger him due to his delicate condition. I would like to let him know that he probably does not have a brain tumor. If I tell him, however, he will cancel the test, as it was extremely difficult for the doctor to convince him to have it done in the first place, and it probably should still be done just in case.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Shelley.
poster:Shelley
thread:589050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20051214/msgs/589050.html