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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
A medical mystery: lipitor or other cause???
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D.
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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A medical mystery: lipitor or other cause???
by gi disaster, Jun 28, 2003 12:00AM
Around mid May, I started experiencing extreme thirst and frequent urination. I am a dibetic type II diagnosed 8 years ago. I regularly have my Hemaglobin ac-1 checked and also home check my glucose levels. I have been cotrolling my blood sugar with diet and exercise. I also have high cholesteral, and have been taking lipitor for the last 3 yrs, 10 mg once a day. I also have an underactive thyroid dx also about 3 years ago. I take 300 mcg once /day. I also have a history of polycystic ovaries.
at the end of may I also started having trouble eating. I was experience abdonminal discomfort and a feeling of fullness after eating. I thought it was gas and tried malox, peptobismal, etc to know avail... by the 2nd week of june, I developed severe pain in my abdomen and more pain in my stomach and upper right abdomen underneath my right breast/rib cage.
On june 12th I was admitted to the hospital with a white blood cell count of 16,000, fever of just over 100, dehydration, glucose was 485, tryglicerides were 1943 total cholesteral 303, elevated liver enzymes, low sodium levels, to name just a few. Lipase and amalyse levels were normal ruling out pancreatitis.
They did abdominal xray, ct scn, hida scan, ultrasound checking for gallbladder disease.. this was rulled out.. an 5 centemeter abdominal mass was found (ovarian cyst). I was in the hospital for 4 days on iv of sodium chloride and levaquin then discharged after my fever was gone and white blood cells back to normal
Since being discharged on 06/15/03, I have developed uncontrollable bright yellow diarrhea that has lasted to thsi day, more stomach fullness, more discomfort upper right quadrant, fever up and down. I have been put on glucophage 2000 mg /day (1000 dx's day) which has brought my glucose down. I was told not to restart the lipitor again( why???) and was referred to a gi specialist who did an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy on 06/27/03. That revealed upper mild gastritis (biopsy done) two polyps removed from my colon and diverticulosis ( bioply done of the reddened tissue) ....
I am still have severe abdominal pain starting just above my naval then radiating thruout the whole abdomen, an huge unexpalined yellow bruise lower left side,severe diarrhea, fullness in my stomach after eating very little, and extreme fatigue and dehydration.
Do date I have no answers as to what is going on and how to correct it?? Has lipitor caused any of this? I was told I may have a spastic bile duct. What possible directions can my dr's go in to help this? Nothing has been able to give any relief for the pain or diarrhea. Help.
at the end of may I also started having trouble eating. I was experience abdonminal discomfort and a feeling of fullness after eating. I thought it was gas and tried malox, peptobismal, etc to know avail... by the 2nd week of june, I developed severe pain in my abdomen and more pain in my stomach and upper right abdomen underneath my right breast/rib cage.
On june 12th I was admitted to the hospital with a white blood cell count of 16,000, fever of just over 100, dehydration, glucose was 485, tryglicerides were 1943 total cholesteral 303, elevated liver enzymes, low sodium levels, to name just a few. Lipase and amalyse levels were normal ruling out pancreatitis.
They did abdominal xray, ct scn, hida scan, ultrasound checking for gallbladder disease.. this was rulled out.. an 5 centemeter abdominal mass was found (ovarian cyst). I was in the hospital for 4 days on iv of sodium chloride and levaquin then discharged after my fever was gone and white blood cells back to normal
Since being discharged on 06/15/03, I have developed uncontrollable bright yellow diarrhea that has lasted to thsi day, more stomach fullness, more discomfort upper right quadrant, fever up and down. I have been put on glucophage 2000 mg /day (1000 dx's day) which has brought my glucose down. I was told not to restart the lipitor again( why???) and was referred to a gi specialist who did an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy on 06/27/03. That revealed upper mild gastritis (biopsy done) two polyps removed from my colon and diverticulosis ( bioply done of the reddened tissue) ....
I am still have severe abdominal pain starting just above my naval then radiating thruout the whole abdomen, an huge unexpalined yellow bruise lower left side,severe diarrhea, fullness in my stomach after eating very little, and extreme fatigue and dehydration.
Do date I have no answers as to what is going on and how to correct it?? Has lipitor caused any of this? I was told I may have a spastic bile duct. What possible directions can my dr's go in to help this? Nothing has been able to give any relief for the pain or diarrhea. Help.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jun 30, 2003 12:00AM
, Jun 30, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
You have had a very thorough workup for your symptoms. You note elevated liver enzymes. It is certainly true that Lipitor can elevate liver enzymes, and that is why it needs to be monitored. Typically, if the enzymes are elevated to more than 3 times the upper limit of normal, then the Lipitor is discontinued.
Without examining you, I cannot say what is going on. It may be possible that there is some damage to the liver, and complete liver function tests should be analyzed by your personal physician.
With a history of diabetes, you are prone to gastroparesis (i.e. delayed gastric emptying). One test that has not been mentioned is a gastric emptying scan which can diagnose this. If present, there are medications (i.e. Reglan) that can help.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
You have had a very thorough workup for your symptoms. You note elevated liver enzymes. It is certainly true that Lipitor can elevate liver enzymes, and that is why it needs to be monitored. Typically, if the enzymes are elevated to more than 3 times the upper limit of normal, then the Lipitor is discontinued.
Without examining you, I cannot say what is going on. It may be possible that there is some damage to the liver, and complete liver function tests should be analyzed by your personal physician.
With a history of diabetes, you are prone to gastroparesis (i.e. delayed gastric emptying). One test that has not been mentioned is a gastric emptying scan which can diagnose this. If present, there are medications (i.e. Reglan) that can help.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
other than that,i dont have any other side effect,but i dont take it every day.