Week 6 discussion
DQ1
A 56-year-old Caucasian female presents to the office today with complaints of fatigue. Upon further questioning you discover the following subjective information regarding the chief complaint.
| History of Present Illness |
| Onset |
“about 2-3 months” |
| Location |
Generalized |
| Duration |
Constant |
| Characteristics |
Progressively worsening since onset, feels tired all of the time, sleeps 8hrs per night but does not feel well rested. “No energy to do anything I normally can do” |
| Aggravating factors |
Exertion |
| Relieving factors |
None identified |
| Treatments |
None |
| Severity |
Denies pain; missed 1 day of work 2 weeks ago because “couldn’t get out of bed” |
| Review of Systems (ROS) |
| Constitutional |
Denies fever, chills, or recent illnesses. +5lb. weight gain since last visit 6 months ago. |
| Eyes |
No visual changes or diploplia |
| ENT |
Denies ear pain, coryza, rhinorrhea, or ST. Had tonsillectomy as child Denies snoring or history of sleep apnea. |
| Neck |
Denies lymph node tenderness or swelling |
| Chest |
Denies cough, SOB, DOE or wheezing |
| Heart |
Denies chest pain |
| Abdomen |
Denies N/V/D. + Constipation |
| Endocrine |
Denies polyuria, polydipsia. + cold intolerance. Menopause status x 5 yrs. |
| Skin |
No changes in skin, hair or nails |
| Psych |
Reports worsening of depressive symptoms but thinks it is because she is so “unproductive” lately and tired all of the time. -Suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Sleeping 8-9hrs per night (no changes), but not feeling rested. |
| Musculoskeletal |
Generalized weakness and intermittent muscles cramping in calves |
| History |
| Medications |
Multivitamin, B-Complex, Prozac 20mg, Bisoprolol-HCTZ 2.5mg/6.25mg, Calcium 500mg + Vit D3 400IU. |
| PMH |
HTN, Depression, Postmenopausal status |
| PSH |
Tonsillectomy |
| Allergies |
Iodine dyes |
| Social |
Married; Works full time as office manager of an internal medicine office; 2 kids (grown) |
| Habits |
Denies cigarettes or drug use. +Occasional glass of wine (1-2 per month). |
| FH |
Maternal GM & GF deceased with CHF, T2DM and HTN;
Mother alive (age 82) +HTN, +Hyperlipidemia, +T2DM;
Father alive (age 84) +HTN, +Hyperlipidemia, +T2DM, +ASHD (s/p CABG 2 years ago). Also had +CVA at time of CABG (work-up revealed +DVT and +PFO; remains anticoagulated);
Oldest child (26) with seasonal allergies
Youngest child (24) with Bipolar depression and ADHD, and anxiety |
Physical exam reveals the following:
| Physical Exam |
| Constitutional |
Middle aged Caucasian female alert, oriented and cooperative |
| VS |
Temp-98.2, P-74, R-16, BP 146/95, Height: 5’7″, Weight: 180 pounds |
| Head |
Normocephalic, atraumatic |
| Eyes |
PERRLA |
| Ears |
Tympanic membranes gray and intact with light reflex noted. |
| Nose |
Nares patent. Nasal turbinates without swelling. Nasal drainage is clear. |
| Throat |
Oropharynx moist, no lesions or exudate. Surgically removed tonsils bilaterally. Teeth in good repair, no cavities. |
| Neck |
Neck supple. No lymphadenopathy. Thyroid midline, small and firm without palpable masses. |
| Cardiopulmonary |
Heart S1 and s2 noted, no murmurs, noted. Lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally. Respirations unlabored. No pedal edema |
| Abdomen |
Soft, non-tender. BS active |
| Skin |
Skin overall dry, hair coarse and thick, nails without ridging, pitting or discoloration |
| Psych |
Mood pleasant and appropriate. |
| Musculoskeletal |
Strength full throughout |
| Neuro |
DTRs 2+ at biceps, 1+ at knees and ankles |
Briefly and concisely summarize the H&P findings as if you were presenting it to your preceptor using the pertinent facts from the case. Use shorthand where possible and approved medical abbreviations. Avoid redundancy and irrelevant information.
Provide a differential diagnosis (minimum of 3) which might explain the patient’s chief complaint along with a brief statement of pathophysiology for each.
Analyze the differential by using the pertinent findings from the history and physical to argue for or against a diagnosis. Rank the differential in order of most likely to least likely.
Identify any additional tests and/or procedures that you feel is necessary or needed to help you narrow your differential. All testing decisions must be supported with an evidence-based medicine (EBM) argument as to why it is necessary or pertinent in this case. If no testing is indicated or needed, you must also support this decision with EBM.
DQ2
Now, assume that you sent your patient for labs and she returns the following day, as instructed, to review the results.
CBC with differential
| WBC |
8.6 x10E3/uL |
| RBC |
4.44 x 10E6/uL |
| Hemoglobin |
14.0 g/dL |
| Hematocrit |
41.2% |
| MCV |
93fL |
| MCH |
31.5 pg |
| MCHC |
34.0 g/dL |
| RDW |
13% |
| Platelet |
241 x 10E3/uL |
| Neutrophils % |
67% |
| Lymphocytes % |
22% |
| Monocytes % |
8% |
| Eosinophils % |
3% |
| Basophils % |
0% |
| Absolute Neutrophils |
5.7 x 10E3/uL |
| Absolute Lymphocytes |
1.9 x 10E3/uL |
| Absolute Monocytes |
0.7 x 10E3/uL |
| Eosinophils Absolute |
0.3 x 10E3/uL |
| Basophile Absolute |
0.0 x 10E3/uL |
| Immature Grans % |
0% |
| Absolute Immature Grans |
0.0 x 10E3/uL |
TSH with Reflex to FT4
| TSH |
6.770 uIU/mL |
| FT4 |
0.62 ng/dL |
PHQ-9 Depression Score=10 (previous was 5 at last visit 6 months ago)
What is your primary diagnosis for this patient as the cause for the CC of fatigue? (support your decision for your diagnosis with pertinent positives and negatives from the case)
Identify the corresponding ICD-10 code.
Provide a treatment plan for this patient’s primary diagnosis which includes:
Medication*
Any additional testing necessary for this particular diagnosis*
Patient education*
Referral and follow-up to the treatment plan
Provide an active problem list for this patient based on the information given in the case.
Are there any changes that you would make to the patient’s overall plan at this time? Must provide an evidence-based medicine (EBM) argument to support any treatments or testing decisions.
Provide an appropriate follow-up plan (include any additional testing that you feel is necessary and include an EBM argument).
*If part of the plan does not warrant an action, you must explain why. ALL medication and testing decisions (or decisions not to treat with medication or additional testing) MUST be supported with an EBM argument. Over-the-counter (OTC) and RXs must be written in full as if handing a script to the patient in the office.
