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Had Cold. Having Nasal Congestion, Loose Stools, Lost Weight, Feel Lethargic. Advise?
Question: Doctor around ten months ago I got sick with a cold and since then the symptoms have gone away but I Continued to have nasal congestion as well loose stools for the last ten months , I've lost ten pounds since then and used to use whey protein supplements but have stopped due to maybe it being a milk allergy but nothing has helped ,every morning I have to cough up a glob of mucus that has deposited overnight sometimes it's not thick and white or clear and others its thick and yellowish sometimes having bits of blood in it ,my appetite comes and goes as well as I feel lethargic and tired thru out the day and feel brain fog and the inability to find pleasure in doing things ,somebody suggested it might be adrenal fatigue as well as another underlying cause
Hi and thanks for the query,
It would be very unlikely for the nasal congestion to be connected to the loose stools except on one condition: If you were allergic to the whey proteins. If it were actually the case, gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly seen, but we would have expected to other manifestations like skin manifestations. It is a rare association but very unlikely in this case.
It might interesting to know if you have any manifestations (itches, redness, discharge) at the level of your eyes or not. This could be a pointer towards allergic rhinoconjonctivitis. Experiencing nasal congestion and mucus in the throat is characteristic of a chronic rhinitis. This deserves proper attention and treatment. Left untreated, progression to sinusitis with its complications will be very likely. Consulting an ENT specialist to examine the nasal passages and posterior nasal fossa to exclude predisposing factors for chronic nasal congestion such as nasal polyps and tumors of the carvum (superior plate of the nasal fossae) is very important.
Chronic loose stools accompanied by weight loss for this period of time shall deserve a formal evaluation and management for chronic diarrhea. Stool exams, abdominal ultrasounds, exclusion of coeliac disease, chronic intestinal bacterial infections are all very important. Screening for HIV could also be important.
My suggestion is booking an appointment first with an ENT specialist (chronic sinusitis) and a gastroenterologist (chronic diarrhea). If an allergic component is confirmed with the various tests (raised Eosinophils in Blood or raised Inmmuglobulin E levels, IgE), the opinion of an allergist could sought.
Thanks and hope this helps Do not hesitate asking further questions if need be.
Best regards.
Bain LE, MD.
It would be very unlikely for the nasal congestion to be connected to the loose stools except on one condition: If you were allergic to the whey proteins. If it were actually the case, gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly seen, but we would have expected to other manifestations like skin manifestations. It is a rare association but very unlikely in this case.
It might interesting to know if you have any manifestations (itches, redness, discharge) at the level of your eyes or not. This could be a pointer towards allergic rhinoconjonctivitis. Experiencing nasal congestion and mucus in the throat is characteristic of a chronic rhinitis. This deserves proper attention and treatment. Left untreated, progression to sinusitis with its complications will be very likely. Consulting an ENT specialist to examine the nasal passages and posterior nasal fossa to exclude predisposing factors for chronic nasal congestion such as nasal polyps and tumors of the carvum (superior plate of the nasal fossae) is very important.
Chronic loose stools accompanied by weight loss for this period of time shall deserve a formal evaluation and management for chronic diarrhea. Stool exams, abdominal ultrasounds, exclusion of coeliac disease, chronic intestinal bacterial infections are all very important. Screening for HIV could also be important.
My suggestion is booking an appointment first with an ENT specialist (chronic sinusitis) and a gastroenterologist (chronic diarrhea). If an allergic component is confirmed with the various tests (raised Eosinophils in Blood or raised Inmmuglobulin E levels, IgE), the opinion of an allergist could sought.
Thanks and hope this helps Do not hesitate asking further questions if need be.
Best regards.
Bain LE, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you I also forgot to mention a light yellow layer on my tounge don't know what that could be from I recently had an ultrasound done
Hi and thanks for the query,
It s good an ultrasound was done, and if the results were ok, then it is reassuring. Layers on the tongue are usually very easy to diagnose when seen at the clinic. The commonest of the infections that could cause layers in the tongue are Candida Albicans, which is a yeast. Other conditions could also cause similar pathologies. Consulting with your ENT specialist will be a good opportunity for him to actually also evaluate this. Treatment of this yeast infection involves common antifungal drugs and gels. But it is fundamental to ensure a proper diagnosis before treatment is appropriately prescribed.
Wishing you the best, as I hope to hear from you in case you still got any specific worries.
Best regards,
Bain LE, MD.
It s good an ultrasound was done, and if the results were ok, then it is reassuring. Layers on the tongue are usually very easy to diagnose when seen at the clinic. The commonest of the infections that could cause layers in the tongue are Candida Albicans, which is a yeast. Other conditions could also cause similar pathologies. Consulting with your ENT specialist will be a good opportunity for him to actually also evaluate this. Treatment of this yeast infection involves common antifungal drugs and gels. But it is fundamental to ensure a proper diagnosis before treatment is appropriately prescribed.
Wishing you the best, as I hope to hear from you in case you still got any specific worries.
Best regards,
Bain LE, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Last question is this something that could be treated? I've been very frustrated havjng to deal with this for about a year
Hi and thanks for your query,
With a good clinical evaluation by the specialists, i ma very convinced that the condition(s) are very treatable. I dot think you really need to be bothered of this disturbed at this point in time. I suggest you book the respective appointments and under the needed examinations and hopefully, so much can be done for you and you certainly will be far more better.
I see the probable causing conditions very treatable and you need bother especially as of now. I understand it s difficult living in a state of ill health for this long, but I am very convinced there is much hope. Stop to worry for now.
Best regards as I wish you good health,
Bain LE, MD.
With a good clinical evaluation by the specialists, i ma very convinced that the condition(s) are very treatable. I dot think you really need to be bothered of this disturbed at this point in time. I suggest you book the respective appointments and under the needed examinations and hopefully, so much can be done for you and you certainly will be far more better.
I see the probable causing conditions very treatable and you need bother especially as of now. I understand it s difficult living in a state of ill health for this long, but I am very convinced there is much hope. Stop to worry for now.
Best regards as I wish you good health,
Bain LE, MD.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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