Her symptoms akin to having diabetes

Dear Dr. Gott: I’m writing to you because I’m very concerned about a good friend. Here is her basic story.

About 10 years ago she had a hysterectomy. Since that operation, she has been almost chronically sick with various infections (urinary tract infections, sinus infections, sore throats, pneumonia, etc). She is now 56 years old. She also is always very tired and about 40 pounds overweight.

She lives in a rural part of a rural state. Her nearest doctor is about 40 miles away, and her primary doctor is from India.

Needless to say, over the years she has been on many different kinds of antibiotics.

I know you cannot correctly diagnose or treat ailing people through the mail, but I was hoping you could tell us (or her) where to go and what to be tested and checked for. Should we spend the money to go to a diagnostic facility?

Dear Reader: Your friend’s symptoms are very broad and do not reflect any particular disease. I gather that she is overweight, fatigued and prone to infections. This suggests diabetes, a relatively common occurrence in middle-aged women. Or she might have an immune deficiency. Why did she have a hysterectomy? Could she have had cancer that has now resurfaced? In short, she needs testing to determine the basis of her ailments.

In my opinion, she should start with a specialist in internal medicine. Many of us internists are engaged in family practice, so I believe this is her best bet, even though she will have to drive a fair distance to find a suitable resource.

I’d do some research to see what doctors near your community have notable diagnostic skills. You may wish to check with your local health center or hospital (if one is available), the county medical society, or the gynecologist who performed the surgery.

I believe this is a reasonable first step. If it is unrealistic or too difficult, she will certainly receive 14-arat attention at a diagnostic center, such as Mayo, the Cleveland Clinic, Ochsner and similar institutions. But, as you can imagine, such resources are not cheap.

I hope this brief information will help you and your friend.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Report “Medical Specialists” and “Living with Diabetes Mellitus.” Other readers who would like copies should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 for each report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.