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Neurological? lower R abdominal pain + nausea + cramping hands

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Neurological? lower R abdominal pain + nausea + cramping hands
Posted: 09-02-07 13:35pm
I am asking this question for my husband whose general and medical data I listed above. yesterday he suffered what almost appeared to be stroke-like symptoms. Began as lower right abdominal pain and some nausea. an hour later, his arms curled up his fingers and hands were drawn up almost like pinchers (i tried to massage them and they felt knotted) and he could not move them. He felt tingling, numbness, and cramping through his arms and legs and could barely speak~ he felt like his jaw was locking. never threw up, had one normal BM, no diarrhea and the ER seems to think he had food poisoning and possibly a panic attack from the intense abdominal pain. NOw 20 hours later, he still feels pain in his abdomen (though less intense), but no vomiting or diarrhea and is fatigued and weak. After testing they said he had low potassium levels which could account for the other symptoms. Taking him to a PCP this week but need some guidance to what this could be, what tests to ask dr. for.
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Stroke Answer A3390
Posted: 12-03-07 05:18am
Abdominal pain is not a sign of a stroke. It could, however, be a sign of food poisoning or another condition such as gastritis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, intestinal infection, etc.

The appearance of your husband's hand is called “obstetrician hand”. “Obstetrician hand” combined with tingling, numbness, cramping, difficulty speaking and fatigue can happen in some neurotic disorders such as a panic attack. Pain can provoke such attacks.

In addition, low potassium causes muscle weakness. Low potassium levels can be due to: increased intake of potassium through food, vomiting and diarrhea, primary and secondary hyper-aldosteronism, prolonged usage of diuretics, diabetes mellitus, Cushing syndrome, some leukemias, etc. Several diagnostic procedures can be performed to identify the reason for the abdominal pain and low potassium:

1. Standard blood analyses (blood count, sedimentation, haemoglobin, liver status, kidney status…);
2. hormonal blood analyses: aldosteron, insulin, cortisol, ACTH;
3. electrolyte blood examinations (K+, Na+), pH-value, HNaCO3-;
4. abdominal ultrasound.

You can consult an endocrinologist about the condition.





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