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The Symptoms
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Graphic Novel Case Studies
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Doctor: Tell me about yourself and why you came to the hospital. George: I am 63 years old and work in the health-care field. I was accompanying Anne who was asked to speak at Rice. We were in town for a few days and we were intending to fly home tomorrow. I felt well. We went out to dinner with friends last night and on coming back to the Hotel I did not feel great. During the night I was nauseated but hoped it would pass. This morning I began to vomit quite violently and repeatedly. After vomiting I felt better but I was still somewhat nauseated and weak. The material I vomited was yellow and did not contain any blood. The bowels were not very active. I was hoping to get some medication for the nausea that would allow me to get on the flight home tomorrow. I have not had anything like this before and I have been in good health. Of interest, Anne, was also a little nauseated this morning. I do not have a history of diabetes, cardiac disease, hypertension or a history of ulcers. I do not smoke. I have been treated with omeprazole for gastric reflux and reflux esophagitis. My Cholesterol has been a little high and I have tried various medications to lower it over the last couple of years. This seemed to correlate with my bowels becoming irregular. As for hospital admissions, I had an inguinal hernia repair years ago, and was admitted overnight for a concussion due to a fall also many years ago. I did not have my appendix removed, nor have I had any intra-abdominal surgery. My medications are a multivitamin, omeprazole 20 mg, and aspirin 81mg a day. I have no allergies. I have had regular check-ups and as far as I know my stool has never tested positive for blood although I have had a fissure that bleeds from time to time. I did have a colonoscopy about 4 years ago that was normal. My mother died at 85 from breast cancer and had a history of heart disease. My father had an duodenal ulcer, was a smoker and had a heart attack at the age of 39. He died of congestive heart failure at age 58. I have one sister who is 68 and has diabetes and arthritis. |
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