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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 15, 2005, at 9:04:46
In reply to eating disorder complications- advice needed, 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.A person with anorexia/bulimia (or other eating disorder) develops disturbance in more than just pituitary hormone levels. But even with an eating disorder, it simply must be determined whether there are any physical abnormalities visible in the gland. He needs the imaging study.
The endo cannot discuss his case with you, without your brother's consent. But that does not mean that the doctor cannot receive supplemental information from other sources. You could write a letter to the endo, laying this all out for his consideration. Your only downside is that the doctor might try to discuss it with your brother before the imaging is done, and you're nowhere, if it scares him off. And your brother doesn't trust you anymore, either.
I think that if you spend some time on how you present the subject in a letter, I think you can ensure that the endo deals with the matter with sensitivity and understanding.
That's all I can think of to do, other than offering to go with your brother, if the company would be welcomed.
Lar
Posted by Shelley on December 15, 2005, at 15:32:24
In reply to Re: eating disorder complications- advice needed » Shelley, posted by Larry Hoover on December 15, 2005, at 9:04:46
Hi Larry,
Thanks for your suggestions.
My brother thinks I don't know he went to an endo, and I doubt he will tell me about the MRI.
If I write to his endo, I'm afraid it may do more harm than good, and the doctor may even tell my brother there is no need to do the test. In any case, that is what my brother will understand...but I will think about it.Shelley.
Posted by Racer on December 24, 2005, at 2:01:03
In reply to Re: eating disorder complications- advice needed » Larry Hoover, posted by Shelley on December 15, 2005, at 15:32:24
BENIGN! If he has a problem with his pituitary, and it is caused by a tumor, it could easily be something like Addison's disease -- dunno that that's caused by tumor, though -- which is treatable. But only if it's discovered via conventional tests. Like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
By the way, it could be that the symptoms of his apparent eating disorder are actually CAUSED BY a problem like Addison's. (And I keep coming up with that name, because Cushing's -- the other major pituitary problem I know of -- generally causes weight shifts that make people look a bit fat.)
I'm babbling -- tired, but good luck. And, personally, I've called doctors and said, "So and so isn't telling you something important, but I didn't tell you this..." So far, I have been caught by some of the folks involved. ALL OF WHOM HAVE THANKED ME ONCE THEY WERE TREATED. While they may not have been happy at the time, once they got healthy again, they did thank me for doing it, and getting them the treatment they needed.
Not to say that you can do much about your brother if he does have an ED. It has to be his decision, unless he's a minor and your parents can step in. Or if you can demonstrate that he's a danger to himself or others, which will not get him great treatment, but might help?
Posted by Shelley on January 24, 2006, at 12:24:39
In reply to Tell him that MOST pituitary tumors are... » Shelley, posted by Racer on December 24, 2005, at 2:01:03
Thanks for your post, Racer. I saw it only now.
It turns out my brother does have a small pituitary tumor, but according to an endo I wrote to on the internet, it cannot be causing any of his problems. Strange.
All the best,
Shelley.
This is the end of the thread.
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